When we think about Brazil, Rio instantly comes to mind — those famous beaches you see in movies, Sugarloaf Mountain, Christ the Redeemer, and so many other iconic places.

I visited Rio in May, which is fall there, but the weather was still lovely — warm, sunny, and barely any rain. Coming from Europe, one of the first things that surprised me was how many residential buildings had high walls and gates. I’d heard about the crime situation in Rio before, and I guess those walls are a way to stay safe and prevent robberies.

Despite that, people were incredibly kind and friendly everywhere I went. The only challenge was the language! Since I don’t speak Portuguese, it was sometimes hard to communicate. Before the trip, a friend had actually warned me to travel with a local, because very few people speak English — and it turned out to be absolutely true. So if you’re planning a trip to Brazil, I’d really recommend learning at least a few basic Portuguese phrases!

In terms of cost, I found prices in the Copacabana and Ipanema areas quite similar to what I’m used to in Amsterdam. And one of the highlights of my trip was visiting Niterói — the beach there was beautiful, and the sunset was truly unforgettable.

Of course, I can’t talk about Brazil without mentioning the country’s most famous flip-flops — Havaianas. They’re unbelievably comfortable! I couldn’t resist and ended up buying a pair for myself and another for Degi. Can you guess the color? Not easy, right? Yep — green! 😃

I’d love to know — have you ever been to Brazil, or is it still on your travel list?

P.S. If you’d like to know where to find them, just let me know in the comments ☺️