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Nelson Belen

Nelson is a native New Yorker now living in Rio de Janeiro. He writes about local politics, business, real estate, sports, and Brazilian beachwear.

Rio 2016 Olympics Unveils Staff and Volunteer Uniforms

By Nelson Belen, Contributing Reporter RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - In a little over two months, some 500,000 international visitors are expected to descend on...

Araras, Rio’s Gourmet Valley Nestled in the Hills of Petrópolis

By Nelson Belen, Contributing Reporter RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - Only a short hour and a half drive from the city of Rio de Janerio,...

Rio 2016 Olympic Torch Relay Enters Week Two of 95-Day Relay

By Nelson Belen, Contributing Reporter RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - The Olympic torch has been traveling across Brazil, bound to pass through three hundred towns...

Taxi Drivers Resume Protests Against Uber in São Paulo

By Nelson Belen, Contributing Reporter RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - Taxi drivers in São Paulo resumed protests today, May 11th, against the previous day’s decree...

Housing Sales in São Paulo Plunge 16 Percent in March

By Nelson Belen, Contributing Reporter RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - On Tuesday, May 10th, the São Paulo State Housing Syndicate (Secovi-SP) released the results of...

Vasco Wins 2016 Campeonato Carioca in 1×1 Draw with Botafogo

By Nelson Belen, Contributing Reporter RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - On Saturday, May 8th, in the second of two final matches in the 2016 Campeonato...

Inflation Index for Brazil’s Low-income Families Outpacing Country

By Nelson Belen, Contributing Reporter RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - Today, May 5th, the Getulio Vargas Foundation released the Brazilian inflation index rates showing that...

Olympic Flame Arrives in Brazil to Begin 95-Day Relay

By Nelson Belen, Contributing Reporter RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - The Olympic flame has arrived in Brazil today (May 3rd) as Carlos Arthur Nuzman, President...

Rio’s Tiki Hostel in Cantagalo Combines Carioca and Kiwi Culture

By Nelson Belen, Contributing Reporter RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - Sitting high on the hilltop favela community of Cantagalo, the recently opened Tiki Hostel offers...

Rio de Janeiro Police Adopt Social Media to Help Combat Crime

By Nelson Belen, Contributing Reporter RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The use of social media has emerged as a vital tool in Rio de Janeiro’s...

Number of Defaulting Companies in Brazil Increased 11 Percent

By Nelson Belen, Contributing Reporter RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – After Brazil suffered its worst GDP decline in over 25 years, an increasing number of...

Brazil and Argentina Discuss Trade and Automotive Agreement

By Nelson Belen, Contributing Reporter RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - Representatives from Brazil and Argentina met in Brasilia yesterday (April 26th) for the first...

Residents and Students Tour Rio’s New Ipanema Metro Station

By Jay Forte and Nelson Belen, Contributing Reporters RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - As the Rio 2016 Olympic Games loom closer, the anxiously awaited completion...

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