Advice: Fitting In...
 

howdy, my first trip to Brazil in a couple of weeks. I'm going to spend a weekend in Rio, and based on a thread here I booked the Mar Ipanema.

Any advice on how to 'fit in', or, perhaps more importantly, how not to stick out like an obnoxious tourist? I also read somewhere that you're not supposed to sit on your towel at the beach...is this true?

TIA...

Chris

Never heard this one about not sitting on your towel, so I don't think it's true.

If you don't want to stick out on the beach, I'd say avoid Tevas, Birkenstock or similar footwear, particularly with socks. :D Socks are fine if you're going for a stroll or run and wearing running shoes or sneakers. But on the sand, stick to the flip-flops, board shorts and t-shirt set. Also, preferably no hats, including baseball caps, but this is a smaller point.

And please look to both sides before crossing the bike lanes or you'll be spending some time in the ER.

Just do not look like a tourist, the thieves go after the clueless. Also, it is very common in Ipanema for the guys and girls to walk around the streets in their bathing suits (speedos for the guys, strings for the girls). Whether your sexual orientation is refrain from acting like a "horn dog." A skimpy bathing suit does not mean "I'm ready for sex with you."

Just be friendly, remain guarded and aware (FT has a very lengthy thread about safety in Rio), and smile. The beach towel thing comes from the fact I believe that most people will rent chairs from one of the many stands/tents. The "salespeople" tend to come at you aggressively when you first enter the beach so don't get to miffed. They will have drinks available, alcohol and non alcoholic, for sale.

Just thinking about it makes me long for Ipanema.

There is no way that you won’t look like a foreign tourist. Your clothes, footwear, walk, haircut, mannerisms….all of those are instantly recognizable. Plus that camera you'll be toting. You can try dressing as some Brazilians dress. For young guys, especially in seaside locations (even Rio), this might be board shorts and a T-shirt (no writing or only certain brand names—Billabong, for example) with sneakers (with no-show socks/peds only) or flip-flops (Havaiianas brand are sold on every corner in Rio).

As far as sitting or not sitting on a towel, you do not even bring a towel to the beach. Women use “cangas” (sarongs) and you may use a corner of your partner’s (if you have a partner and she has a canga) if needed to dry your face, but you will usually dry off from the heat.
At the beach, there are barracas (stands) that rent chairs and umbrellas, and the guy in charge will also supply any food and drinks you want, although there are usually also passing vendors of other items. This is the setup in Rio and at the most popular beach in Salvador (Porto da Barra). Mar Ipanema may have its own items/barraca for its own guests, as some Rio hotels do.
At other beaches, the barraca has groups of plastic tables with umbrellas and chairs already set up and you choose which table to sit at and buy your food and drinks from the barraca to which they belong. Some are “fancier”, have lounge chairs for example, and may charge more for food and drink.

As far as safety, try to look purposeful (i.e. not clueless) when walking, read the many online safety tips (no bling, keep out of deserted places, keep the camera put away unless actually taking a photo, etc), don't let yourself get too impaired by fatigue or alcohol to pay attention, and try to make all this look as effortless as the Brazilians do. ;-)

Ah, should be easy, the wife won't let me wear dark socks here either :D

Good info, thanks...

Chris

Ah thanks. I was thinking that if I went over to swim/sit on the beach, I'd leave my camera in the hotel...and maybe walk over later to take pix. That way I wouldn't have the camera sitting by my chair if I happen to go into the water (will be alone).

Yeah, I heard they'll rent you a chair/umbrella...probably take them up on it.

Thanks,

Chris

Great info, thanks...yeah I'm pretty low-key, not a big drinker, and I'm leaving my big DSLR home (just bringing a small camera that's easy to shield).

Chris

Whatever you do, do not leave anything of value around unless you have someone you trust to watch it. A few years ago a guy sitting about ten feet from me had all of his stuff stolen because he fell asleep (the only people that were around were those passing out the numerous flyers to clubs so I'm sure it was them.) In fact, try not to bring anything of real value to the beach, just some money and maybe one credit card well hidden.

If you want to take pictures, return to the beach later to take them. I do take my Iphone with me but keep the actual phone out of view (although I'm listening to music.) I would never leave it alone.

Glad to hear you are not a big drinker. Along with the 200 pound guy that is burnt red from the sun, and wearing black tube socks and bermuda shorts, nothing attracts the thieves more than a drunk unaware of his surroundings.

Anything, even the smallest thing, has value to someone whose family barely eats or who may be living on the street. Most have moral values, though.

It is fairly common in Brazil to ask the person next to you to watch whatever you do bring to the beach while you go in for a swim, though. So choose to sit next to someone who looks trustworthy :-) or at least has as much stuff as you. Then they may ask the same of you, to watch their things. Guys have it easy, though, 'cause their swim trunks usually have pockets. (unless you dare to wear a sunga/speedo :-)

Also note that the water in Rio may still be fairly cold for swimming, even if the air temp is nice for sitting out in the sun in the afternoon.

If you want to "blend in", try and find a t-shirt with some nonsensical English phrasing on it ("fashion pirate"... "world car race championship") to go with the obligatory tiny speedos

Get some over the top Oakleys that make you look like a cyborg

A few sit-ups wouldn't hurt either.

Try and match the local hand gestures

http://www.dicasdiarias.com/wp-conte...-surfistas.jpg

word, a few years back, after an 18 hour bus ride, I fell asleep on top of my bag on the beach in Salvador. Woke up to 3 dudes in rather fetching speedos pulling it from under me. At that point it's usually best to just let it go.

You could ask someone 'trustworthy' to watch your things, but how about one step further? Ask the most trustworthy and attractive looking person to watch your things :D

Some people leave their stuff with a barraca owner too

Sounds good, that will work better too, for light, to take pix later.

That's good to know...I may bring my Kindle...but it will be easier to not have to leave it if I'm not going to hit the water.

uh-oh, sounds like Venice Beach :p

The general rule is "Don't bring anything to Brazil that you can't afford (financially or emotionally) to lose." That, in my humble lifestyle, includes electronics that cost over 100% more in Brazil. Minimize the things that attract the attention of others. Whatever happened to books on paper? Don't get ruined by sand or salt water either. There are internet cafes and hotel computers for other communication. And you're on vacation after all, no need to be in contact every minute. :-)