Arrival of foreign delegations for G20 summit changes Rio's routine

Leaders' meeting begins this Monday. Weekend festivities included a welcome for China's president and the Norwegian prime minister making codfish fritters in a Santa Teresa restaurant A tram ride ending at a bar with samba music and cold beer in the bohemian heart of Santa Teresa. This dream itinerary for any tourist was experienced yesterday by Norway's Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre. Accompanied by a lively delegation, he donned an apron, headed to the kitchen, and even served codfish fritters at Armazém São Joaquim. He is one of the leaders whose presence has altered Rio's routine due to the G20 summit. G20 Social: Final statement advocates taxing the ultra-wealthy and condemns far-right misinformation Fun in Rio: 20 paired activities for the G20 holiday weekend in Rio de Janeiro The Norwegian premier celebrated the long-standing partnership with Brazil, especially regarding codfish, and highlighted his favorite spot in Rio: Copacabana Beach. — I really liked it because in Norway, we don't have this connection with the sea where buildings face the beach — stated Støre, who, after rolling up his sleeves, enjoyed codfish fritters accompanied by a cold beer and the sound of samba music. Norwegian Prime Minister Serves Codfish Cakes in Santa Teresa Restaurant A total of 55 delegations are arriving in Rio for the G20 Leaders' Summit. Among them, there was a warm welcome yesterday for China's President Xi Jinping. A corridor of Chinese citizens waving flags stretched from the Rebouças Tunnel exit to the hotel in São Conrado where Xi is staying. One group at Lagoa consisted of 80 people who traveled from Belo Horizonte. At the hotel's entrance, over 100 Chinese people sang their national anthem, displayed banners, and even played drums. Xi Jinping in Rio: a group of chineses stands in front of his hotel Protest and road closure The arrival of global leaders in the city — including French President Emmanuel Macron, who met with Lula in Copacabana in the early evening — prompted a protest by environmentalists from the Amazônia de Pé movement at Botafogo Beach. Despite favorable beach weather, the leisure area usually set up on Avenida Atlântica on Sundays and holidays was not operational: the road will remain closed until tomorrow, Tuesday, to facilitate the movement of delegations. In the spirit of Rio: Norwegian Prime Minister Serves Codfish Cakes in Santa Teresa Restaurant — I was very focused on the G20 and hadn't taken the time to explore Rio. The sun came out, and I saw it as the perfect opportunity to walk along the beach. I decided to rent a scooter to see more things. I'm also looking to check out a nice bar by the end of the day — he stated. Meanwhile, Martina Gómez, 34, chose to spend the morning sunbathing and later stopped for a caipirinha at one of the beach kiosks. The Mexican teacher admits the drink has become her new favorite. — The caipirinha is very tasty, and in this heat, it's even better. It's been quite an experience being here at this time, hearing about an important topic and, at the same time, enjoying this experience — she praised. From trendy restaurants to street stalls At Ipanema Beach, several groups gathered at the popular Boteco Belmonte, a spot known for its drinks menu and rooftop with a privileged view of the Dois Irmãos hill. There, American Emily Collins, 39, sipping white wine, said she traveled during the G20 period to follow the event's schedule. However, she confesses that increased security was another influencing factor. — I planned this trip to be here during the G20 because of the schedule, but I considered the security since I thought the city would have more police presence. I feel very safe. I've visited several places and had no issues. I preferred dining in more upscale restaurants to see the best Rio has to offer — she reported. Chinese group awaits President Xi Jinping outside hotel Dan Delmiro / Press Release In contrast, the Chinese Ana Wong, 43, Should Lio, 47, and Zhang Jun, 50, explained they don't mind dining at more sophisticated establishments. They even loved eating a snack from a street stall in Botafogo, in the South Zone: — We came here with the goal of honoring our flag, which is why we're here with several to distribute. We're heading to the hotel to await the arrival of China's president. We're focused on the G20, and fun comes second. The food here is very good; we ate at a street stall today and loved it. The translation of this text into english was carried out by Project Irineu, O GLOBO's initiative to develop artificial intelligence tools. Here is the link to the original report.