Rio de Janeiro

This is something magic about Rio. Even if you are not 19-23 years old as the vast majority of my hostel is (99.9% majority), it is hard not to have a blast here. I cannot quite define what makes it special, but it is a happy city.

I cannot imagine living a normal live (ie working) in Rio. The beach and the sun dictates the life of Rio. No sun - no life. The only imaginable lifestyle is to wake up around 11 am, by noon to roll out chairs on the beach and kill the afternoon playing fresco ball and butt-watching. By 4 pm it is time for an early evening caipirinhas or somewhat waterish local beers. After a disco nap one can get ready for a fancy dinner in Ipanema and the night out in the city till the morning. Other six days of the week repeat the Rio cycle.

Ipanema beach during weekdays is the main attraction of the city. Young, rich and beautiful kids at Post 9 could be photographed straight into the fashion magazines. I am convinced that there are no overweight people in Rio. More than that - cariocas (that's how Rio residents call themselves) are all in great shape! Also, apparently cellulite is not in Brazilian genes or it magically disappears under the Brazilian sun. Yes, Brazilians are HOT to a point of disbelief. What do they eat? What do they do to get this Green gods' perfect bodies??

Post 7 (the first part of Ipanema beach) I call penguin point. Dozens of surfers in their black wetsuits (hence the name) are waiting in the water for their next big wave.



Sometimes it is better to forget about the camera and just take the city in. I cannot capture the true Rio, I would rather watch - retirees playing volleyball on the beach, stunning bodies playing foot-volley, surfers biking along the promenade holding their boards with one arm, beach vendors secretly staring at ridiculous bikinis, amazing street fruit markets, pricy stores of Ipanema, street performances of capoeira, jiujutsu training in the park.

I feel like Rio (and Brazil in general) requires a proper comeback - not on a backpacker's budget or wardrobe. The city offers fun and cheap nightlife options, but there is so much more than the Lapa street parties and Favela's funk parties.

I spent almost two and a half weeks in the Rio area with four days in Ilha Grande, a tropical island a couple of hours away from Rio. I feel I am finally learning to relax and enjoy doing nothing. Quite an achievement for me!

Other highlights
- rip off for an empty football match on Sunday before the S. American cup finals
- rip off for horrible humus in Leblon ($8 for a small container of humus in a take-out restaurant)
- window shopping in Rio Sul shopping center. I cannot think of better looking stores (millions of them)... Maybe it is my shopping starvation speaking
- meeting Alex and our night out - minimal by Dj Oxia till 6 am & meeting a local gay couple (hair stylist and make-up artist) with a morning tour of their 3-bedroom apartment.
- chicken empanadas
- all you can eat churrascarias (meat restaurant, sushi bar included)
- Friday afternoon jazz in a Santa Teresa bar
- day sleeping on the beach

Rio de Janeiro set on flickr