Spectralight’s Blog
Knowledge is power, ignorance bliss…I guess I fall somewhere in-betweenFinding an apartment in Rio de Janeiro
When I first started renting apartments in Rio de Janeiro, I hardly knew the difference between Copacabana and Ipanema. Little by little I learned the street names, the posts, and what areas were good and bad. Things have chaged over the past eight years. Now the balance of requests has evened, and Ipanema has become more sought out than Copa. If you have never been to Rio before, it takes more than just looking at the map to decide on a place to stay. Families are advised to stay in Ipanema since it is considered safer, but even that is not entirely true. The proximity to the favelas(slums) is the best gauge of knowing whether a place is worth it or not. I can be contacted for advice in this area. Not to alarm anyone, but having a great vacation is the priority, and choosing thebest place to stay is key.
Take a Leap of Faith
When my wife and I first decided to move to Rio de Janeiro, we had no idea what we would do to make a living. We struggled for six months before moving to Teresopolis, in the mountains above Rio and taught English for a year. That was fourteen years and a lifetime ago. Seemed like then we tested our wings and found that we could fly further on faith than we thought. Since then we have gone through highs and lows, going back and forth between Brazil and the U.S. a few times andnow we are settled in Philadelphia, for how long, no one knows. One thing we have learned though, the wings are there, and most never test them, out of fear or not ever needing them. I am happy to have been through the necessity.
Places to stay in Rio
My wife and I lived in Rio for six years before moving to Philly. We run an apartment rental business and refer people there for accommodations, apartments and condos. You can reach me by email, if only for advice. Our apartments are featured on www.spectralight.net www.apartmentsinrio.com and www.riovacationrentals.com
We have many contacts in Rio de Janeiro, know the best restaurants and places to hang out. Day trips, excursions, what to do and watch out for.
First Impressions
I met and married my wife twenty years ago. I felt fortunate to have married a Brazilian, knowing that this is the country of the future. I looked forward to visiting there and experiencing the wealth of culture there. I really did not know what to expect when I first went there. The arrival to any foreign country is always exciting. I guess what impressed me the most, besides the favelas when leaving the airport, was the warmth of the Brazilian people. You find out right away that they are not shy, and are very affectionate. They really go out of their way to make you feel welcome and comfortable. I felt as if I had gone home again since people from the south are this way as well. Still, growing up in South Carolina was never like this!
Rio de Janeiro experienced
I am fortunate enough to have experienced Rio de Janeiro from the inside out, having married a Carioca twenty years ago. We have lived a total of ten years in the state of Rio, two years in Cabo Frio, a year in the mountains of Teresopolis and seven years in the city of Rio. The experience was incredible, since I never imagined living in a foreign country, much less Brazil, but I would recommend it to anyone, as long as you have the infrastructure and spirit
