I dream of Rio……

Brazil. A land of rolling waves, rainforests, tropical flora and fauna, caramel-skinned people and swaying hips….all underscored by the gentle rhythms of the bossanova. It was a place I had always dreamed of visiting and more than a decade ago now, I booked a ticket and allowed that dream to take flight. With two of my closest friends, we flew to Rio de Janeiro and started our adventure. Today, as a mum with two young children, where the biggest excitement of my day is whether bowel motions have taken place and whether any green vegetables have been eaten….those Brazilian adventures sure seem like a lifetime ago.

So whilst watching the Rio 2016 Olympic Opening Ceremony, my thoughts naturally wandered back to the pre-nappies and wet wipes days spent in the land of the samba. For those who are watching on TV and wondering if Brazil is really as amazing as it appears through the heavily edited lens of the TV cameras, here’s my take on it. IT SURE IS.

The natural beauty

Flying into Rio, we were greeted by twinkling lights dotted amongst verdant, green hillsides, mountains meeting the breaking waves of a crescent moon beach, and the imposing image of Christ the Redeemer looking down upon it all. It truly is one of the most picturesque cities in the world. No man can create the unique setting of Sugarloaf mountain overlooking Copacabana beach. It’s almost hard to tell whether the city is taking over the mountain rainforests or whether the rainforest is cascading its way into the city.

The eye candy

As my friend and I took our first steps on Copacabana beach we spotted some of the most physically impressive specimens we’d ever seen. I’m not exaggerating when I say that.  I had to manually put my jaw back in place as I ogled a garbage collector.  Sure, all Brazilians love to don skimpy bathers – both old and young, both svelte and….well…not so svelte.

The language

My goodness….if you have never heard Brazilian Portuguese spoken, you are missing out. Its lyrical, soft consonants are amazing and I could listen to a Brazilian speaking for hours, even though I would have no idea what they’re saying.

Culinary delights

As with any travel, I always love sampling the local food. Who knew that rice and black beans could taste so good? Besides, strolling along Ipanema beach sipping on fresh coconut juice is one thing….but follow it up with super-length churros injected with dulce de leche (caramel sauce) and you know you’ve found a little piece of heaven!

The Cariocas

The friendly nature and passion of the Cariocas (aka people that live in Rio de Janeiro) is evident everywhere. We were lucky to attend the grand final derby match between the two rival Rio soccer teams – Flamengo and Fluminese. At the end of the match, I got the fright of my life when I was suddenly grabbed by a 120-kilo, shirtless, sweaty Flamengo supporter. Just as I was thinking “that’s it, I’m going to wake up in a bath full of ice with a scar where my kidneys should be” I realized he was simply giving me, a complete stranger, a huge bear hug out of sheer joy because his team had won!

The vibe

There is one particular memory that has really stayed with me, and it sums up the unquantifiable, general “feel” that Brazil had. My friend and I suddenly got caught in a torrential downpour in the middle of running an errand. After a short wait, it was evident that it showed no signs of letting up so we took the obvious course of action and found a little bar in which to pass the time. When I say “bar” what I really mean is a tiny shop with the kind of cheap, flimsy outdoor chairs we might use at a picnic set up out the front. We sat undercover sipping the local spirit, cachaca (distilled from cane sugar) and shooting the breeze whilst the rain pelted down around us. Others did the same, and though we occupied those chairs for hours, there was no pressure from the barman to move on. We got so caught up that we didn’t realize our other friend would’ve been back at the hotel wondering what had happened to us. We were relaxed, happy and in that moment, we almost felt local.

The music

I saved the best for last. We visited Rio during Carnival time, so as you can imagine, we got an immersion lesson in music. The Carnival itself is a once-in-a-lifetime experience – a whirlwind of drums, feathers, colour and beats. But it’s also an organized, formal event. What I enjoyed even more were the local street parties leading up to Carnival, where thousands of people converged on a local high street to samba the night away. As well as samba and bossa nova, we learned about forro, a simpler style of partnered dancing that is characterized by cheek-to-cheek and chest-to-chest dancing. It’s just as you would imagine it – romantic and sensual but never tipping over into ‘dirty’.

No country is perfect and of course Brazil has its sad side as well. Touring the favelas and visiting a sponsor child were hard to cope with and taught me so much. But overall it is one of the most incredible, vibrant and diverse countries that I have visited.

Sometimes when I think back on this trip my heart hurts a little…at the things I no longer possess…the freedom that is gone….the friends that now live far away….and the intrepid lifestyle I’m not currently able to foster. But of course I also gained incredible memories that, although tinged with melancholy, are full of life, colour, music and culture. Oh. And Rio is also where I met my (Aussie) husband, so I was lucky enough to find love as well!