Uh oh – why do I keep doing this to myself? I really should just take all my good Brazilian music off of my iPod. Every time I hear a relaxing Bossa Nova or a familiar Pagode, I start day dreaming about Rio.  Not particularly helpful when you’ve got a week’s worth of office work to tackle.

Rio has many iconic landmarks that even people who’ve never set foot in Rio recognize, but there’s definitely something more to this city that keeps me coming back. Sure there’s Corcovado and dance till you drop samba schools, not to mention beautiful beaches full of beautiful people to tempt you at every turn, but I realize that it is also the “attitude” of the city that draws me in.  The city and its people have a way of doing things that I’m not sure would ever really work at home in America, but that’s OK…its just so Rio.

In Rio…everything is a family affair. I’ve been out dancing at 3:00 AM only to see see families with little children dancing right along side them.

Not only was this kid in the club until 2:00 AM, he was also part of the band

In Rio…stop lights and stop signs are optional – drive at your own risk especially after the sun goes down.   One truly nail biting experience was when my Brazilian friend drove my car here in Los Angeles.  Within 5 minutes I was already preparing my “Well you see, officer….” speech.

In Brazil, any of these can equal ‘Go‘.

In Rio… short shorts, high heels and bustiers are acceptable outfits just to go to the local store or corner bar.  I’ve never seen any situation too casual for a Brazilian woman to dress up for.

In Rio…Brazilians know what’s up when it comes to tanning at the beach…don’t lie down. It wasn’t actually until this last trip that I figured this one out. I eventually noticed I was often looking up to talk to my friends because while I was lounging in the beach chair, they were all standing around.  If you’re up and moving around, you minimize your chance of getting too much sun on just one part of your body.  PLUS you can get a better view of the eye candy that walks on by. Genius.

In Rio…there’s no need to go to the mall because you can buy everything from bikinis to small appliances on the beach, at a stoplight or while you’re walking home from work.  The ultimate convenience for the shopper and no overhead for the salesman.

One of many specialty “shops” on the beach.

What foreign city have you spent a lot of time in and what quirky things about that city make you smile? What is it about that city and its people that keep bringing you back?