It's Me, Sara Louise

No, The Husband and I aren’t headed to Brazil, but me and all of you are taking a little trip down south (way down south) to Rio via American expat Rachel from Rachel’s Rantings in Rio de Janeiro. Since Brazil’s summer is in full swing, I thought it would be nice for all of us Northern Hemisphere people who are currently suffering from the post-holiday blues to live vicariously through Rachel and head out to the beach (ignoring recent riots and floods of course) with her tips on how to bathe like a Brazilian. Go ahead and grab your itsy bitsy teeny weeny yellow polka dots and let’s let Rachel take us away…
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Summer is quickly approaching in Rio de Janeiro and that can sometimes be intimidating for foreigners.  Bathing suits, for both men and women alike, are enough to make you run to your hotel/hostel pool and stay there with the other white folk.

Don’t be scared! The beaches here are not just for the excessively toned and tanned!  Put on that Brazilian bikini, aka. post-its on string, and get your ass out there. You are not alone.

Every Brazilian body type, and there are many, sport the barely there suits on a beach.  Hell, even Great Aunt Julia, all 200 + pounds, is wearing a smaller suit than you.

Every time I suit up for the beach, I go in front of the mirror to pinch and groan. Oh how the glory days have passed.  Of course I suck it up and head out with the family.  Upon arrival, I look around.  Sure, there are the hot bodies and the not bodies, and everything in between.  It’s enough to make this stomach obsessed girl from California finally breath.

The beach in Brazil isn’t really about how hot you look, not once you pass 25 anyway.  It’s about being there, enjoying it, and burning off the drama from the workweek.

In the words of the Caricoa: “There’s nothing a good day at the beach can’t cure.”