Cariocas

• It is so weird to be in a country where everyone is so beautiful - all the brazilians look like hard bronzed mahogany planks. Their skin is -intensely- brown, their bodies are fit and toned and hairless, even the old people, so as superficial as it may sounds to have 'getting a tan' as no. 1 priority, it feels necessary for us right now as our paleness makes us stick out as 'gringos' (white people) massively!
• They are obsessed with themselves and their bodies - every beach and park will have a little outdoor gym type place with weights and traning things so the men (of literally all ages) with their oiled bodies can go and work out where the whole world can see them
• I assumed when I got here that more people would speak english but it seems that no one here does, although any attempt at the language is always greeted with smiles (not mocking!) and help if needed
• I also assumed that it would be more dangerous than it is which is why my photos are severely lacking in number because I havent taken valuables out - but, contrary to expectations, people dont't actually walk around with machine guns and randomly crash their cars and mopeds into you..
• Personal space is non-existent
• You will never get served first over a native - your food will arrive last even if you ordered it before everyone else in the restaurant
• Efficiency is non-existent