Oh Rio how I love you!!!!!!Rio de Janeiro has officially been voted the happiest City in the world by Forbes magazine... Top of the list... and you can read the report on the official site here
I've lived here for over ten years now and can say with my hand on my heart that Rio really does deserve this fantastic award, nowhere have I ever experienced the absolutely positive joy of life and joy of living and loving that Brazilians have, and for these reasons and so much more I would never want to live anywhere else in the world! All this without speaking about the natural beauty that exists within the city! A city surrounded by beautiful mountains and deep blue sea, a city where you can leave your work, go to the beach and be watched over by the wonderful spiritual Christ statue (Cristo Redentor) standing up there high in the crimson blue Carioca sky as you soak the stress of the day away.
Yes Rio has it's problems, mainly the most publicised ones of violence and poverty, but it's got better over the years (there are a lot of over-hyped stories)
Rio has always been a city with all types of social levels living together; lower, middle and upper classes all walking along the same beaches, soaking up the same Carioca sun, drinking fruit juice or beers in the same bars, buying the same food in the supermarkets, sharing the same pure air - everyone living together and getting along, smiling every day no matter what.
For me Rio de Janeiro is absolutely unique, I've travelled to many cities in the world but have never fell in love instantly with a place like I did with Rio the very first day that I got off of the airplane and touched the red hot tarmac.
The city has a magic about it, you feel it in the air... I felt it that very first day that I arrived here, it encapsulates you, charms you, takes your breath away and makes you fall in love... just like the Cariocas (the name given to people who are from Rio de Janeiro) themselves.
And the Cariocas?! Here the people are incomparable!! I have no words to explain the wonderful energy and spirit of living that everyone has! You could be sitting at a kiosk or bar alone and within ten minutes you would have four or five new friends.
There is a famous expression here in Brazil which is: "Sou Brasileiro e desiste nunca" (I'm Brazilian and I never give up) which is so true... Brazilians have this wonderful way about them that no matter how bad the situation in life they never give up, never allow themselves to be beaten and never stop smiling in the face of adversity.
I am also like this now, I have become Carioca, or maybe I always was... because the very first day I set foot in this wonderful, beautiful, fantastic city I felt like I had come home, I really did, for the first time in my life I felt like I belonged somewhere.
Going to the beach here is an experience in itself, you make your way to the sand and the energy is all around you... a huge community of people, beautiful strangers all joined together, soaking up the energy of Rio's sun, sand and sea, people talking, laughing, sunbathing, dating. A day at the beach is like a huge social outing, especially the weekends when most of the city heads for the sand.
Those of you that have never been to Rio de Janeiro and personally experienced all this wonderful energy and beauty should get a flight here as soon as you can!!
And I can speak from my own personal experience that there is no place in the world like Rio de Janeiro to fall in love! especially when the love of your life turns out to be Brazilian!
