Rio de Janeiro: Dream Versus Reality

Rio de Janeiro: Dream Versus Reality

For decades, I have been captivated by Brazilian culture. As a teenager, I fell in love with Bossa Nova, Samba, and Brazilian Jazz. My partner and I continue to enjoy these sounds to this day. We have experienced remarkable concerts by Marcos Valle and Eliane Elias in Germany, as well as conversations with the artists themselves. My background is partly in Mexico City, making me feel somewhat Latino. If I ever visit Rio de Janeiro, I expect to feel at home due to the familiar vibe, atmosphere, and smells.

My partner grew up in Rio de Janeiro, experiencing the seventies, eighties, and nineties before moving to Europe and becoming a German citizen. She studied in Rio and worked in the favelas. If anyone truly knows Brazil in our household, it would be her. She and I seem to have somewhat different ideas about Rio de Janeiro. I have a romantic vision of the city and want to meet people she knows, visit the beaches she frequented as a teenager, attend concerts at the Blue Note in Avenida Atlântica 1910, and listen to live Bossa Nova and Samba performances on the city's streets.

My partner, however, views Rio as a challenging destination. She believes we would need to take constant precautions due to the risk of being mugged. She hasn't returned to Rio in 21 years. Some of our Brazilian friends who live in Berlin regularly visit Rio without incident, which strengthens my case for a trip. On the other hand, the Foreign Ministry's travel advisories in Berlin paint a more ominous picture: "Crime rates and the risk of violent crime are high in Brazil, especially in major cities like Rio de Janeiro, Salvador, and São Paulo.

Favelas are particularly affected, with armed clashes and drug gang activity." These warnings seem to reinforce my partner's concerns. As we weigh our chances, it appears our likelihood of experiencing Rio the way we dream of may be around 50:50, or possibly closer to 25:75 in her favor.