Mention 'Rio de Janeiro' to someone and automatically images of dancing, live music, parties, a rainbow of colour, bright lights, beautiful views, world-famous beaches, beautiful sun-kissed bodies and Christ the Redeemer come to mind. At least that's what it was for me. I was ready to samba!
When deciding to watch the World Cup this time around we thought what better place to experience it than in a country passionate and world-renowned for its football, in its darling party city. It doesn't get much better than that.
As we prepared for the trip, slowly we learned about the dark side of Rio de Janeiro...the petty crime, the poverty, the civil disturbances, the drugs. Suddenly what seemed like a brilliant idea didn't feel so brilliant.
We arrived in Rio in the middle of the day and opted to take the bus from the airport to our apartment. The bus ride cutting through downtown Rio (something we wouldn't have seen had we caught a cab) was the most eye-opening 45-minute introduction to this city.
I stared out the window taking in every detail as the bus snaked its way through the streets of Rio - the haphazard construction standards; unfinished buildings; the grime and dirt-coated buildings, bridges, and street signs; the graffiti-covered walls; street vendors on every corner. It was a scene that suddenly felt very familiar - this is just like Manila, I thought. Taft, Quiapo, Recto, Binondo...I had seen this before but this isn't what I imagined Rio to be. How could I have been so ignorant?
The bus turned onto a Main Street and out of the maze...streets were wider, buildings taller and better constructed, less graffiti...we were on Ayala Ave in Makati. Still, l felt like I was in Manila...and on it went.
The entire stretch of Copacabana, where we stayed, was Roxas Boulevard with a beach. The back streets of Ipanema were the side streets of Makati. They sure know how to put on a good show, I thought. This city was not at all what I expected it to be, and Portuguese is nowhere near as easy to understand as Spanish (or German for that matter!), but we were in this larger-than-life city and I was keen to find the Rio de Janeiro I had in my head.
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