Rio de Janeiro - March 2022
Rio de Janeiro has been on top of my bucket list for quite awhile. I’ve always been drawn to images of the beaches, the soccer culture, and the Christ the Redeemer statue standing tall over the city. I wanted to do something for my brother after our dad passed away, so I offered to take my brother on this trip to bond and make some good memories together. We ended up having a great time! I can’t wait for Devon to be my travel buddy again in the near future.
Devon and I flew out of Minneapolis with layovers in Atlanta and São Paulo. Once we arrived at the airport in Rio, we took an Uber from the airport to our hotel. We decided to stay at the Hilton - Copacabana due to its proximity to the beach and other tourist attractions. When I arrived at the hotel, I was amazed at the level of amenities that this hotel had. It truly was a 5 star experience. I don’t normally stay at luxury hotels, so the fact that there was a rooftop bar blew my mind. We were only in Rio for 1 week, which I think was an appropriate amount of time for the city.
Devon and I did two organized excursions during this trip. The first was a Main Attractions Day Tour, which included a visit to Christ the Redeemer, Santa Teresa, the Selaron Staircase, and Sugar Loaf Mountain. I really enjoyed this day tour because we got to cross off a lot of the “must-do’s” of the city without having to plan all of the logistics. The highlight of the day was the visit to Christ the Redeemer - this iconic site is one of the man made 7 wonders of the world for a reason. The next excursion that we did was a Sunset Sailboat Tour. This sailboat tour was the highlight of the entire trip for me. I loved being able to see the entire skyline of the city with Christ the Redeemer towering over the city. The boat didn’t feel too crowded and the other members of the group were very friendly. I’d also say this tour provided the best photo opportunities during our time in Rio.
In addition to the major highlights, the city itself was very fun just to walk around and explore. Devon and I spent a lot of time walking Copacabana and Ipanema just enjoying the sights. One of my favorite memories is walking by a bar and seeing people of all ages singing and dancing to the same songs. The sense of national identity is strong in Brazil, and it was beautiful to see how families and friends interacted with each other.
I was not very familiar with Brazilian cuisine prior to this trip and even though I am by no means an expert after just a week long vacation, I left feeling very satisfied with the food that I had. There were plenty of foods that were new to me, such as cassava, farofa, and the national dish of Brazil - feijoada (a form of black bean stew). Devon and I also enjoyed a few steaks with chimichurri, which is a flavor bomb of herbs and a staple of South American cuisine. Beverage wise, I indulged in many caipirinhas - a drink made from limes, cachaca rum, and sugar.
One thing that may deter people from visiting Rio is its safety reputation. I felt safe during this vacation, but you definitely need to use your street smarts when visiting. There is a large income disparity in the city, which has led to petty crimes often directed towards tourists. Regardless, I am absolutely willing to come back to Rio and to also explore other cities in Brazil. I think Rio de Janeiro is a can’t miss city; it deserves all of the praise that it receives and more.
-DB
