THE RIO DEAL

Que pasa USA?!?

It is official, I have fallen hard for Brasil...I LOVE everything about it! I saw a whole other side to this beautiful country after having visited Rio! Before leaving, my cousin had said that is his opinion "Rio was the most beautiful city in the world". I smiled this claim off and assumed that he was just bias because he was Brasilian and what not. I assumed wrong, and swallowed my words the next morning when his claim became true after having awoken to look out my window to see none other than PARADISE! I am talking the

screensaver/computer backround image material here. It literally offered it all! The mountains are tall and green, and feel as though they are natures natural barricade to protect this gorgeous city. These gigantic mountains sit right on the coast of the beyond breathtaking sandy beach where there a plenty to see and do. Like many of you, I was curious about the beach scene, so here it is: the bodies were either rock solid or they weren't, but in any case, everyone was bronze and you got the idea that there was just an wave of care free confidence and acceptance. With regards to this self confidence and carefree lifestyle,generally speaking, it seems as if the superficial details that we as Americans thrive upon are irrelevant here...I gotta say, it is refreshing!

In any case, I fell in love with the beach and other forms of natural beauty that I encountered. Two of the most iconic tourist spots and natural beauties of which I am referrencing is Pao de Azucar and the statue of the Cristo, both of which were breathtaking! Pao de Azucar are essentially two ridiculously large mountains attached by cable car. We stopped at both mountain tops, looked out to the ocean and city views...it was the kind of place that I literally could have sat and stared at all afternoon. While I was checking out the view, I noticed a big crowd who turned out to be watching the taping of a novela that is very popular here. Next it was off to see the Cristo statue, which I had always admired and constantly looked for whenever we were driving around town. It was BREATHTAKING! Much larger than I could have ever imagined! A picture just does not do either of these sites justice, especially El Cristo.

Along with the natural belleza of this beautiful city, there is a thriving city life complete with **** restaurants and **** stores. I have been eating like a beast! Please note, this is my way of hinting to you that when I come back like 10 pounds heavier, don't lie and say otherwise, b/c we will both know you are lying. With regards to the shopping, the stores have really pretty stuff, and I love paying attention to what is in style, what trends are similar and which are different! What stores are a big deal here and what American brands are popular here. Everything is much more expensive, and I am always a bit financially conservative on trips and like to be in the clear until the end when I go $buck wild$. To which my parents are surely cringing right about now, but don't worry...I am just living out your ever so popular last words to me "you are only young once"! Changing the subject, I am also in absolute love with the architecture here. It is a fix of old and antique, gothic/European style cathdrals, banks, and other buildings and then there will be a modern highrise across the street. LOVE THIS MIX! In a further attempt to "do as the locals do" I went to the theatro the other night to watch a play in Portuguese called "En Fin Nos". It was about a married couple that gets locked inside their bathroom and I came to learn that you can learn a lot about a person when locked inside a bathroom. It was super cute! I was worried that I wouldn;t understand anything, but I understood most of it! Patience and practice leads to progress. I know that little nugget was worth needlepointing on a pillow, you're welcome. All in all, I haven't stopped and it has been truly a pleasure to visit Rio and I hope to do so again very soon!

I managed to attach some pics. on here, but for those you who have facebook my first set of pics is already in an album, but I need to upload the new ones from Rio. In any case, I am having a blast and adored my time in Rio.

As for my current status, my little cousin's first birthday is today so they are having a party tonight and so we've been setting up for that. Tom. I am set to go out with one of my younger cousins to drink/dance, so that should be interesting/fun and then Sat. night I am going to the Jack Johnson concert! He is all the rage here so I am pretty excited:) I will upload more pics and keep y'all posted soon. Hope all is well. Miss everyone & hope to hear from y'all soon:( XO