[YesBox]

Thanks for reminding me how beautiful Rio ("Hio") is! I went to Brazil twice in the late 2000s. Brings back some fun memories:

- Most of the locals on the beach will start clapping when the sun begins to set. Ipanema is a beautiful beach/area.

- Brazilians are curious and happy to chat with foreigners. I particularly enjoyed how slowly everyone walked, not in a rush to get to anyplace.

- If you're staying in hostels, it's really easy to fall into the trap of hanging around other foreigners who pretty much all speak English fluently (which is fun, but isn't the main purpose of traveling IMO). I learned a little Portuguese before traveling which helped break out of that. I also couch surfed (stayed in strangers homes), which was fun.

- I found the cuisine to be light, though I was on a budget. Pretty sure I lost weight and had to eat more frequently. I miss Acia bowls.

- Dont drink unfiltered tap water, and make sure the bottled water seals aren't broken. I got sick a couple times regardless.

- Carnaval and soccer (football) matches are wild. Tons of energetic people.

- I was never mugged, but met a lot of people who were, or knew someone who was (locals and foreigners). Maybe things have changed. Traveling alone at night is not a good idea.

[vintagedave]

A few years ago in Recife I was walking with Brazilian friends down the street. A football match was on and we were moving between two public showings. The street was wide, four lanes, bright in the sunshine, and utterly empty. Every single person in the city was watching football.

I pulled out my phone to check where we were on the map.

Each one of my friends immediately looked round urgently and when I put it away, one asked what I was doing. We could be mugged!

--

For all the stories like that, Brazil is one of the most wonderful countries I've been to, with amazing people. I have great friends there still today. There does seem to be a major public danger element -- I was told far worse stories. But for all of that, and taking precautions, it was a wonderful place to visit. In one way I feel bad sharing my response to your story, because it perpetuates that, but also it is a true aspect of the country. But: it is an extraordinary place, and a country I deeply wish would be more successful because the people deserve it.

[mixmastamyk]

^ Acaí, pronounced assa-EE for those not familiar.

[dcrazy]

And somewhat easy to find in the SF Bay Area, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, and I would guess New York, but certainly far more expensive than in South America.

[throwaway27448]

Acaí has been a staple bougie food in america for at least twenty years. I suspect you can find it in every major city in america.

[phist_mcgee]

I was under the impression that it's different in south america, it can be savoury sometimes?

[owebmaster]

Yeah the people living in the Amazon, where açaí is from, eat it with fried fish and they call the açaí bowl "sorvete de açaí", açaí icecream

[mixmastamyk]

Not that I know of. However, the “slurpie” style with fruit/granola from Rio that went out to the world, is good but the smooth version from the North with tapioca is better. Almost like a light pudding.

[mixmastamyk]

^ ç

Somehow the cedilla was lost.