Rio de Janeiro

Buses and cars have been set on fire in Rio de Janeiro's city centre. Road blocks set up by activists were also ablaze and shops were vandalised.

For most of the day the strike had been largely peaceful. Many people stayed at home and shops, schools and banks remained closed across the country.

Unions called the strike in protest at proposed pension reforms.

President Michel Temer said he regretted the incidents in Rio. But he stressed that he would continue his "efforts to modernise the country".

Yet for a lucky few, the quandary remains: Where to go to relax and recover after the marvelous mayhem of the Brazil Olympics?

You're already in South America, so it makes sense to stay "local."

But narrowing your field of focus won't put much of a dent in your options; South America is nothing if not varied.

From sipping a huge glass of Malbec to roaming the world's highest capital city, here's the lowdown on 10 top spots to explore after the Olympics.

The vineyard: Mendoza, Argentina

As the world descends on Rio de Janeiro for the XXXI Olympiad, Brazilians are ready to help the world take a load off and experience something missing for a while: fun.

Here are 10 things Brazil does better than anywhere else:

Play

Research shows that playfulness creates a kind of charisma that others want in on.

It's a key part of the Brazilian personality: a willingness to laugh at themselves, their predicaments and political absurdities and to welcome others in on the joke.

But crime and traffic can complicate things, so it helps to have a good idea of what you want to see before you arrive.

With 500,000 international visitors expected in Rio for the Olympics, CNN asked locals for tips for travelers seeking the inside track on authentic experiences.

Pagoda with a view

Taxi driver Carlos Cardinale recommends taking a trip to the Vista Chinesa, a little Chinese pagoda that provides some stunning views of the city.

The accusations made in a World Anti-Doping Agency-commissioned report by Canadian lawyer Richard McLaren have led to more than 100 Russian athletes being barred from the Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games which start on Saturday.

“We will analyse each line and proceed legally against it,” Russian sports minister Vitaly Mutko said on Saturday on Russian sports television channel Match TV.

And now Google Maps is letting us take a peek inside the stadia.

The mapping tool allows you to enter the 25 indoor venues that will host the Olympics' sporting events come August.

To jump in and see what the venue looks like on the inside, select it on Google Maps (here's Maracanã​ to start, where the football will be played), zoom in and click on it.

In the bottom-right of the screen you'll see options for the floors and levels - click one, and you'll be transported there.

Then just have a mooch about and take in the view.

The designation is available on the website of the Rio de Janeiro state's environmental agency.

The most recent pollution reading was taken from a sample this past Monday. The environmental agency didn't respond to requests for comment.

The area that has been ruled unfit for swimming is near where an Olympic qualifier and Paratriathlon event begin Saturday. Athletes are already getting in the water as they prepare for the event.