I didn’t know what to expect as my taxi pulled up in front of the apartment in Ipanema Beach. Justin and Tori had been on the road for months – would they be different? My first thought was how much they had changed but after spending a week with my brother and his wife I was reassured to see that they were the same as ever under those layers of South American grim and beard (Justin anyway).
The first thing I noticed about the married couple was how thin they both are. The Diddams’ (yes Tors you are one of us now!) are not known for our slender frames but all that hauling of backpacks and dysentery must be working for them. They look great! Behind Justin’s ginger beard lies a very thin and prominent jaw line.
Our week consisted of healthy eating, sunshine (not enough of it though) and exercise. Yes, you heard right. Most days began running along the beaches of Copacabana and Ipanema or around the Lagoon. After feasting on a healthy breakfast of fresh Papaya and bran (again, very healthy) we would head down to the beach. Tori and Justin looked a couple of hippies with their Peruvian hessian bags slung across their tanned bods. Definitely in stark contract to the somewhat pasty New Yorker stood beside them.
On the beach, it felt like Jonny D had been reincarnated as Justin lounged about ordering beers and snacks from the local vendors. These guys pace up along the beach selling their wares - everything from Bikinis to jewellery, beers to fried cheese on coals. The beach is definitely where Rio shines her best, as the clouds hover over the mountains behind and the Atlantic brings in a cool breeze.
Sadly the rains came for several days during the middle of the week, which forced us to leave the beach and get cultural. These trips included visiting the old colonial-style village of Santa Teresa and riding he tram back to hustle and bustle of the main business ‘Centro’. We passed the hours drinking coffees and beers and hearing all the amazing stories from J + Ts excellent adventures through South America.
Another afternoon we headed to the 'Rosina' favela, one of the famous favelas of Rio. This close-up and somewhat sanitised look into life in the Favela was an interesting intersection of touristic voyeurism and a Favela PR mission – we did not see any drugs, guns or crime. The only people we did see where the ”foot solider” with walkie talkies that called in our arrival into the Favela.
Whilst on the surface it appeared that Justin and Tori had become the hippy-loving Gandhis of South America, it was comforting to see the old habits never die. The hippy lifestyle did not extend far enough to food and booze. One evening we went for dinner at a Churrascaria restaurant. This marathon of meat eating began with the tastiest beef on a long metal skewer sliced off straight onto our plates. This we washed down with delicious red wine. We were given these little circular disks with green 'Go' on one side and red “stop” on the other. Believe me, by the end we made sure the disk was turned to “stop” as we could not handle another round of salted beef. Suffice to say that night we all had some crazy 'meat' dreams!
It was a very special week of catching up and swapping stories. I loved hearing the all the details of their travels. They seem to have taken to the backpacker life and I get the sense that this will not be the last adventure Justin and Victoria (and possible plus one?!!) will embark on in the future. And as for me…. It’s back to New York to dream of Caipirinhas in the sun for another day!
Lots of love, Hannah
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