Rio Arrival

Riding through Rio, into Ipanema, I immediately notice the large amount of greenery throughout the city. Tropical trees line the streets. This type of trees couldn't exist in Austin, and probably not in most places in the US. These tropical trees couldn't stand the cold winters. But, Oh, they look nice.

After checking in at the hotel (really, a backpacker's hostel), we walk the 1 1/2 blocks to the beach. It's still 10am. It's beautiful. I've been in big cities before, and I've been on nice beaches before, but I've never been in a downtown city that adjoins a nice beach. We strip down to swimsuits and go in the water. It isn't even cold. The large waves crash over us, playfully tossing us around.

We decide to walk down the beach towards a large rock outcropping. Is Copacabana this way? I'm not sure. People play volleyball & soccer on the beach. The sand is squeeky clean. It's not only very clean, and it actually makes a squeeking noise when you walk in it.

This is the best first morning I've ever spent travelling. I can see why people never want to leave Rio.

Walk inland a few blocks, and back in the direction of the hotel. Stop along the way for breakfast. A salmon burger and a banana & granola smoothie. We notice people eating what looks like a big bowl of poo. Now, I know it's not poo, and it doesn't look exactly like it, but I don't know how else to describe it. So Bobby asks them what it is, and they say it's Acai (pronounced assa-ee, accent on the ee). Some kind of local fruit which is frozen immediately when they pick it, to prevent spoiling, then sold in a cup or a bowl as a healthy smoothie that you eat with a spoon. I try it, and it's quite good. Acai quickly becomes a part of every street meal for me.


The next day we sleep in late, then go on a long meandering walk before choosing a place for breakfast. Bobby isn't feeling well when we return, so I go alone for a swim and a walk on the beach.

Women here are no more beautiful on average than women in the states. I make a point of saying this because everyone says how beautiful Brazilian women are. There are beautiful women here, but the range and spread seems about the same as in the US.

People here do seem to be better than Americans, on average, about their overall health. Is it because of the relative cost of junk food vs healthy food here? Or maybe because more of their bodies are exposed, becaue of lighter clothes & warmer weather? Or is it just cultural habits that tend to promote healthier living and eating? The cause is unclear, but the effect is that there are fewer obese or overweight people here than in the states.

Most people here don't smile as they're walking on the street. From what we can tell most of them have a slight frown. But it isn't all of them. The large percentage of people here are poor, by our standards. The small percentage of people we see on the streets are idle and rich, and they seem to be smiling. (They may not be rich by our standards, but they are rich enough for down here). The rich people we see & meet on the streets seem to be the semi-adult children of richer families, who like living the beach lifestyle.

Several people we meet here, in discussions with them about Rio, make a comment about how hard it is to make a living here. It's hard to find good jobs they say, and yet it's expensive. Rio is suprisingly expensive. Prices are almost the same as in the states, in most restaurants, bars & stores. For the few people who have are from rich families or have real international/professional jobs here, they can live a good life. But the majority of people probably have a hard time making a living. They seem reasonably happy & healthy, and they don't seem to work that hard.

Where has the day gone? We slept in late, took three hours to get breakfast, then I went for a swim & walk on the beach, then went to get a late lunch. It's now 5pm and I haven't done anything, but I have enjoyed every moment.

(pictures to follow)