You went to Brazil but didn't go to Rio de Janeiro?!?

 Yeah.

I seriously considered it, to the extent of researching tourist attractions and okay neighborhoods for cheap hotels, but in the end decided not to.

1)  Although I've crashed basic Portuguese, it's a daily struggle.  My Spanish, although far from fluent, just flows and I don't have to worry about it.

2) There are of course lots of museums and parks (now my faves) in Rio, but it seems like the primary attractions are high spots like the Christ the Redeemer statue and that other rock that sticks up high above the ocean, and the beaches.  I have a terrible fear of heights (just some of the YouTube footage made me queasy/panicky), and despite the seductive allure of names like "Copacabana" and "Ipanema," I'm no beach bunny.

3) I've tried most typical Brazilian food already.

4) Theoretically, at least, I return to the US in early December (although the only thing that has me wedded to that date is my paid-for return flight) and after nearly a month in São Paulo, I'd like to fit in one more country before my return.

Beachy! Not.


PS Fun Portuguese pronunciation fact: "Rio de Janeiro" is pronounced "HEE-oo gee zhah-NAY-roo."







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