Originally Posted by
ChocolateFactory
Except most concerts I've been to had an audience significantly smaller than 2 million.
I'm really torn on this - on one hand I think maybe I'm overthinking this and we'd have the time of our lives on the beach.
And then I think that I actively avoid the large crowds back at home because I just don't like standing there for hours (especially in cold weather), there's too little space to move comfortably and everybody is super drunk. I don't know if I would enjoy that situation more if I had to watch out for pickpockets on top of that...
OK let me address this part.
Regarding pickpockets on the beach..... just don't carry anything for them to steal. No jewelry, no wallet, nothing valuable worn or in outside pockets. They are looking for the most obvious, easy marks. (I do remember one guy in Salvador's historic district telling me he almost lost his shorts, the pickpocket had his hand so deep in the guy's pocket, looking for anything he could grab. LOL)
Have someone make a small (passport size) pocket with a Velcro closure to sew or pin into the front waistband of your preferred shorts or whatever you choose to wear (white clothes, if you can). Keep a credit card, some larger bills and a trimmed Zerox copy of your passport photo page there. (Don't some men's shorts have inside pockets too?) Keep only enough money in a more accessible place for water and/or immediate needs. If you need to access the pocket's contents, it's easy to turn away, particularly in a building, or toward the gf, and reach in discreetly. No handbag for the gf.
What may work OK for you both for carrying a few things, including that "immediate needs" money, a small digital camera, or a touchup lipstick, is a small fanny pack (called "pochette" in Brazil), worn in front where you can keep a hand over it when necessary, preferably the kind that has one zippered pocket that is flat against your body, with the strap/belt closure under your shirt tail. You can use safety pins to keep the zippers closed too.
You can sit in the sand at the beach. Maybe bring a canga (sarong) to sit on. No need to stand the entire time. It will not be cold.
There will be family groups there, kids and all. Everybody will be in a good mood, friendly.
There are not 2 million in your immediate section of the beach, not standing shoulder to shoulder, stomach to back, with no room to pass. It's a very long strip of beach. As I mentioned, it feels more like a concert, but not the crush at the stage.
Many new travelers to Brazil read and think too much. Then they get feet on the ground and find out it's not nearly as bad as they were led to believe.