Rio de Janeiro | Brazil Travel Experience: Hard to Judge😮💨

On our round-the-world trip, we took a bus from Iguaçu to Rio de Janeiro. After visiting so many cities, it has to be said that Rio is truly "favored by nature"—mountains and sea meet sharply, the city is dotted with charming coastlines and beaches, and the scattered red roofs are squeezed between green mountains, giving the whole city a majestic vibe. Whether you want to explore cultural details or dive into nature for fun, this place can accommodate you, and it’s incredibly versatile! We stayed in Rio for 5 days, and excluding the Carnival itinerary, the time was actually quite tight—we only managed to visit a few places in a hurry～ 🌟 Corcovado (Christ the Redeemer) : One of the Seven Wonders of the World, it’s undoubtedly Rio’s "city emblem"! Besides the Christ statue at the top, you can also take in the panoramic view of Rio—the coastline curves like a ribbon, and Sugarloaf Mountain stands in the distance, which is indeed spectacular. Taking the little train up and down the mountain is convenient, so you don’t have to strain your legs🚂. But I really can’t help but say: This Christ statue might be the "most watered-down" among the Seven Wonders? When it comes to cultural history or craftsmanship, there seems to be nothing that can stand out. It’s somehow "coasting on its reputation" 🌟 Rocinha Favela Tour :We went to Rio’s largest favela with a local, and though I thought I’d be nervous, the whole trip was surprisingly safe! The guide is a local who grew up there, walking and telling stories about the favela’s past and present—it’s much more meaningful than wandering around aimlessly. The most thrilling part was taking a motorbike to the highest viewing platform—the wind hit our faces, the road was steep, and our palms were sweating, but reaching the top and seeing the whole city made it worth it! Walking down, we passed water and electricity facilities, schools, hospitals, and even occasionally saw gang members in vests (but the guide said they don’t bother tourists). It felt like peeling off another layer of the city, leaving a mixed feeling in my heart. Highly recommended! It’s good to watch City of God before going—you’ll get much more immersed～ 🌟 Watching a Game at Maracanã Stadium : How can you come to Brazil without watching a football match! We caught a Rio State League game that day, and we could hear the cheers even before entering the stadium. Once inside, we were blown away—fans waved flags and sang team songs, the drumbeats made our hearts race, and even if you don’t know the rules, you get swept up in the atmosphere and shout along. The excitement of watching a game live is something you’ll never feel in front of a screen🔥 🌟 Ipanema Beach : To be fair, Rio’s beaches are really good—the sand is as fine as flour, soft under bare feet, and the water is clear, though not the "jelly-like" transparent type. We originally planned to jump into the sea, but it happened to be Carnival, and the beach was packed with people, layer upon layer, like dumplings boiling in a pot. There was barely room to stand, so we gave up and just squatted on the shore watching others jump the waves, which was still fun～ 🌟 Metropolitan Cathedral + Selarón Stairs : The dome of the Metropolitan Cathedral is stunning—light filters through the stained glass, casting spots on the ground, and it’s nice to just stand quietly for a while; the Selarón Stairs are another story—each tile is covered with colorful patterns, and climbing up gives a view of the street, perfect for taking a few photos. It’s just that there are a lot of tourists, so you have to wait for a gap with no one around. This Brazil trip was two weeks in total, and most of the time was spent in Rio and São Paulo. Honestly, this experience, like Brazil itself, is tangled and complex: Brazilians are so warm! Whether it’s the aunt selling fruit on the street or the people dressed up fancy during Carnival, no matter how weird they look, if you smile at them, they’ll grin back, and they’re super eager to hand out samples or give directions🥰; moreover, Brazilian cities are quite similar to China—modern buildings pile up, business districts are lively, street stalls are everywhere, full of daily vibes, transportation is convenient, and prices are reasonable (especially coming from neighboring Argentina, it’s like a "price amnesty"). You can feel the whole country is trying to move forward. But then you turn around and see the tin houses in the favelas, the homeless kids on the street, and you have to keep an eye on safety all the time—the guide said not to walk alone into alleys at night, and we didn’t even dare to stay at the night market too late. It’s like holding a fruit wrapped in sugar coating, with sweetness mixed with astringency. It’s hard to simply say "good" or "bad". #Brazil#RioDeJaneiro