On Tuesday night, I put all my Carnival gear in an XL Ziploc bag, closed it tight and found it a designed spot in my backpack—easy enough, it’s not like I wore Sambódromo-worthy costumes with wings and feathers.
I nicknamed the Ziploc bag the “glitter bag”. I like nicknames. It helps me make sense of the world.
Okay, maybe it will take more than nicknames to make sense of this world.
I’ve been looking forward to Carnival for months, and now it’s over. This is terrifying. The world, i.e. the one with smartly dressed people who make crazy decisions, is terrifying. I’ve heard that up north, people are fighting instead of partying together.
What am I supposed to do? I have no plans for the rest of the year, especially such a a chaotic one.
Let’s be honest. I’m not that into Carnival—I’m not Brazilian, I don’t drink, I don’t collect blocot-shirts nor do I have my own bloco.
But this year, and probably the past few years as well, I came to see Carnival as more than just a long, giant silly boozy party. It’s proof that perfect strangers can come together to create something meaningful, that big crowds are not a danger or a target and that it’s worth doing something just for the sake of it because it makes people happy.
Like, excuse me, but I’d rather walk around Rio de Janeiro in pink latex with my husband wearing a polka-dot skirt than fight with whoever we were told we should fight again.
I’ve been on a high throughout most of this trip. I’ve felt euphoric many times. But just mention North America and I’m frowning (Europe is shit as well but at least it’s my shit). I have lines all around my eyes and it’s not just because I’ll be 42 very soon—I’m worrying instead of sleeping peacefully.
Am I going to come down smoothly or crash after Carnival high? The Brazilians will move onto post-Carnival weekend parties but I’d rather keep the memories of the three of us roaming around in Rio.
Carnival is over as far as I’m concerned.
Well, at least, we don’t have a hangover.
Mark handled many blocos stoically so as a reward, I took him to AquaRIO on Wednesday to see actual sharks. We visited the aquarium when he was six but of course, he doesn’t remember it. Well, exploring the largest marine aquarium in South America with a 12-year-old is much more fun than with a six-year-old!
Then we spend the rest of the day on Copacabana Beach because why not.
I’m usually sad to leave places but I don’t mind leaving Rio. I still find the city way too crowded, expensive and dirty, even though some spots are stunning. Plus our apartment came with cockroaches and I spent the week sleeping in the smallest bedroom in the world.
It’s now time to introduce Feng and Mark to Cabo Frio—we should finally be able to relax!
AquaRio – Aquário Marinho do Rio, Praça Muhammad Ali – Via Binário do Porto, s/n – Gamboa, Rio de Janeiro – RJ, 20220-360AquaRio – Aquário Marinho do Rio, Praça Muhammad Ali – Via Binário do Porto, s/n – Gamboa, Rio de Janeiro – RJ, 20220-360AquaRio – Aquário Marinho do Rio, Praça Muhammad Ali – Via Binário do Porto, s/n – Gamboa, Rio de Janeiro – RJ, 20220-360AquaRio – Aquário Marinho do Rio, Praça Muhammad Ali – Via Binário do Porto, s/n – Gamboa, Rio de Janeiro – RJ, 20220-360AquaRio – Aquário Marinho do Rio, Praça Muhammad Ali – Via Binário do Porto, s/n – Gamboa, Rio de Janeiro – RJ, 20220-360AquaRio – Aquário Marinho do Rio, Praça Muhammad Ali – Via Binário do Porto, s/n – Gamboa, Rio de Janeiro – RJ, 20220-360AquaRio – Aquário Marinho do Rio, Praça Muhammad Ali – Via Binário do Porto, s/n – Gamboa, Rio de Janeiro – RJ, 20220-360AquaRio – Aquário Marinho do Rio, Praça Muhammad Ali – Via Binário do Porto, s/n – Gamboa, Rio de Janeiro – RJ, 20220-360AquaRio – Aquário Marinho do Rio, Praça Muhammad Ali – Via Binário do Porto, s/n – Gamboa, Rio de Janeiro – RJ, 20220-360AquaRio – Aquário Marinho do Rio, Praça Muhammad Ali – Via Binário do Porto, s/n – Gamboa, Rio de Janeiro – RJ, 20220-360AquaRio – Aquário Marinho do Rio, Praça Muhammad Ali – Via Binário do Porto, s/n – Gamboa, Rio de Janeiro – RJ, 20220-360AquaRio – Aquário Marinho do Rio, Praça Muhammad Ali – Via Binário do Porto, s/n – Gamboa, Rio de Janeiro – RJ, 20220-360AquaRio – Aquário Marinho do Rio, Praça Muhammad Ali – Via Binário do Porto, s/n – Gamboa, Rio de Janeiro – RJ, 20220-360AquaRio – Aquário Marinho do Rio, Praça Muhammad Ali – Via Binário do Porto, s/n – Gamboa, Rio de Janeiro – RJ, 20220-360AquaRio – Aquário Marinho do Rio, Praça Muhammad Ali – Via Binário do Porto, s/n – Gamboa, Rio de Janeiro – RJ, 20220-360AquaRio – Aquário Marinho do Rio, Praça Muhammad Ali – Via Binário do Porto, s/n – Gamboa, Rio de Janeiro – RJ, 20220-360AquaRio – Aquário Marinho do Rio, Praça Muhammad Ali – Via Binário do Porto, s/n – Gamboa, Rio de Janeiro – RJ, 20220-360AquaRio – Aquário Marinho do Rio, Praça Muhammad Ali – Via Binário do Porto, s/n – Gamboa, Rio de Janeiro – RJ, 20220-360AquaRio – Aquário Marinho do Rio, Praça Muhammad Ali – Via Binário do Porto, s/n – Gamboa, Rio de Janeiro – RJ, 20220-360AquaRio – Aquário Marinho do Rio, Praça Muhammad Ali – Via Binário do Porto, s/n – Gamboa, Rio de Janeiro – RJ, 20220-360AquaRio – Aquário Marinho do Rio, Praça Muhammad Ali – Via Binário do Porto, s/n – Gamboa, Rio de Janeiro – RJ, 20220-360AquaRio – Aquário Marinho do Rio, Praça Muhammad Ali – Via Binário do Porto, s/n – Gamboa, Rio de Janeiro – RJ, 20220-360AquaRio – Aquário Marinho do Rio, Praça Muhammad Ali – Via Binário do Porto, s/n – Gamboa, Rio de Janeiro – RJ, 20220-360AquaRio – Aquário Marinho do Rio, Praça Muhammad Ali – Via Binário do Porto, s/n – Gamboa, Rio de Janeiro – RJ, 20220-360AquaRio – Aquário Marinho do Rio, Praça Muhammad Ali – Via Binário do Porto, s/n – Gamboa, Rio de Janeiro – RJ, 20220-360AquaRio – Aquário Marinho do Rio, Praça Muhammad Ali – Via Binário do Porto, s/n – Gamboa, Rio de Janeiro – RJ, 20220-360AquaRio – Aquário Marinho do Rio, Praça Muhammad Ali – Via Binário do Porto, s/n – Gamboa, Rio de Janeiro – RJ, 20220-360AquaRio – Aquário Marinho do Rio, Praça Muhammad Ali – Via Binário do Porto, s/n – Gamboa, Rio de Janeiro – RJ, 20220-360AquaRio – Aquário Marinho do Rio, Praça Muhammad Ali – Via Binário do Porto, s/n – Gamboa, Rio de Janeiro – RJ, 20220-360AquaRio – Aquário Marinho do Rio, Praça Muhammad Ali – Via Binário do Porto, s/n – Gamboa, Rio de Janeiro – RJ, 20220-360AquaRio – Aquário Marinho do Rio, Praça Muhammad Ali – Via Binário do Porto, s/n – Gamboa, Rio de Janeiro – RJ, 20220-360AquaRio – Aquário Marinho do Rio, Praça Muhammad Ali – Via Binário do Porto, s/n – Gamboa, Rio de Janeiro – RJ, 20220-360AquaRio – Aquário Marinho do Rio, Praça Muhammad Ali – Via Binário do Porto, s/n – Gamboa, Rio de Janeiro – RJ, 20220-360AquaRio – Aquário Marinho do Rio, Praça Muhammad Ali – Via Binário do Porto, s/n – Gamboa, Rio de Janeiro – RJ, 20220-360AquaRio – Aquário Marinho do Rio, Praça Muhammad Ali – Via Binário do Porto, s/n – Gamboa, Rio de Janeiro – RJ, 20220-360AquaRio – Aquário Marinho do Rio, Praça Muhammad Ali – Via Binário do Porto, s/n – Gamboa, Rio de Janeiro – RJ, 20220-360AquaRio – Aquário Marinho do Rio, Praça Muhammad Ali – Via Binário do Porto, s/n – Gamboa, Rio de Janeiro – RJ, 20220-360Av. Rodrigues Alves – Gamboa, Rio de Janeiro – RJ, 20220-560Av. Rodrigues Alves – Gamboa, Rio de Janeiro – RJ, 20220-560Av. Rodrigues Alves – Gamboa, Rio de Janeiro – RJ, 20220-560Av. Rodrigues Alves – Gamboa, Rio de Janeiro – RJ, 20220-560Praça Mauá, s/n – Centro, Rio de Janeiro – RJ, 20081-240Praça Mauá, s/n – Centro, Rio de Janeiro – RJ, 20081-240Praia de Copacabana, Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro – State of Rio de JaneiroPraia de Copacabana, Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro – State of Rio de JaneiroR. Tonelero – Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro – RJ, 22030-001R. Tonelero – Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro – RJ, 22030-001Packing in my Rio “bedroom” (no door, obviously), Rua Siqueira Campos, 143 1323, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 22031-071, Brazil
