Daily Life in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Stolen Goods

Stuff on other people's blogs that you should check out:

• I've never really been that interested in going back to Ilha Grande (we went for a little excursion there once on a boat) until I saw this article in the Gringo Times. Now I think I should go there...today... 
• For anyone who has had the experience of grocery shopping in Brazil, check out this post from Blondie in Brazil's blog, she makes me feel less.. alone!
• Emily & Eric are raising awareness of a very special family in order to try and help them out. More here, including very cute baby photos...

Skiing in Rio

I think I might start a new blog called "walking the beach in Leblon and Ipanema" and just post the random stuff I see there on a daily basis. You know, like kids in snowsuits, wrapped in tarps when it's 23 degrees, people in ear muffs in similar weather, gorgeous bods both male and female, dramatic rescues, guys in speedos and fannypacks, tightrope walkers, and people peeing or clipping their toenails. I will pretend to text message while secretly taking photos on my blackberry (which is what I do now).

All joking aside, one of the many out of the ordinary things I saw the other day was a photo shoot being done on the beach - with snowskis and snowboards.

Skiing in Rio? Impossivel, I thought. Nope. Never assume anything when it comes to Rio. Click here to read about it.

Kayaking in the Amazon: Part 1

Our good friends who visited us in July took a kayak trip in Amazonas - here is the first of two guest posts on their trip:

Our Kayak trip in the Amazon of the Urubu river was fantastic! 

We flew four hours from Rio to Manaus on TAM airlines (although we would not recommend TAM, as they cancelled both of our originally scheduled flights to and from Rio without contacting us).

Manaus a city of almost two million is a manufacturing hub and a jumping off point for Amazon tourism.  The city is not nearly as aesthetic, modern or developed as Rio, but it has a lovely central plaza, some interesting Museums, a large port, and intriguing markets at every corner.  We had two days in Manaus and found that we had more than enough time to explore the city.  Hotels and Restaurants are very limited.  We stayed at the Dez De Julho Hotel. Our room was very basic but was in a good central location, had air conditioning, a fridge and was relatively clean.  Jungle lodges outside of the city are a popular attraction but are expensive (especially if you enjoy hot water) and crowded with tourists. 

The company Amazon Mystery Tours was really great, answering all of our questions and concerns before hand and making us feel safe, comfortable and well taken care of during our time in the Jungle.
We ventured deep into the Jungle, and had an authentic, natural wilderness experience.  It was just us and the animals and apart from meeting a local family we did not see any other people during our five day 4 night adventure. 




Our transportation to the river.  Between our two guides, the two of us, our driver, and all of our gear it was loaded!

We were the only ones on the adventure, along with two highly experienced professional guides.   Fabio spoke English and was a wealth of knowledge and information about the area, plants, animal, history, local customs, traditions and way of life. 

Josue set up our camp, carried many of our supplies in a canoe and cooked us yummy meals, he also made fantastic capahrinas.   After kayaking between 3 and five hours each day, exploring waterfalls, caves and hiking through the jungle we were ready for a drink when we made it to our camp.

INC

There are several clubs for foreigners to join here in Rio - the International Newcomer's Club, the American Society (which apparently welcomes more than just Americans). I am not a member of any of them but have been to events. Every year the INC has a big fundraiser, last year it was a fantastic event called the Taste of Rio. This year, they are having a 50's style party.

Here are the details I received:

"Let it Rock", the INC's major fundraiser for 2009 will take place on September 18th, 2009 at the Paissandu Club in Leblon. Tickets are now available for this fantastic event so reserve yours now!

The theme is - you guessed it - a 50's rock and roll party, so come dressed in your favourite poodle skirt or Elvis get up and you may win the grand prize for best costume! However, if you don't feel like getting your 50's garb out of that closet-feel free to dress comfortably for dancing till the wee hours......But, remember, those of you that are Elvis impersonators or Marilyn Monroe look alikes-now is your chance to show it off! We will have lots of fabulous raffle prizes, great music from The Midnight Hour Band with Neville Thorley for you to "rock around the clock" to, and.......drinks dinner and more dancing.............all for the low price of R$100 per person! Remember, the proceeds from "Let it Rock" will go to fund the InC's charitable contributions for next year. So, come, for a good time and a good cause!

 For more information contact Jackie Stern: Tel: 2540-0958
Cel: 9361-2009
Email: jdb@amcham.com.br

 For tickets contact Cathrin Becker: Tel: 2495-1808
Cel: 9103-4564
Email: membership@incrio.org.br

The Magic Mountain Man

One of my friends lives in Lagoa, sort of across from Ipanema, in a building that backs onto a mountain. From her apartment, the views are spectacular, a view of Christo from nearly every room, the beautiful lake, the ocean off in the distance, and Dois Irmaos. She hosted my baby shower when Canadoca was born and my mom and sister still  mention the views on a regular basis.

However, as I've mentioned once or twice before, one never knows quite what to expect in Rio. The views she has the opportunity to take in are not limited to these panoramic scenes.

One day, she was looking out the window towards the mountain and she saw a man. Er, maybe I should mention that he was NAKED. At the time, she thought he may have hung himself in fact, but it turned out he was just doing some sort of yoga pose or exercise.

Knowing that it would be difficult for people to picture this naked mountain man, she decided to document the experience.

I thought about blurrinng these photos in select places but then decided that it would be best to show the mountain man in his true form. You know, maintain some sort of "journalistic integrity". Consider this your warning that there is FULL FRONTAL male nudity below.

 

It wouldn't be the last time she saw the mountain man. He reappears every once in a while, showing off his moves (he exercises in the nude on the mountain). My friend who sees the mountain man speculates that he does have to pick and choose which times of year to appear, as he wouldn't want to get a, well, sunburn...

So after hearing about this mountain man for over a year we were all quite tickled to see that he'd made the paper:

 

The article calls him the hermit of the lake, claims he lives alone in a cave, climbs trees to pick fruit, and is disconnected when spoken to (talks about God and the Devil).

On TV Lately

Three things...

1) China in Box ads still crack me up every time. CHINNNNNA IN BOX! 

2) I am probably one of the last Bloggers about Brazil to mention this but there is a movement here to xixi no banho... meaning, pee in the shower, people! Save a flush. I am sorry to have yet another post about urine, perhaps I should add it as a category...

Please, please, please click on the link above (xixi no banho) as the ad is QUITE hilarious and worth watching...

Some people are really worked up about this and disgusted. I figure if it can keep even one person from peeing outside in the street, it gets a big thumb's up.  ;) Because you all know how I feel about THAT.

Some still images from the commercial (click above....)

 

3) What I find much more disturbing than the above propaganda are the commercials for made-by-Becel probiotic drinks. I see them and think: icky!  I picture  hydrogenated oil in a drink and want to puke. It may not contain this but the becel name just reminds me of margarine.... eek!  Can you tell I'm a butter or olive oil or virgin coconut oil kind of gal?

Pacing the Panic Room

While I was pregnant, I stumbled across this blog, Pacing the Panic Room, which seems to have started out as a beautiful art project dedicated to capturing the blogger's wife's pregnancy. Each week he took beautiful photos (he is a photographer) of his wife and wrote up a little piece about the week. Sigh... so nice! They welcomed a beautiful baby girl recently, who is now frequently showcased on the blog.

I read the blog regularly and had always meant to comment but, well, have been a bit busy lately. Yesterday however I HAD to. See, now there is a Brazil connection - the blogger and his family are featured in this month's issue of Crescer magazine here in Brazil:

Around the web - travel in Brazil

Since becoming Canadoca's mom I have neglected reading a lot of the blogs I normally enjoy. Which means I haven't been passing some of the interesting stuff I find on to you. So here are a few (and some are not so new but that's why!) interesting articles and tips on travelling around Brazil.

Great posts from "Brazil for Insiders" - including:

• Pre Catalan in Rio - Sofitel - which I also recently visited and quite enjoyed. 
• A Tiradentes weekend - great looking pousadas.
• A review of Conde Nast's top beaches in Brazil - and why it might be off-base. Here is a more complete list on the same site. 
• This post is a must for anyone heading to Salvador, Bahia, as is this one from The Moment blog.

From the "Gringo Times"

• Hiking in Rio - fantastic way to see some of Rio's sights in an active manner!
• Some coverage of Trinidade - a little beach community near Paraty that we visited with my inlaws back in November. 
• Or, for a weekend in Rio, check out Markets in Rio in case you are sticking around here... or head to Santa Teresa for the weekend (something I am actually tempted to do on a regular basis since there are so many amazing hotels and dinner spots there!)

From Ben in Rio:

• I don't know where this is but that waterfall waterslide looks like so much fun! 

From Expat American Living in Brazil:

• Pantanal via Train

Finally, with all these great destinations we need some cheap flights! Apparently Brazil's airline industry is going through some deregulation.

Messages on the Vonage Phone

Mr. DRL set up a vonage phone for himself and the business, back home in Canada. His messages this morning were quite hilarious - someone has been fake-numbering, methinks... by the name of "MANGLE" and "FLAVIA".  Anyway we are enjoying the messages not meant for us, but meant for these special individuals. What would be even better is if someone fake-numbered this guy with the vonage #...

I am also excited for the day we get a call from a charitable organization claiming that they will have "a truck in our area" to pick up donated goods. I will be like: "Is that so? Fantastic!" haha...

What else can you make with that bottle of Cachaça?

Cachaça... Brazil's famous liquor. If you have tried it, you likely love it or hate it and so the recipe below that I found on the gorgeous site "Bloomacious" might be the answer to your prayers either way. The lovers have yet another way to enjoy the potent stuff, the haters may have found the solution to getting rid of the rest of it they have lying around. Either way, Bloomacious gets an A for presentation in my books! Theirs just looks soooo pretty!

Leblon Iced Tea

4 oz  Leblon Cachaça
2 oz  apple schnapps
1 oz  fresh lemon juice
t tbsp white sugar
12 oz strong, freshly brewed black tea

Fill half the pitcher with ice.  Add all of the ingredients over the ice and stir. Garnish with lemon wheels and edible flowers (optional).

Pretty Classy for a Burger Joint

This billboard for "Bob's Burger's" caught my attention the other day.

The curtain opens and closes... pretty classy advertising for a fast-food burger joint...

I haven't personally eaten at Bob's Burgers, although it is not for lack of trying. It has almost become a joke for Mr. DRL and I - we will be on our way home from somewhere and the "what to have for dinner" question comes up and we say Bob's! Every time - we end up not passing a Bob's.

The new, revamped Bob's in Ipanema looks pretty nice though, for a fast food joint.

Although I have yet to try Bob's out, pregnant and all, I DID however have a fantastic burger in Brazil the other day though... at Outback Steakhouse.  Outback is pretty popular here in Brazil. People get dressed up and everything! It cracks me up, however, to find out that many Brazilians refer to it as "Australian food" and will tell you that they like "Australian food"... (based on their love for Outback - which is very much a steak and burgers joint). I am soooo bringing these people some vegemite, and we'll see how their "passion for international cuisine" continues.

Anyway - if you want a really good burger, with a proper pickle and all... Outback. Yeah, I might just be back there again soon.  Especially if this baby keeps sticking around! (Today is my ACTUAL due date).

Portuguese post

Okay so only part of it will be in Portuguese but here is a comic Mr. DRL brought home for me yesterday (probably in hopes of getting back in the good books after working way too much).  Very cute.

Blogs that are New to Me...

Some blogs I've discovered lately...

Rat Race No More - the adventures of a fellow who left his life behind in London, escaping "the City job and off the hamster wheel of life" - where else? In Rio!

Vello Vikerkaar - here's someone who has us all figured out.  Check out his post "A Pocket Guide to Expats" and let me know which category you fit into.

By the way, Mr. DRL? Fits perfectly into #2 - Regional Corporate Babysitter - thus the nice hours he works.  Lucky me...

Eating in Rio - The written-in-English food and restaurant review blog of a Carioca!

India's Repatriation Situation

I wrote recently about expats and the recession.  I missed this one - a lengthy article in the Wall Street Journal about India's reverse brain-drain situation.  Makes sense, a growing economy, why not India? Currently a number of former expats are moving home, but they aren't always finding jobs. Click here to read the article.

In the News & On my Nerves

I believe these stories are meant to hit a nerve... mission accomplished.

From the BBC, on Saturday.... A nine year old Brazilian girl is pregnant with twins, after alleged abuse by her stepfather. She is legally allowed to have an abortion, as Brazil does permit abortions in certain situations, such as when there are risks to the mother, or in cases of rape.  The mother & doctors who came to this nine year old girl's aid have been ex-communicated from the Catholic church... and the vatican is now defending this move.  Sick.

President Obama uses a teleprompter. A lot. I think this is a big SO WHAT? I mean, doesn't the guy have better things to do than memorize a million speeches? He represents his country well when he speaks.  Read more here.

Check out RioGringa's blog for the latest on the Goldman saga, aka "the other side of the story"... poor David Goldman!

Vanity Fair explores the world of plastic surgeons... by having an attractive 27 year old 5"9, 120 lb woman go to three of them to see what she "needs" - check out the recommendations.  Unreal!

For the winos and whiners...

Just some stuff I've come across lately... you know, while I'm NOT partaking in one of my er... hobbies...

I do miss a good glass of wine.

Step one of course is picking the wine.  Since moving here we have really taken to Luigi Bosca which is an Argentenian wine. We especially like the pinot noir.  Here in Brazil it is R$70 or so per bottle. We brought a case home with us from Argentina, where it sells for approximately US$10 per bottle (or about $R20) - which makes us wonder if there is some sort of extreme tax on Argentenian wine here? Anyone know?

Anyway I highly recommend bringing wine back from Argentina!

Step two is marking your territory... meaning your glass. Back home, we came across these cute little ceramic wine charms with names such as "desperate housewife" and "big cheese" painted across them, and became kind of known for them! We decided to incorporate them into our wedding, and personalized one for each guest, as a favour/placecard. So, you know, this can be fun if you really want to impress your guests or just make some fun generic ones that can be used over and over again like "lightweight" etc....

While perusing one of my favorite blogs, The Moment, I came across another great, personalize-able idea... using a china marker to mark (write on) your wine glass.  Buy them here, see the idea from the moment here . 

Step 3 - Indulge the "lightweights" I referred to above. Go easy on them (water that wine down) with sangria... here's my recipe:

2 bottles of the cheapest red wine you can find (in Brazil I've found good sangria wine for as little as $R4...)
1 can of peaches in juice, blended
1 pineapple (or can of pineapple), blended
1 cup of cointreau or triple sec

Adorn with thin slices of citrus fruit, and top with sparkling water if they are REAL lightweights (or if it is before 2 pm).  Serve on ice.

Step 4 - is particularly useful if you can't partake at all (much like yours truly) - wear or smell perfume that features hints of wine flavour - haha - or if you are like me just borrow your husband's glass of wine and sniff at it while out for dinner.  Only about 20 or 30 people will look at you funny.

haha

Having had a cold myself for the past week (which seems so weird to me, having a cold and being in a hot climate...) but I digress, and being that I'm pretty sure this is the first you're all hearing of it, I agree wholeheartedly with Erin at "Not Rocket Science since 2004" that people should really stop putting their cold symptoms as their facebook stati.  (Among with most other things people put as their status...) Because really, no one cares, and it's also super gross in a lot of cases.  For the love of god, people! Her entry is pretty funny.

The Heartbreak of Rio

If you read my blog you know this: I did not plan to have a child in Rio. In fact, after moving here I questioned whether or not I would ever like to have children of my own. I was set on adopting. (My husband does not share my enthusiasm though). Having my own children seemed frivolous when there are street babies here who could use a proper home.  It must be my own child, why?  So that I can have a little mini-me?

That said, adopting in Brazil is no piece of cake. According to several people I've spoken with who have tried, it's practically impossible.

When I was home this summer I shared some of my opinions (no, not with the 10 friends & family who just gave birth... I left them alone!), no wonder some people were surprised to hear our news.

Rio Gringa did a very descriptive post earlier this week about what it's like to pass by these children and families. Imagine how I felt the day I found out I was "for sure" expecting, and after going out for a fancy dinner with our family friends who were visiting, walking by a similar scene pretty much on our doorstep when we returned home.

Despite this, I have come to terms with the guilty feelings and refuse to feel guilty about having this child, and am very excited about this new chapter.  I just wish I could do more for the rest of those babies too and imagine it will become even harder to see children in poverty once I am a mother myself.

Shoulda gone for sushi (earlier in the night)...

It has come to my attention that Matthew McConaughey and Camila Alves were in my hood on Friday night.  As in about 2 blocks from my house, people....

Here is a photo which I poached from www.gossipgirls.com Please don't sue me.

They had dinner at sushi leblon, which is one of our favorite spots.  We actually were just down the same street that night, meeting friends for drinks.  We even grabbed a KONI later (see, we ate sushi too... Just like a block away...)

In my neighbourhood, the paparazzi are often lurking around, taking photos of people who I have never seen before (Brazilian stars). Being that I have no idea who these people are, they don't really get any special treatment from me.  But Matthew McConaughey, yeah I think I'd recognize him.

They also ate at Zozo at the base of the sugarloaf gondola, another one of my favorite spots (and incidentally, where I told my dad he was going to be a Gramps!)...

Apparently they stayed at the Hotel Fasano down the beach in Ipanema/Arpoador.

OMG

Ok this entry is totally not related to Brazil.

I'm very excited/nervous/anxious about the US presidential election today.  Yes, even though I am not American.

This weekend I caught up on the Tina Fey as Sarah Palin skits on SNL and found them quite amusing although maybe not as amusing as this...

When I first saw that Sarah Palin had been prank called by a Canadian comedian I quickly thought: Rick Mercer. However, it was Marc-Antoine Audette and Sebastien Trudel from Montreal who got through to Palin, posing as the French President, Nicolas Sarkozy.

Palin apparently did not catch on that it was a prank until the end of the 6 minute call, despite being told:

• she would make a good president someday (her response: maybe in 8 yrs).
• that he loves to hunt and that the two of them should go hunting by helicopter: "I just love killing those animals. Mmm, mmm, take away life, that is so fun..."
• that if they go hunting, they should leave Dick Cheney at home... (Palin responds that she will be a careful shot)
• that the Canadian PM's name is Steph Carse (it's actually Stephen Harper!) Palin replies: "Well, he's doing fine and yeah, when you come into a position underestimated it gives you an opportunity to prove the pundits and the critics wrong. You work that much harder."
• after she mentioned the beauty of the French President's wife he told her his wife is "so hot in bed"...

Palin only catches on after the comedians have identified themselves and even at that point says: "Oh, have we been pranked?"

The call will hit the airwaves in Montreal this morning...

Great Blog Posts I've Read This Week

Made in Brazil on what Havaiana's are coming out with next: Handbags!

Emily on what pregnant women in Brazil should or should not drink... this is funny. Apparently coffee and booze are a-okay but packaged non-alcoholic drink mix "chemical water" is not.

Lulu's Bay has a post with the most gorgeous fall scene I've seen.... makes me a bit homesick for some brisk air but then I remind myself I went swimming in the ocean this afternoon and that was nice & brisk too!

Typ0 made me crave Egyptian carb's I've never even had (is that possible?) Sounds good, I might have to come visit!

Things I Have Read This Week That Horrify Me

On Canarioca's blog: one of her neighbours in Rio was killed by their driver's son! Yikes!

On RioGringa's blog: There is a very complicated and unfortunate custody situation that has currently unfolded in Brazil involving an American Man, his child, his deceased ex-wife, and his child's Brazilian stepfather.  The Brazilian stepfather will not allow the father to see the son. In fact, he defied a Brazilian Federal Court Order that allowed the boy's father a visit, and has effectively kidnapped his stepson.  An event in support of the father was held in Ipanema this weekend and apparently people tried to sabotage it.  What can we do to help? Check out the blog, Bring Sean Home, and get involved in the letter-writing campaign.  This is a very sad situation!

On Eyes On Brazil: I learned about the Carandiru Massacre, which happened 16 years ago and killed 111 inmates in a prison in SP...

A Quick Overview of the Brazilian Economy

This title is quite tongue-in-cheek because after reviewing the news of the past week or so, the prospect of such seems more ridiculous than ever.  Depending on which news source you prefer and what time of day it is, the message on how things are in Brazil is quite different.  To be honest, my theory is that no one really knows on a macro level (much like oh I don't know, everywhere else on planet earth these days??)

Yet, to inform, encourage and entertain... let's skim the headlines, shall we?

Wednesday, September 17th - Reuters - Brazil's real sinks to one year low, stocks tumble.

• Investors fled emerging market securities on concerns that a global credit crunch will worsen.
• Brazil's currency lost 2.58%, its weakest close since Sept. 24, 2007.

Sunday, September 21 - Business Intelligence Middle East - Multinationals Line Up for Brazil's Oil 'Gold Rush'

• More than 35,000 people attended last week's oil and gas conference in Rio.
• "As financial markets crashed around the world, executives here were busily making deals and bubbling with enthusiasm at the prospect of working with Petrobras to exploit the oil trapped below a thick salt layer underneath the ocean floor, something that could cost up to US$600 billion."
• "Being with Petrobras is a bit like being in the first gold rush in the US...”

September 2008 - Euromoney - Gloom Descends on Emerging Markets

• This cheery article opens up with "Stock markets tanking. IPO Volumes falling off a cliff. Volatile commodity prices." Sweet.  
• Although the article does not focus much on Brazil it does mention its largest telephone company, Telemar, pulling a $1.5 billion transaction as the result of poor market conditions.

Monday, September 22 - LA Times - Brazil Sits Pretty Amid US Economic Crisis

• Tagline: There was a time that when the 'the United States coughed, Brazil got pneumonia' but after its own share of crises, Brazil has seen a period of economic stability and rapid growth.
• Article refers to ThyssenKrupp's steel factory going up near Santa Cruz (outside Rio) as resembling "a medieval cathedral -- and stands as a latter-day shrine to the belief that Brazil's economy will withstand U.S. financial turmoil." I've been there, it is pretty freaking crazy I will say that!
• The article points out that although Brazil is not immune to the global chaos going on, particularly with its exports, despite the market turmoil and panic last week, several large-scale projects or expansions in Brazil were still announced with companies such as:
  
  • Hyundai of South Korea
  • Suzuki of Japan
  • Whirlpool
  • Sheraton Hotels
  • HBO ( it could triple the # of programs produced in Brazil in the next 2 yrs)
  • *
• Although the article acknowledges it's far from easy to do business in Brazil it also shows how Brazil has made stides to become more independent economically.                                                                                                                         *(ALSO - not mentioned in this article - but a deal with Tyson was also announced)

The moral of the story: don't expect a crash course on the Brazilian economy, use multiple resources and don't believe everything you read in one article, please!! Oh and also - don't take my title seriously ;)

News roundup...

• Brazil is spending $160 million on a nuclear submarine to protect its offshore oil. This is part of Brazil's new defense plan, which will be made public September 7. Reportedly there is expected to be a significant increase in defense spending.
• Traces of an ancient urban society have been discovered in the Amazon basin. Evidence was found of dams and artificial ponds. Read more here.
• Reese Witherspoon visited Brazil last week to promote a campaign against domestic violence, which is a major problem for Brazilian women: one Brazilian woman in five suffers violence at the hands of a man, and there are an estimated 2.1 million women in Brazil who each year are victims of domestic violence. Full story here.
• Bloomberg reports that ruling party Senator Aloizio Mercadante says Brazil needs new ways to tax oil companies because the current oil-concession auction system isn't providing the government with sufficient revenue from resources...
• 2,000 penguins have washed up on shore in the last few days, reportedly because of an oil spill from an unidentified ship...

Where to stay...

The Independent, out of the UK, featured an article called "Five Hotels for Barflies" which showcases none other than the Hotel Marina All Suites, which is in my neighbourhood of Leblon.  I have also heard that it's where Bundchen stays while in town...

The article says:

The world's de facto party capital isn't short of places to let your hair   down. But to get into the swing of things, start the evening at the Marina   All Suites in the chic Leblon district. The retro Bar d'Hôtel has sea views   and raspberry-coloured sofas from which to enjoy a range of fresh fruit   caipirinhas. It attracts plenty of local celebrities, so booking ahead is   essential.

Hotel Marina All Suites, 696 Avenida Delfim Moreira, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil   (00 55 21 2172 1100; www.marinaallsuites.com.br). Doubles start at 834 reais   (£278), room only

Beaches of Brazil.

I found a great little post on the Travelocity blog about a feature on The Travel Channel released a top 10 list of the world's sexiest beaches and the winner of the top spot is none other than Ipanema Beach. I've been to five of the beaches below...

No. 21: Venice Beach, Los Angeles, Calif.
Sex Appeal: Easy access from downtown Los Angeles and hours of funky entertainment. 

No. 20: Maundays Bay, Anguilla
Sex Appeal: Intimate destination with soft sand and luxury accommodations.

No. 19: Bikini Beach, Punta del Este, Uruguay
Sex Appeal: One of South America's trendiest spots. Draws a big beach crowd that likes to party! 

No. 18: Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Sex Appeal: Cosmopolitan vibe yet family-friendly. Close to Cancun and the Mayan ruins of Tulum.

No. 17: Crane Beach, Barbados
Sex Appeal: Dramatic cliffs, active surf and cooling trade winds. 

No. 16: Seven Mile Beach, Negril, Jamaica 

Sex Appeal: Calm and warm waters, where swimwear is optional!

   

No. 15: Matira Beach, Bora Bora
Sex Appeal: Crystal-clear water and the famous Mount Otemanu.

No. 14: Macaroni Beach, Mustique, Grenadines
Sex Appeal: A beautiful beach encompassing only 1,400 acres. Located a quick flight from St. Vincent.

No. 13: Clifton Beach, South Africa

Sex Appeal: Diverse and friendly crowds, plus amazing views of the Twelve Apostles mountain range. Clifton is also recognized for being a "green" beach.

No. 12: Sunset Beach, Oahu, Hawaii
Sex Appeal: The epicenter for big surfing and jaw-dropping action.

No. 11: Pink Sands Beach, Harbour Island, Bahamas
Sex Appeal: An ultra-sexy beach that stretches for 3.5 miles. Tiny shelled creatures called Foraminifera

give the sand its pink color.

 

No. 10: Barra da Tijuca, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Sex Appeal: A sought-after location for surfers, kite-boarders and windsurfers.

No. 9: Manhattan Beach, Los Angeles, Calif.
Sex Appeal: Home to beach volleyball, great waves, watersports, and toned and tan bodies.

No. 8: St. Jean Beach, St. Barths
Sex Appeal: It's wealthy inhabitants and celebrity visitors. It's a place to show off your yacht and let loose. 

No. 7: Ko Phi Phi Islands, Thailand
Sex Appeal: A nature lover's paradise, with limestone cliffs and clear waters.

 

No. 6: Bondi Beach, Sydney, Australia

Sex Appeal: Thirty minutes from Sydney. An international hot spot known for clear blue waters and active surf.

 

No. 5: Godahl Beach, Canouan, Grenadines 

Sex Appeal: A serene location and perhaps the Caribbean's best-kept secret.

 

No. 4: Patong Beach, Phuket, Thailand 

Sex Appeal: Its notorious night club scene.

 

No. 3: Waikiki Beach, Hawaii

 

Sex Appeal: Great surf and a stunning landscape made famous by Hollywood films. 

No. 2: South Beach, Miami, Fla. 

Sex Appeal: Constant energy and a hot nightlife.

 

No. 1: Ipanema Beach, Rio De Janeiro, Brazil

Sex Appeal: Beautiful people, tiny swimsuits and mountain views.

 

Rio + Eat, Pray, Love

I realize I was a little "behind the times" in reading Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert (I just finished it a few weeks ago).  I think there was a reason for it. I identified with so many aspects of this book at this time of my life (there are of course exceptions ie) the divorce part!).  Eat, Pray, Love is the second account I've read from an American living in Rome in the past couple of months (As the Romans Do, which every foreigner living abroad should read, was the other one) and there are many similarities to life in Rio. 

I related to her struggles and joys of learning a new language, and with the sense of adventure in living in a foreign place, and being frequently alone in that experience a lot (in case you are new to the blog, my husband works a lot!), and the learning that takes place in this situation.

I yearn to relate to the experiences she had at the ashram in India, difficult but freeing.  People tell me all the time that I should become a yoga instructor, but I don't feel as though I could do it without spending YEARS in India learning from a master... plus I don't know the first thing about meditation so I would need to work on that first...

Her experiences in Indonesia have the strongest Brazilian connection, however.  No spoiler, I promise! However there is a section of the book I want to quote from, which leads me to another point about Brazil... a point in the book where Elizabeth suspects a friend might be taking advantage of her, financially:

"You need to understand the thinking in Bali.  It's a way of life here for people to try to get the most money they can out of visitors.  It's how everyone survives..."
I cringe at this for two reasons.  First of all, I hate to think this could be true... second, I hate the cultural implications under his speech, the whiff of colonial White Man's Burden stuff, the patronizing "this-is-what-all-these-people-are-like" argument. But Felipe isn't a colonist; he's a Brazilian.  He explains, "Listen, I grew up poor in South America.  You think I don't understand the culture of this type of poverty? "
...
"What should I do?"
"Don't get angry about it, whatever happens... This is her survival tactic, just accept that. You must not think that she's not a good person,or that she and her kids don't honestly need your help.  But you cannot let her take advantage of you.  Darling, I've seen it repeated so many times.  What happens with Westerners who live here for a long time is that they usually end up falling into one of two camps.  Half of them keep playing the tourist... and getting ripped off like crazy.  The other half get so frustrated with being ripped off all the time, they start to hate the Balinese."

Since we have been in Brazil, I have witnessed this first hand.  My husband and I now refer to it as "the code" and I have seen some Brazilians protect one another (i.e. in providing each other income, via foreigners) to the point of their own detriment.

Examples:

• Resistance or refusal to even consider importing/buying goods outside of Brazil in a corporate setting.  Insistence that they must be bought here even when they are three times the price, usually not of as good of quality and not necessarily essentially needed ... (although I must say "foreign company money" is obviously viewed a lot different than out of Brazilians' pockets money because the motivation to bring in electronics for personal use by my husband's colleagues is huge.... poor guy once had to bring a "gift" of a dual action breast pump for a colleague's wife... yes I went and picked it up for him back in Canada... could have kissed the clerk when she asked me if I wanted a gift receipt. Ok I am now WAYYYY off topic). 
• Price negotiations.  When looking for apartments (and recently even when looking to just rent a place for the weekend) - we are given a price.  We ask if this is negotiable? We are told that these things are not generally negotiated.  We say ok fine, the price is too hight, we will pass.  Suddenly it's negotiable...  why aren't we just told this in the first place?
• Recommendations from colleagues are always to the most expensive hotels, restaurants, etc.
• Recommendations from colleagues are always to the most expensive furniture stores, etc.
• Hiring very expensive services (now that we have price compared we know that we can get a full day of driver service for what we used to pay for 2 hrs... etc...)

I would understand this if we were dealing with a third party but I am talking about dealing with people either we employ or the firm my husband works with employs... who I generally expect would have our best interest in mind, but no, stimulating the economy of  "Brazil as a whole" seems to be a higher priority than even maintaining personal credibility or arguably even one's own job.

Coming from the land of "it's every man for himself" seeing this unity and love and concern for one's country in action is admirable, yet I see it as "winning the battle and losing the war" - why not make Brazil an easier and less exorbitantly expensive place to do business, lessening barriers to entry such as these would stimulate the economy and eventually everyone would be better off, instead it seems like a big fast-cash-grab... and does nothing to build Brazil's credibility as a decent place to do business.

I by no means intend to paint everyone with one brush.  I also realize foreigners everywhere feel this way at times.  But when I see this happening in the corporate world in Brazil, it really makes me wonder...

Recent Travel Bloggers' Comments

The best part about having company is rediscovering all the little things that make living here so different than being back home.

Lately I have come across a number of blogs of travellers sharing their Rio experiences, I thought I'd share some with you. Check them out!

O Gringo No Brasil  writes about a beautiful hike in the Tijuca Forest (which I recently visited).  Beautiful photos as well. Other entries on his blog include one about the "lighthearted" Brasilian people, and partying in Lapa. 

Dudado writes about Rio and how he (I am assuming? Sorry if I am wrong!) "cannot imagine living a normal life (i.e. working)" here.  He continues by saying that "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."

I like it!  It is also evident that Dudado was hanging around Posto 9 in Ipanema (where all the gold diggers "beautiful people" hang out, near the Cesar Park), as he says: " 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??"

Katrina D. writes on the blog "Weird Vegetables" and is here writing about her yoga class: "which was like no other kind of yoga I've ever done and involved Bollywood-type dancing and heavy nasal breathing meant to induce snot rockets--I kid you not, the instructor handed me some Kleenex to hold in front of my nose before we got started...." and what seems to be a bit of an obsession with weird vegetables... you've come to the right place Katrina!  She loves the markets here and she captures the essence of the Brazilian market beautifully, really cracked me up, she loves: "their mix of chaos and OCD produce layout. You can have all sorts of rinds flying through the air, old ladies running you over with their rolling carts, lime-and-garlic vendors tugging at your elbow, and just as you're about to lose it, a pristine pyramid of fruits and vegetables reminds you that there nevertheless remains an underlying force of order in the universe."

Sarah and Phil of World Nomads, "It's a long way from Whitley Bay" write about what sounds like a great weekend in the city.

Blogger Jacqui Walls writes about her visit to Rocinha: "It showed how the favelas and their residents contributed to the soul of the city, the spirit of ´Carnival´ and makes it such a big attraction for people from all over the world."

For tips on how to save money when travelling to Rio (it's expensive, kids!), check out this post by Tmassey20.

A Blogger called "The Key Influencer" also writes about spending time in Brazil, specifically Rio & Sao Paulo.  comparing SP to "Manhattan times five" and  my stomping ground... "LeBlon was part Beverly Hills, part South Beach and alive with commerce."  On the favelas: "It is not uncommon to see 12 year olds marching around with rifles and grenades protecting the favelas." The sum of the visit? "Getting to know and then leaving Brazil was like making friends with someone you feel like you have known your entire life. It is a country that I know I will be back to visit, do business within and bring my family to explore and get to know better. If you have not been, take a trip and make sure you see it all….."

I love hearing about the experiences of others.  Check out some of these blogs for more!

Brazil's Emerging Middle Class

Two interesting articles this week about Brazil - one from Reuters about Brazil's emerging middle class. According to the article, the income of the poorest 10 percent of Brazil's people grew by about 9 percent per year between 2001 and 2006, compared with 2 to 4 percent for richer people. Although Brazil still has some of the worst inequality in the world between the rich and the poor, this is rapidly changing.  Tens of millions are moving out of danger of hunger - which also means sales are up for items such as consumer electronics, appliances and cars. However, the article also addresses those left behind.

The second article focuses on Recife, and its boom - condo developments, easy credit, etc. What's less obvious:

- Wooden and tin shacks teeter over open sewers and fetid rivers.
- Public schools struggle to prepare workers for the growing economy.

- Hundreds of slums breed dengue mosquitoes and Brazil's highest murder rate.

"Brazil leaves a lasting impression of a nation that has one foot striding confidently toward the global stage, yet the other mired in the Third World. Its ability to make the leap will depend on how it addresses its glaring social inequalities, many Brazilians believe."

Cultural Crossings

Check out Cultural Crossing - a site dedicated to building cross cultural community and understanding.  Sections on everything from how to greet others in a foreign culture to how to negotiate.

Rio's Ranking

It's not only the investors who are seeing "blue skies" in Rio these days... Who knew Rio had the world's bluest skies? Scientifically proven folks, you heard it here...

Rio is also moving up in the world as far as quality of life goes.... regularly Mercer releases reports on quality of city living - measuring "quality" in 39 key areas such as political & social environment, health & sanitation, schools & education, etc.  The survey is used by HR departments in multinational companies when deciding on compensation for executives abroad (i.e. how big the "hardship" premium will be).

350 cities are in the "database" 215 of which are ranked. I don't know how they decide which 215 are  to be on the list, but anyway... Currently, as far as quality of life goes in major centers in Brazil as compared to the rest of the world:

• Sao Paulo is ranked 119th
• Rio 114th
• Brasilia 105th.

  To contrast this to Canadian cities:

• Vancouver is 4th
• Toronto 15th
• Ottawa 19th
• Montreal 22nd.

In the US, Honolulu is ranked 28th, followed by San Francisco 29th, Boston 37th and Chicago 44th. Washington, DC, ranks 44, above New York 49th.

In last place? #215 = Baghdad.

Safety
The report also addresses personal safety.  All of the Canadian cities included in the survey: Vancouver, Calgary, Ottawa, Toronto, Montreal - tied for 18th safest.

On the list, Rio is 167th.  I was surprised to see that Rio scored lower than cities such as Mexico City - 125th...

There is always a lot of debate over where is safer to live - Rio or Sao Paulo.  According to the survey, overall quality of life is better in Rio than Sao Paulo, but it is less safe overall.  But I find this to be flawed - even though there may be more murders, etc. here it is possible to walk around/feel safe, whereas when I have been in SP I have not been able to enjoy that or feel safe walking. Statistically I guess it is safer.

But Rio still has the bluest skies...

 

Summing up Status Anxiety

A good friend sent this to me today and I thought I would share it with you... because I like it. It has nothing to do with Brazil, other than the fact that status anxiety does exist here (though I find it slightly different than North American status anxiety), and it has been so cold here the past few days that a cup of hot chocolate sounds really good...

HOT CHOCOLATE

 

A group of graduates, well established in their careers, were talking at a reunion and decided to go visit their old university professor, now retired.  During their visit, the conversation turned to complaints about stress in their work and lives.  Offering his guests hot chocolate, the professor went into the kitchen and returned with a large pot of hot chocolate and an assortment of cups - porcelain, glass, crystal, some plain looking, some expensive, some exquisite - telling them to help themselves to the hot chocolate.

 

When they all had a cup of hot chocolate in hand, the professor said: 'Notice that all the nice looking, expensive cups were taken, leaving behind the plain and cheap ones. While it is normal for you to want only the best for yourselves, that is the source of your problems and stress. The cup that you're drinking from adds nothing to the quality of the hot chocolate. In most cases it is just more expensive and in some cases even hides what we drink. What all of you really wanted was hot chocolate, not the cup; but you consciously went for the best cups... And then you began eyeing each others cups.

 

Now consider this:

Life is the hot chocolate; your job, money and position in society are the cups.  They are just tools to hold and contain life. The cup you have does not define, nor change the quality of life you have. Sometimes, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the hot chocolate LIFE has provided us. The happiest people don't have the best of everything. They just make the best of everything that they have.

 

Live simply.

 

Love generously.

 

Care deeply.

 

Speak kindly. 

 

And enjoy your hot chocolate.

Nude Bike Ride - Protesting indecent exposure to cars

For those not interested in current events in Brazil, I'm sorry for the overload lately but there's just so much to work with these days!

200 semi-nude (and at least one fully nude) cyclists demonstrated against car pollution and dangerous riding conditions in Sao Paulo recently. Although much attention was garnered from motorists etc. the demonstration went without incident - with the exception of the said fully nude rider being arrested. (Probably for their own good... I cannot imagine the chafing - yeah there are a lot of bad things that could potentially happen I think...)

Apparently the "nude" part symbolized how the cyclists feel vulnerable/unprotected vs. motorists who "wear" their cars.

On the group's web site:
"We face automobile traffic with our naked bodies as the best way of defending our dignity and exposing the unique dangers faced by cyclists and pedestrians as well as the negative consequences we all face due to dependence on oil, and other forms of non-renewable energy."

Cooperative for Women in Rocinha

A very interesting article I found about "Coopa Roca" - a co-op which employs more than 150 women in Rocinha (South America's largest favela), skilled seamstresses making unique clothing out of couture fabrics.

Attention all Canadian Expats!

For a look at the flip side... the blog of an "expat in Canada" - personally I am calling this research/preparing myself for "repatriation" when I visit home later this summer!

Also - the Canadian Expat Network (an online community for Canadian expats) has announced a "Canada Day Expat Giveaway" - all you have to do to enter is sign up for the network (prizes include flights from Air Canada, gift certificates from NHL, Lululemon, The Bay, Indigo Books, etc.) Click here to sign up! Of course you need to enter before Canada Day, July 1st.

The Latest to Chime In...

...on the "what do you do all day" question that is asked of we wives-of-those-who-work-abroad-who-are-tired-of-justifying-our-existence-to-you-people-dammit: Nairobi Typ0

I must say I LOVE this it is so funny - click here to read the full post, Expat Wife Blues but I've taken my favorite excerpt out, below...

...right now, I’m feeling rather tired of this lifestyle. Not the having a maid and driver part, (I’m sufficiently selfish and lazy to appreciate the luxuries that Hubby’s employment choices have offered me), but the unemployed housewife part seriously depresses me at times. “So what do you do?” “You don’t work?” “So what exactly do you do all day?” These questions, each said in an increasingly condescending tone, are beginning to curdle my very last nerve. My usual Stepford answer is, “I am here to support my husband in a country that I’m not legally allowed to work in. Thank you for asking.” As Hubby and I don’t have kids, I don’t even have the respectable answer of, “I’m raising my children” to fall back upon. God, lately I’ve been thinking of having/hiring kids for just that reason! Instead, all I can tell people is that I volunteer, work for the Association, and all the other things with which I fill the day. I still usually receive disdainful looks from Hubby’s work permit holding coworkers and friends, but I enjoy my life knowing that I contribute to Hubby’s job and wellbeing in a myriad of ways those lonely losers could never understand. (See I’m not bitter at all. Much.)

Another Tool for Learning Brazilian Portuguese

Can you tell I've been stalking some other "Brazil Blogs" and those of other foreigners living abroad? This handy dandy blog is kept by a fellow named Adam who has taken up residence in Brazil , and has some amazing tips on learning Brazilian Portugese - here is the link to an excellent post on tricky words and verbs in Portuguese.  FYI there are several versions of verbs such as think, live, change, invite, know, spoil, etc..... this post helps!

Thoughts on being an expat

Found another great expat blog - Suzer's Expat Adventures - and a great list "5 Things I've Learned Since Becoming an Expat" - click on the link to read the reasoning behind each one...

1. Shyness is a luxury.

2. On the same note as above, being an expat is an excellent opportunity to develop interests and talents you've always had but perhaps never but into action.

3. Being an Expat Partner/Spouse adds a lot more complexity to a relationship, making essential relationship values such as flexibility and patience even more important.

4. Culture shock is not something that may happen, but something that will happen.

5. Being an expat is something you don't recover from.

Currently Reading...

a fantastic book.  I would highly recommend it to anyone who is looking into doing a stint as an expat slash foreigner working abroad.  It's called "As the Romans Do" by Alan Epstein, it's about an American family who relocates to Rome.  I haven't been to Rome but after reading this book (well, two thirds of it so far, to be accurate), I am struck by the number of similarities to Rio.  Such as the cafe culture, the way laundry is done, children are treated, meals are eaten, meetings are held...  So, basically I think it would be a good read for someone moving here!  Or for anyone for that matter, as it is very well written.

From "Gringoes"

Gringoes is a site I used quite frequently before moving here - it has a ton of firsthand info from people who have moved here themselves.  Today I noticed an article geared towards the finance industry - suggesting those who have lost their wall street jobs could consider moving to Sao Paulo... click here for the article.

Credit Crunch & Plastic Surgery

With the credit crunch now hitting various areas of the world we must ask ourselves how it will hit Brazil? A country where at the till at the supermarket you are asked if you would like to pay a vista (all at once) on your credit card or in three payments... Price tags on everything are difficult to decipher as prices are in "10x" payments...  or maybe you would like to pay for your butt lift with 36 easy installments?

I think it is going to really hurt here.

Because of Brazil's history  with inflation and currencies, the culture is very "cash in cash out" - I have an upcoming blog post on instant gratification and cheap thrills and how I see both being a huge part of the day to day culture here. It's called living in the moment. When so many (because of the history with inflation disasters) have been burned by "saving" it seems silly to save.  Spend it today, in fact, spend tomorrow's money today too.  At least we know what the dollar is worth today.

Recently, the Federal Medical Council cracked down on Brazil's booming plastic surgery biz .  According to an article on Bloomberg's web site last month, the Council banned ties between doctors and lending firms that help people pay for cosmetic surgery.  (Apparently it is customary for Brazilians to arrange for financing before even seeing the doctor...)

Why?

These loan sharks financing companies charge patients interest rates as high as 55%... which for the past few years or so has made plastic surgery "affordable" (if you consider paying almost double for the procedure in the long run by financing it "affordable"...) for the average Brazilian, thus growing Brazil to be a current world center for plastic surgery.  There are now more plastic surgeons per capita in Brazil than in the US.

This all may change if the industry is as reliant on these "financing programs" as it appears to be...

On a slightly related note, if you have a buddy who is recovering from their recent tummy tuck, breast augmentation, or nose job, you might want to pop a card in the mail (these surgeries are not small potatoes, people, and the recovery time is long and grueling...) from Lift Me Up card company.

And finally, in more plastic surgery news, Sheyla Hershey, the woman who says she is proud to be in Brazil's version of the Guinness Book of World Records for the largest breast implants, (she has undergone surgery 8 times for those babies,which are FFF - 2 quarts of silicone, per breast) is upset because:

a) The state of Texas will not allow her to further engorge enlarge her breasts, 1,000 cubic centimeters of silicone is apparently the legal limit.  Who said everything was bigger in Texas?

b) She finds it frustrating when people laugh at her. She says this is her dream and she wished people would be move accepting. The quote according to Fox News: "I want to look better each day, every day. Everybody's got a dream inside, you know? And, it's good when you can make your dream come true."

Book: "How to Be A Carioca"

How to be a Carioca

I just picked this one up at the suggestion of a few of my classmates at the Portuguese school I'm attending.  It seems like the guide I wish I'd found before moving here!  Everything from beach etiquette to definitions which will make arrival in Rio go more smoothly. Cute with funny illustrations.  I found it to be a bit critical of the food in Rio though - there are some amazing restaurants here. (I really need to update that section of the site I am falling desperately behind!)

Book: "How to Say Anything in Portuguese"

How to Say Anything in Portuguese

Recommended to me by classmates, this book is helpful for the "what to say" and "what not to say" situations that come up, many hints and tricks for social graces.  Interlaced through the book are little stories, examples and explanations of Brazilian culture.  A must for those learning Portuguese.

Futebol?

If you are coming to Brazil, taking in a futebol game is a must. As I mentioned in my previous entry about our experience at Maracana, the energy is amazing, inspiring, indescribable.  Sergio keeps a fantastic blog which is essentially a schedule of all games happening at Maracana - which should make planning your time in Rio much easier. Check him out!

Good News for Brazil on the Good News Network

I just found this fantastic news blog, The Good News Network and low and behold they had something to say about Brazil. 

Click here to watch a video on Lula's new $1.6 Billion project to increase infrastructure in the favelas (streets, lighting, even cable car links). Construction has begun in Rio's Complexo de Alemao.

News & Current Events Roundup

Lonely Planet is checking on three of its books -including "South America"- for inaccuracies after a writer who contributed to them - Thomas Kohnstamm -  said he had made up large sections (the Brazilian ones), admitting he broke company rules.

This is fantastic publicity for Kohnstamm's not-yet-released book, Do Travel Writers Go To Hell? about his experiences as a travel writer, where he writes that he invented copy, plagiarised and sold drugs to make up for low pay while working on the guide to Brazil. Apparently he also worked on a book for Colombia, without visiting the country.

More Ex-Pats Heading Our Way!
After 69 years of a monopoly, the Brazilian reinsurance market is scheduled to open up to more foreign competition this week.  Some of the big guys, Lloyd's of London, Hannover Re and Transatlantic Re will open Brazilian offices here in Rio, while the two largest reinsurance companies in the world, Swiss Re and Munich Re, have chosen Sao Paulo, 

International Investment in Brazil's Hotel Industry
Accor plans to invest 200 million Euros in Brazil to develop a network of 20 Formule 1 and Ibis hotels (5,000 rooms) in Brazil by 2010.  13 hotels will be built in 10 cities, mainly Rio de Janeiro, Brasilia and Sao Paulo.

March 20 - The Evolution of the Biquini

I saw a post similar to this on the blog of some ex-pats from the states who live a few hours from here, Eric & Emily's Adventures and it inspired me to do one of my own.  Her mention of double-sided tape is the best idea I've heard in awhile...

It is amazing how we adapt to our surroundings. Humans are resilient creatures, if nothing else...

So here it is, folks, let's let the photos do most of the talking. 

Below: From L-R we have a definitely North American, very comfortable yet not exactly modest swimsuit in coral, followed by a more revealing suit by North American standards (Victoria's Secret) that before now I was not always comfortable to wear in front of everyone/in certain situations or settings- in green, then in red - my first Brazilian biquini, bought last year when I visited, to the final step in the evolution thus far - in white & turquoise print (designer link here). On the bottom, for a different perspective I have them stacked, right bum edge carefully on top of right bum edge (your left in the photo).

There is no way around it, the bathing suits are getting smaller. And, um, no, last time I checked, my "bunda" had definitely not gotten any smaller, and trust me, I check all the time.

The reason I bought  this one: (besides my husband's insistence that it "brings out my eyes"... right... ) it has a fab cover-up which will undoubtedly get a lot of wear. For example, oh, I don't know... probably every time I stand up!

Gotta run, must do some squats...

March 12: Staying in "The Moment"

Hold up. I never said I'd come up with all the content for this blog myself... besides I could not have said this any better (so why reinvent the wheel) and I thought this was funny.

Maybe it's just me, and the fact that I have known for awhile that I'd be moving here, but references to Brazil seem to be everywhere these days in mainstream North American media... both books I read on the way down unexpectedly had references to Brazil, and now one of my favorite blogs. Below you will find a March 10th entry from a blog I like, "The Moment" -  a daily blog on fashion, design, food and travel. 

Help Desk | Attractive People

By Jeffries Blackerby

(Romano Cagnoni/Getty)

In the Help Desk column, the editors of T: The New York Times Style Magazine answer questions from readers. Submit your queries on fashion, travel, design and entertaining to The Moment.

Question: I like to go to places known for having the most beautiful people. I’m just back from Budapest and often go to Brazil, but I find the most attractive people seem to be on the plane during the journey, not in evidence when I arrive. Why on Earth does this happen?

Answered by: Jeffries Blackerby, T travel features editor.

I’ll spare you the old beauty-is-in-the-eye-of-the-beholder line and take this question at, er, face value. On my first trip to Rio, I’ll admit I had internalized so much Brazilian mythology that I expected the entire city to be one giant Mario Testino shoot. So I was surprised to see among the bronzed, butt-flossed beauties in Ipanema more than a few beached whales. I quickly came to realize that Brazil was full — full — of regular people. And you know what? I’ve noticed those same pesky normal folks in Budapest too! Can’t countries have a stricter door policy? Where’s the bouncer from Bungalow 8 when you need him? You may detect a note of sarcasm here. Forgive me. The enjoyment of looking at attractive people, places, and things is certainly nothing to feel bad about — indeed, it’s at the heart of the travel experience for many people. But what also drives most of us to explore the world is the desire for experiences beyond our own little lives, however steeped in gorgeous fabulosity they may be. Try it sometime.