Rio

Loco party party loco, a city like no other

Rio is a Brazilian in his early twenties. Strong, healthy, tanned from the searing sun, he wakes up late and dresses up for a ‘bloco’ and parties, half naked, on and on. He kisses the girls there, passionately. Then goes to the beach for a bout of football, before going to the drinking district for some fun.

Blocos are the heartbeat of the city. For these daytime street/block parties, there are people packed shoulder to shoulder and everywhere you turn there’s a vendor shouting ‘agua agua!’ and a can of beer being opened, as glitter and feathers fly around. The smell of piss everywhere since public urination is the norm with too much hydration and too little rain. Sweat, water, beer mix. Going through a road filled with people felt like being in the lower intestine as it is on the toilet before finally PLOOP and you leave the crowd, relieved.

Carnival is when the city dances a samba to a tempo that quickens slowly, building up a crescendo of party and celebration. People revel in the ability to dress up as whoever they want — gay, straight, fantasy, everything goes, while a gigantic statue of Christ looks down at the city. Redeem yourselves later!

This is a city for everyone. There’s the beaches — almost every inch covered with umbrellas and deck chairs, and filled with every body shape and skin colour imaginable. Then the favelas, sprawling on the hill organically, with rivets of water running down the narrow winding steps as chickens, dogs and cats hang out at its sides while in the distance little monkeys make noise. There’s also Santa Teresa, a hilly neighbourhood with quiet little houses and corners of amazing views down the city. Lastly, the streets of Lapa, filled with dance and drink. You can chill, you can live, you can drink and you can dance. Rio, you are well-versed.

This might not be a city to come back to readily, but like a summer romance, it’s hot, it’s passionate and it’s full of life. Many kisses back, Rio!