Having only spent a short 3 weeks in Rio, more time there, I feel, is definitely needed to appreciate all that it has to offer. After already experiencing a few problems at Heathrow with visas and baggage allowance, the extensive issues Jess and I had with Alitalia really did tarnish the first week. Bypassing Copacabana beach on the ‘2018’ to spend yet ANOTHER 3 hours on the phone to various different international numbers was a little more than painful. It was nice to have Jess with me, I think the worrying situations were easier to get through together than alone, and we definitely learnt a lot about each other…banana cake by the kilo is the perfect way to fall asleep for one. From marching through the streets searching for various embassies and government buildings, to trying to samba in Pedra do Sal, we had a ball and I am glad I spent this time with her.
Referring back to the banana cake: food. I’m a bit of a self proclaimed foody – one who appreciates good cuisine (and also one that eats too much!). I LOVED the brazilian street food, so much so that I have made a pinterest page devoted solely to the goodies I unearthed up in the favelas and down on the beach fronts. I think this topic even deserves its own anoextranjero entry!
What really struck me about Rio was being able to pin point a Brazilian. You cannot do it. There is no ‘typical’ Brazilian – there are many different creeds and colours, which when you delve a little into the history of the country, becomes completely understandable. There are so many cultural influences from aspects such as the Portuguese invasion and the slave trade and that is another thing I absolutely loved – all of these elements come together and form today, what we consider to be Brazilian.
Another topic that has caught my attention whilst being out here is Consumerism. The enormous divide that is still so obviously present between rich and poor sparked some thought about the topic – companies spend so much money on making people believe they need that dress or that new flat screen TV – and this is the world that I live in. Being in rio has made me see the very present divide on every street (and also having to condense my life into a suitcase) has made me realise that although I am often able to justify 6 pairs of jeans – I do not NEED 6 pairs of jeans. People survive on a lot less and I think it is time I tried to do something similar.
Rozinha – the biggest favela in Rio. Situated next to the most expensive postcode in Rio, really emphasising such a huge divide in such a close proximity
People fascinate me. When you’re travelling – or visiting somewhere new, you feel a sense of curiosity towards people that you don’t feel when you are at home. And everyone has a story. And 9 times out of 10 – it wasn’t the story you thought it was going to be. A traveller is a different kind of person, whether it is someone between educational rungs that wants to see the world, or someone who has wanted to do this trip for the last 10 years and has always found an excuse not to. And then they go. They drop absolutely everything, jobs, houses, cars, boyfriends, and go. The courage that takes is something I will always admire and I love the insight I learn about their worlds and how the have done things differently. They are friends for life who you know you can call in 6 months and crash on their couch, simply because you are passing by.
I don’t feel like I did Rio de Janeiro a justice during this trip. Perhaps it was the fact I thought I needed to be settled in Santiago and I therefore couldn’t settle in Brazil, I don’t know. Alls I do know is, I would like to return. Who knows what this summer will bring? Caipirinhas and a sexy samba player with a ukulele maybe…
CDS 