Break from the big city

Rio is an interesting place and very scenic in parts but it still feels good to be out of the big city. It's a bit tense there with the crime, crowds and current dengue epidemic. Although I met some very nice Cariocas, it definitely feels more relaxed here and the people in general seem more happy and friendly.

Been thinking about how different it feels here in Brazil from the other Latin American countries I've visited. Part of it is the language, which to me seems more like Italian or French than like Spanish. Another part is the different mix of people - more European and African than mestizo and indigenous as in Ecuador. The music is different also - samba and bossa nova instead of salsa and bachata.

Because of the much higher cost of living, I had been buying groceries and eating in the hostel instead of eating out. So while I haven't tried much of the local food yet, what I have tried and seen on the menu is also different from Ecuador. No more platanos, more beans and fruit juices I haven't seen before. For lunch here in Teresópolis, I just had a pitcher of açai juice and a banana and cinnamon pizza!

View of the hostel from the street below

Santa Teresa neighborhood of Rio

Copacabana at sunset