Over spring break, the two of us (with our roommate, Liz) went to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil! This trip took time to prepare for and we were really looking forward to it. Rio is Julia's hometown: she was born there and only moved to the United States for college, so that's where she has spent most of her life. Yana had never been there before but she was really looking forward to seeing the place where Julia grew up!
We had such an amazing time in Rio that we wanted to share some of what we did. At this point in our friendship, we've traveled enough together that we feel well equipped to share some tips on what to do and what not to do!
1. You don't need to learn the language, but you should learn some things.
Julia: It was super cool to see Yana feel more comfortable interacting with people while she was in town. Making conversation is a big part of life in Rio, so I thought it was amazing to see my friends really trying to learn as much as they could in such a short time.
Yana: Even though I don't learn languages as easily as Liz, I was determined to take advantage of the city to learn some Portuguese. On our first day there, I asked Julia to teach me some basics, some examples of which include Good morning, obrigada And vao bora. I even learned to say “I only speak a little Portuguese!” » When you're a tourist in a foreign city, it's a great opportunity to start learning a new language and be able to converse with the locals — and in my experience, they love talking with you too!
2. Try new foods!
J: Yana and Liz had already tried some Brazilian staples, but I couldn't wait to introduce them to some of the foods that were a part of my childhood. I think Yana and Liz were very obsessed with acai and coconut water, which you can buy in the US but is so much fresher at home. Especially for a tropical destination like Rio, I highly recommend eating as much local fruit as possible!
Y: Since living with Julia, Liz and I have become obsessed with Brazilian cuisine, and I was very excited to spend an entire week eating exactly that. I was determined to enjoy Rio and eat mangoes, pastel de nata (Portuguese cream tartlets) and pão de queijo (cheese breads) every day. Take advantage of visiting a new destination to try dishes you wouldn't have the chance to eat in your hometown. In my opinion, this is one of the best parts of the holidays.
3. Keep in mind that the most touristy places are not always the best.
J: The girls obviously wanted to see all the famous landmarks – Christ, Ipanema and Sugarloaf Mountain – but at the same time, I thought they needed to see some of the lesser known places, because that's where you can get the most accurate picture of what's going on. life in a city. One of the “off the beaten track” destinations I was excited to take them to was Praia da Joatinga; it is a small hidden beach between São Conrado and Barra that is only accessible by a short hike over some rocks. friends, these hidden gems that are such a landmark in my home life have been an incredible experience!
Y: I've been really lucky to be able to visit some amazing places around the world, but Rio stands out as one of my favorites thanks to my adorable tour guide! Not only did Julia introduce us to incredible hidden gems that a Google search could never have produced, but she was also able to steer me away from the tourist traps and show me the best places to buy gifts for my family. If you don't know anyone in the city you're visiting, it's a great idea to turn to Reddit or an Instagram hashtag to find some of these local hangouts.
4. Research the culture!
J: If you're visiting a friend or know someone who lives at your destination, it's a good idea to ask them for some advice before your trip. I remember talking incessantly about clothes as we arrived during a heatwave, and I probably drove the girls crazy by telling them to bring “anything cotton.” Plus, I also wanted the girls to embrace the more laid-back culture of Rio – Hopkins isn't the most laid-back, but I wanted them to be. cariocas for the week.
Y: As Julia mentioned, being respectful of the local culture is extremely important. You're the outsider in this new place, so you're the one who has to make the effort to figure out what's right and what's wrong. We visited Rio Art Museum — the Art Museum – which featured several exhibits on carnival and samba schools, the history of slavery in Brazil, the musical culture of Brazilian funk and more. Liz and I agreed that this museum was one of our favorite parts of the trip because we got to experience the values, heart, and ways of Rio.
5. Take photos, but don't get too carried away with it. Don't forget to live in the moment!
J: Honestly, I'm pretty happy that we seem to have a similar consensus on this. We have kept a lot of memories thanks to photos, which I find crucial: we want to be able to share these moments with others later. But at the same time, the memories I love the most are the ones that are hard to capture, like that of us all being wiped out by Joatinga's massive waves or to share Pasteis De Nata after a long day of sightseeing.
Y: Although I wish I was someone who took more photos, I know that staying in the moment is just as important, if not more. You don't want all the memories of your trip to be those of your photos: the views are always much more beautiful through your own eyes than through a phone screen. This trip to Rio was a long time in the making, and when I look back on it, I'm so happy to remember the times when we were laughing in the acai shops with Julia's mother, when I was convinced that I was going to almost drowned at Joatinga and when I felt a heightened sense of wonder at the view from the top of Corcovado.
