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The jardim botanico in Rio de Janeiro, tropical pictures and delights!
The jardim botanico, biological garden of rio de janeiro is famous for it’s flora and fauna of more than 5000 species of tropical and subtropical plants and trees which habitates 340 acres of tropical rain forest biome. Allthough the jardim botanico isn’t one of tropical delights such as the amazon tropical rainforest biome, with its dense moistly atmosphere and trees, you can shoot many tropical pictures of rain forest animals like monkee cuties and other tropical birds (parrots), tropical flowers and plants photos.
The biological garden, is visited by thousands of tourists each year, and is one of the biggest tourist attractions in rio de janerio. My favourite is the enourmous Rainforest tree. It really gives a tropical picture on the sizes growing in the amazon rain forest. You also have Japanese gardens, lots of tropical orchids and other colorful plants, beautiful rivers and fountains. 
What the jardim botanico has to do with chocelate you may ask? Well, Chocolate comes from the seeds of the cacao plant, which is native to South America''s tropical rain forest. And its quite old too!
It was first used at least 3000 years ago as a sacred beverage by the Mesoamericans who discovered how to process the beans to release the distinctive chocolate flavor. Since then the growing of cacao has spread to all over the world, which annually consumes more than a million tons of processed chocolate.
Do you feel guilty? Well, enjoy it while you can because the cacao yields around the world are falling, because the pollination rate of commercially cultivated cacao plants is extremely low.
The jardim botanico was originally created by Dom João VI, in around 1900, to cultivate the tropical spices Portugal used to import from the East Indies. Now, the huge tropical trees decked with orchids contrast with giant victoria-regia, lilies, bromeliads, royal poincianas and tropical foliage, make the Botanical Gardens a favorite hideaway for nature-lovers, sweethearts and all those seeking peace and tranquility. 
How to get to the jardim botanico? Well, the address is Rua Jardim Botanico, 920 - in the Jardim Botanico District. If you live in central locations like the Copacabana, it’s only minutes away by car. If you are fond of taking a tropical walking tour, then you can spend the afternoon visiting the big in-city Lake of Rio and then move on to the biological garden which lies right next to the lake, on the north-west side. 
When I went here, I was first at the Christ statue and took a taxi down to the tropical garden after. It was very cheap, only 7 R$. A good advice though is to take a taxi just outside the tourist area around the trainstation going to corcovado, as they will drive you all around the city when it’s just through a tunnel to get there. 
Other things that could be mentioned, which is fun to know about, is that you are walking in the footsteps of Queen Elizabeth of England and the brilliant Einstein. 
One thing I haven’t tried yet, but what might be romantic is to enjoy the tropical sunset in the rain forest landscape. It’s just an idea. Anyway, the jardim botanico is a good place to visit if you pass through rio de janeiro.
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