Experiencing Brazil - 01
It was in the month of July when I decided to visit India
along with my parents to get my visa stamping renewed. I had decided to take 4
weeks vacation out of which 1 week I wanted to utilize to visit another country
and explore a different culture. Initially I was thinking of visiting Morocco
and Spain, but there was a wait period of 4 months for Spain visa appointment.
This was a major blocker for the plan and I had to drop the plan immediately,
there was no point proceeding with the plan. The next option I had was Brazil,
immediately which I started researching on the visa requirement. It was clearly
mentioned the visa will take approximately 5 business days after the visa
interview at the consulate. The visa appointment was available for the next
working day only. It was Saturday 14th of July, when I decided to
visit Brazil. I got an appointment for 16th July at 9:00 AM in the
morning, it was overall very smooth process for getting visa.
Now comes the planning part, I had already booked the
tickets and I was supposedly land on Sunday morning and leave Brazil on Wednesday
evening. I had 4 days and 3 nights there, I already had booked AirBnb for
staying also. It was an amazing location with beach view. While planning I was exploring
couchsurfing also, and that is where I got a host who would be hosting my
entire stay. I was happy to accept the offer and was constantly chatting with
her before travelling clarifying few basic stuffs like would Visa be accepted
everywhere or am I supposed to carry cash everywhere, is it safe out there etc.
The person named Ines was very helpful and she gave all the details asked for. Also,
occasionally she was checking on me if everything is fine on my side. It was an
amazing feeling to have a friend/host in a new country.
On the day of my arrival Ines was in the airport to receive
me, I was literally shocked to the core to see the hospitality I was receiving.
People are not accustomed to speaking English in Brazil and its only Portuguese
and a little Spanish. She had brought her driver friend to take me to her
place. We went to her place and she handed me a key to a room in her place. It
was a small cozy room with 2 single beds, an attached bathroom and a wardrobe. I
had the room all by myself. I still had my airBnb room with me. Since it was my
first time in couchsurfing I wasn’t sure, so I kept a backup there. I was not
that much tired when I arrived may be because I was very much excited to visit
Brazil. I freshened up and in the mean time Ines had prepared aipim and
couscous for breakfast.
It is a staple food in Brazil, I was lucky to stay with
a local and to explore their culture.
As soon as we finished breakfast we visited Copacabana beach.
----To be continued...
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