EC-Rider Travels

Today has been a bit of an admin day as I gathered everything together for the next stage of my adventure. Most importantly a trip to the ‘beauty parlour‘ for the full Brazilian treatment. Manicure, pedicure and hair cut with Analida – hysterical. The rest of the day was spent packin’ and chattin’.

I went for a last walk around Flamengo. I have to admit, I have very mixed feelings about Rio, much I love but not all. The climate, beach, mountains, ocean, tree-lined streets and general greenness are very special. The people are lovely, smile and laugh a lot and very respectful of women, children and the elderly! It is surprisingly clean and great pride is taken in keeping everywhere looking as nice as possible. I love the ‘any excuse for a party’ atmosphere and the value placed on a good work/life (beach) balance and most of all Christ the Redeemer always watching over.

The latter perhaps, ironical, when the one thing I feel sad about is that you are so wary walking around and always have to be on your guard, wear no jewellery, take nothing with you (Analida never carries her house keys or a phone with her bank details!). The architecture is also heartbreaking, the old colonial houses are so beautiful, even in their state of total dilapidation (which most of them are), but there really are relatively few of them now and it is tragic how so many have been replaced by hideous tower blocks. The majority with their ugly air conditioning units on the front and almost all residential or commercial buildings have high locked gates surrounding them.

What struck me on my walk, was the number of dogs there are in Rio. All shapes and sizes who must be living in these tower blocks (imagine during COVID) and the number of pet shops and pet-parlours there are. Apparently your dog goes for a wash and blow-dry every week in Rio – don’t tell Beanz! This is only surpassed by the number of hair-dressers and nail bars. Hair and nails are high priority for Rio women and they too apparently go once a week!

You certainly would not want to be disabled or in a wheel-chair in this city. There appears to be no provision whatsoever and the mosaic-laid pavements are totally uneven and go up and down around the tree roots. It was hard enough negotiating them with two working legs! There are many, many children, despite contraception being readily available and free! Education is also free and you either go in the morning (7-12.30) or afternoon (1.30 – 7) – complicated for working parents.

As a visitor, however, I have certainly had the most amazingly, spoiling time and insight by Analida and also Edivaldo.

We went for a ‘last meal’ in a delicious sushi restaurant with Edivaldo as our date. It was so lovely to see him in his home city and I was sad to say goodbye. He has such ambitious ideas to change the world of ballet in Brazil and improve the culture within the ballet companies and schools. It is a tall order as it is all so ‘established’ and run by the old guard. It is, as always cripplingly short of money and so decisions are very much money-driven (sound familiar?!). I wish him so much luck, he is such a great guy and ambassador for the good work of The Royal Ballet School.

5am start tomorrow so think I better switch off.