It’s summertime, which can mean only one thing: it’s time for Tucker and Dani to hop on down to the southern hemisphere because one can never have too many winters! Of course, our destination didn’t feel very wintery at all this time because for this trip, we chose to go to beautiful Rio de Janeiro, Brazil! Here’s a recap of what we did, how we did it, and most importantly, a list of the best foods we had while we were there.
Sugarloaf Mountain
The first thing we did after dropping our bags off at the Airbnb was head to Sugarloaf Mountain for a couple of cable car rides and gorgeous views of the city. We opted to take an Uber as we had just arrived and didn’t have much time before sunset, and I think that ended up being a good choice. Ubers are fairly inexpensive and easy to use in Rio, just know that you might have a few cancelations before getting one that sticks. Also, like most major cities, traffic can be…difficult, so be ready for that as well.
Sugarloaf Mountain is a major tourist attraction, so everything was in English, Spanish, and Portuguese, making the ticket-buying process super simple. The cable car rides were quick and efficient, and the views at the top were absolutely breathtaking. But what surprised us most was definitely how much there was to do at the halfway point (Morro da Urca). There are shops, restaurants, a mini-brewery, helicopter rides (for a price, of course), and tons of marmosets to watch! This was our first reminder that we were in a very lush land, full of all sorts of flora and fauna, even in the most populous parts of the city.
Copacabana & Ipanema
Next, we went to the beach, and actually, we found ourselves in and around both Copacabana Beach and Ipanema Beach a lot during the week. The beaches are absolutely massive, and there were so many people swimming, sunbathing, running, eating, drinking, playing games, taking pictures, doing anything and everything it seemed, which makes sense because once you’re on the beach, you’ll want for nothing because there is a constant stream of vendors selling everything from popsicles and steamed corn to bathing suits and hard drugs. Seriously, there was something for everyone!
You can take your time in the sand, or you can walk along the wide, tiled sidewalks literally for miles along all the beaches. There are plenty of beachside cabanas to choose from as well if you want a little treat with a nice view and some shade. And if you don’t feel like walking, there are lots of shared bikes (which can be rented through Uber) or scooters (which have their own app) that you can rent instead, and with as many times as we ended up going to the far ends of the beaches, I was very thankful for those options! The neighborhoods in this part of the city have tons of cafes and restaurants to choose from as well, which were very lively even in the off season. It was actually really hard to narrow down all the choices here!
Centro
Prior to our visit, I was a definitely a little wary of spending a lot of time walking around Rio’s Centro. This part of the city doesn’t exactly have a squeaky-clean reputation, so I was wondering just how rough it would feel. Fortunately, we didn’t have any issues at all, but there were definitely some areas that felt a little less safe than Copacabana or Ipanema. As you always should when traveling, make sure you’re completely aware of your surroundings, and if possible, try to stick to the more populated streets. Safety in numbers (at least in this instance).
Some of my highlights from our day in Centro would be the Santa Teresa tram ride, the Metropolitan Cathedral, and the Royal Portuguese Cabinet of Reading. I knew I wanted to at least see the old tram, but once we were there, we decided we might as well take the ride even though we had no idea where it was going, and I am SO glad we did because it was an incredible (round)trip through the heart of the city. The Metropolitan Cathedral is essentially the center of Centro, so you can’t miss it. Definitely check out the inside too though because it’s one of the most unique churches I’ve ever seen. And the Royal Portuguese Cabinet of Reading was also just spectacular! I mean, free entry and tons of books? How could you go wrong?
Christ the Redeemer
And finally, the symbol of Rio: Cristo Redentor (or Christ the Redeemer). For this particular sight, we had actually bought tickets for the scenic train ride up and down, but we had to choose a day at random, and when that day came, it was stormy. Needless to say, there would be no view of the city nor of Cristo himself as he was well and fully in the clouds that day. Luckily, they let us change our date and time, which still felt like a bit of a gamble, but the second time, it worked out for us. I would still recommend buying the tickets in advance though, because when we did show up on that sunny day, the line for buying tickets was hours long.
The train ride was nowhere near as nice as the Santa Teresa tram, so now you know which to skip if it comes down to it. You can also get up to the statue by van or by walking (although some people advise not to walk due to some sketchy areas). I also wouldn’t allot a ton of time for this particular activity because there’s not a whole lot of space up at the top, and once you get your selfie with Jesus, there’s not much to do besides wait in line to go back down. All that to say, I’m still super glad we got to see this New World Wonder up close and in person because it truly is a wonder.
The Food
And now, everyone’s favorite part! Here’s a list of the foods we made sure to try while in Rio:
Açaí na tigela (a frozen açaí smoothie snack)
Baião de dois (a rice and beans dish from the northeast region of Brazil)
Bob’s (Brazil’s most popular fast-food joint)
Brigadeiro (chocolate sprinkle-covered truffle)
Cassava croquettes (croquettes made from cassava)
Churrasco (an assortment of grilled meats)
Coxinha (a fried dumpling of sorts, similar to a croquette)
Empanadas (no explanation needed)
Farofa (toasted cassava powder)
Feijoada (bean stew)
Pão de queijo (baked cheese balls)
Pastel de Belem (egg/custard tart)
Picanha (steak)
Tapioca crêpe (crêpe made of tapioca flour)
Tapioca dadinhos (delicious little cubes of fried tapioca and parmesan cheese)
And because I can’t leave it off this post entirely, you should also try a caipirinha (or four) when in Brazil. The caipirinha is the country’s signature cocktail and is made with a sugarcane liquor called cachaça and the fruit of your choice. For what it’s worth, I think the traditional lime is BY FAR the best option.
So, who’s ready to go to Brazil now? I know we’re eager to go back already! Rio was so much fun, but Brazil is a huge country with so much to offer! I hope we’ll be saying “bom dia” again before too long! Until then, I’ll just keep dreaming of all that delicious food!
The second New Year (also known as the Chinese New Year or the Lunar New Year) has come and gone, and with it, possibly our last long winter break off together. Just like last year, the Chinese university semester break coincides with the holiday giving us several weeks off, which, of course, we put to good use! My program had its mid-year meeting and conference in the Philippines this year, and somehow, Tucker and I managed to squeeze in three (and a half) other destinations on our island hopping itinerary. You might have seen the hundreds of photos on Facebook, but I’d also like to share a few words about our time traveling in South Asia. To be honest, it’s a little surreal to be writing this as I watch the snow fall outside, but here we go!
Our first stop was Macau, a “special administrative region” of China. It gets this rather long name due to it being somewhere in between a province and another country entirely. It’s a part of China, but it’s also not China, which is actually one of the reasons we wanted to visit. We wanted to see if there were any noticeable differences. We also wanted to visit because we were eager for another taste of Portugal. Macau used to be a Portuguese colony and has retained quite a bit of the Portuguese flair in architecture, food, and language.
After a few days of strolling around Macau’s narrow alleyways, we took a massive speed boat (TurboJet) to our next destination just across the water: Hong Kong. This was actually our second trip to Hong Kong, but last time we didn’t quite get to everything on our list – this short stopover on the way to Midyear was our second chance. We had less than 24 hours in the city, but we managed to make it out to Lantou Island to see the incredible Buddha and cableway there, we took the bus to the top of Victoria Peak to watch the sunset over the city, and we went to Tim Ho Wan for the world’s cheapest Michelin Star eats. While I definitely preferred Macau’s laid back, European vibes, it’s hard to not like Hong Kong as well. Macau and Hong Kong are a couple of tiny islands (and respective peninsulas) that I highly recommend everyone to visit! No visas needed for US citizens! :)
All too soon it was time to fly to the Philippines and get to work. When we first landed in the Philippines it was chaos! Passengers getting up and grabbing their bags before the plane had stopped moving; people sitting on seemingly every inch of the floor in the airport; signs for flight changes being moved by hand from gate to gate; loud cover songs of 2000’s hits playing in every corner of the terminal, etc. All I could think was “Well, we’re definitely not in China anymore.” As we sat waiting for our flight though, the newness wore off, and it was easy to see that the Philippines are just plain fun! In fact, their national slogan is “It’s more fun in the Philippines”, and I totally got it. Smiles were everywhere! The flight attendants wore bright yellow polos and hummed songs as we boarded. Fellow passengers sang along with the music they heard on the plane. The joy was contagious!
The first week we were in the Philippines I had to “work”. I attended meetings with the other Fellows, we planned and executed various group activities, and generally bonded and reconnected after our last five months apart in our various host cities/countries. For this part of Midyear, we were put up in a resort on Mactan Island, which was incredibly fancy and not the sort of place Tucker and I usually go for (I’ve never heard so many “yes ma’ams” and “hello sirs” in my life). It was beyond beautiful though, and luckily Tucker was able to take full advantage of the beach, the snorkeling, the infinity pool, etc. However, after a few days completely devoid of local culture, I was definitely ready to get to our next location: Cebu City. It was here that we attended and presented at a local teacher training conference held at the University San Jose Recoletos. Easily my favorite part of Midyear, I was able to meet and interact with many local Filipina/o teachers and get a much better feel for what life in the Philippines is really like.
Once the conference and Midyear were officially over, Tucker and I hadn’t quite had our fill of the Philippines, so we headed to Manila for some good old-fashioned touristing. Manila is an incredible city with some of the best food I’ve had in a long while. Their specialty seemed to be fusion restaurants. We had super interesting and delicious food at Loco Manuk (Filipino, Peruvian, and Chinese) and El Chupacabra (Filipino and Mexican), and saw a Japanese-French Cafe that looked amazing as well! In addition to the incredible food, we also had a great time walking around Manila Bay, grabbing a drink in Intramuros (the Old Town), and watching the Super Bowl at a local expat bar. The Philippines boasts an amazing mix of languages and cultures, and it was so fun for us to be able to use English (commonly spoken there) to ask about a million questions of our taxi drivers, servers, and any other local we could find. We learned about the strong influence of Catholicism in the Philippines, the new-ish movement towards environmental clean up, and most of all, we learned how welcoming and friendly the people are.
At this point we were over the halfway mark of our trip, and my body had had enough. I left Manila with a fever and several other ailments (not so fun to describe), but I was still super excited to see Singapore! We watched Crazy Rich Asians on another leg of this trip in preparation, but the movie doesn’t do the city justice. It is by far the cleanest city I’ve ever seen, and has represented its multicultural population incredibly well! Singapore is made up of large groups of ethnic Chinese, Malays, and Indians, and each has a dedicated area of the city where you can find their respective religious buildings, restaurants, and specialized grocery stores. Even with the diverse neighborhoods in place, the city as a whole really seems to cater to each group in so many ways. Colorful, artistic, and clearly very well-off, there are so many lovely parks and public spaces in this city, where we saw families wearing everything from tank tops and sundresses to saris and hijabs. I often talk about places where there is a mix of cultures, but its usually a watered down mix, where clearly one culture has dominated, but in Singapore they were all there loud and proud. It was amazing!
It turns out KL was full of surprises for us. The majority of people living in Malaysia are Muslim, so it was much more conservative than I was expecting. Most everyone wore long sleeves and pants despite the high temperatures, and the presence of beautiful and delicious “mocktails” was at an all time high for me. KL is actually not on an island, and to us, it seemed like we lost that friendly, carefree island-vibe as soon as we arrived. Interactions were a bit more abrupt and businesslike – like they usually are, I suppose. Another surprise was the color we saw all around us – both the Philippines and Singapore were incredibly colorful cities, but I think any city would be hard pressed to match the vibrancy of KL. Brightly colored murals everywhere, some of the lushest, greenest trees I’ve ever seen against the bluest of skies, and the insanely colorful Batu Caves just outside the city made for some incredible scenes (and photos).
Okay, I realize Milwaukee is not the most glamorous or exotic city on anyone’s list, but hear me out. This smallish city, famous for its breweries and cheese, is only about an hour north of Chicago. Perhaps because of this, it can sometimes be overshadowed by the fame of its neighbor; however, in addition to the flavorful brews and delicious cheese curds, the city also lies along Lake Michigan with a river running straight through its center (sound familiar?). It also has a very strong European influence, which can be seen in the architecture and abundance of towering cathedrals. It might be less than half the size of Chicago (and about half as expensive!), but this city has been modernizing in a way that would make any European enthusiast proud. Many historical neighborhoods have been beautifully restored, the additions of a city Riverwalk and a new park have livened up the outdoor scene, and if you’re brave enough to endure the temperatures, the city is absolutely breathtaking in the winter.
The capital city of Ukraine has had a bit of a bumpy ride over the past few decades, but that isn’t so evident when traipsing around the city as an excited tourist. Although Ukraine is not in the EU yet, you’ll find many of the same European conveniences backpackers and travelers alike have come to expect: wonderful public transportation, many downtown hostels and hotels, and a slew of monuments, churches, and parks to wander around. The city is known for its monasteries and domed, Orthodox churches, but I remember it most for it’s extremely cheap and delicious food! Most signs are in Cyrillic (like the Russian alphabet), which I think adds greatly to the city’s charm, but if you’re worried about language skills, the English spoken is quite common and understandable, especially by the younger generation.
“Huang-what?”, you might be asking yourself. Huangshan or Yellow Mountain is not particularly well-known outside of China, except perhaps by avid hikers or mountaineers. However, this city and the mountain it takes its name from are spectacular places for anyone to visit. Lying about 4 hours west of Shanghai (by train), Huangshan is a destination that really has it all: beautiful nature, historical sites, and modern shopping. It might not be one of the largest cities in China (or even close), but it’s still pretty large from my perspective, with a population of 1.5 million. Just outside the city, accessible by bus are the mountains (to the north) and the preserved ancient towns of Hongcun and Xidi (to the northwest). All are worth a visit, and will remind people why China is often referred to as a traveler’s dream.
Known officially as the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), Macedonia is a small country in southern Europe that most people wouldn’t be able to pick out on a map. The capital city of Skopje, lies in the north of the country and is completely surrounded by mountains, giving it spectacular views from every angle. The city was heavily influenced by ancient Greece, which you can easily see in the large stone bridges and plethora of white columns, but it uses the Cyrillic alphabet (like Russia) and also claims one of the largest numbers of mosques in Europe: talk about a melting pot! The culture there is a unique mix all seeming to revolve around food, the incredibly refreshing 
Ah, Norway! Land of trolls, fjords, and the midnight sun. When I hear people planning a trip to Norway, usually Oslo and other cities in the southern part of the country are the first to be mentioned. However, I would much rather choose Bergen, a little further north, nestled into the fjords on the country’s west coast. This city in winter or summer is a great jumping off point for further exploration of the fjords, but it has enough to do in town that you might not even want to leave! From town squares and colorful row houses to funiculars and downhill sledding, Bergen has a lot to offer for those who prefer to spend their time on activities that don’t break the bank. However, when the time comes to spend a little cash, a great way to do it is on the food! There is a wide variety available here from traditional Scandinavian specialties to a TGIFridays; the choice is really up to you!
Another destination from my homeland (home state even) is Savannah, GA. This seaside city is always equated with the “old south”: plantation houses, buttery foods, and a slower pace of life come to mind. However, this city is a lot more than that. It can cater to a younger crowd nowadays with its bar streets and beaches, but there are also tree lined avenues, old cemeteries, and little antique shops that are great for the traveler with varied interests. Savannah is not as famous as perhaps New Orleans or Charleston, but maybe for that reason, I found it to be less affected by outside influences. It is a city that it uniquely itself: beautiful and eclectic, much like many Georgians I know.
One of my more recent discoveries, Ulaanbaatar is an unexpected gem of the travel world. A unique combination of different cultures set in a landscape like no other I’ve seen. The city itself has plenty of sights and traditional Mongolian activities and foods, but just outside the city is a completely different side of life in one of the largest landlocked countries in the world. A nearby national park gives breathtaking views of the mountains and vast plains of Mongolia, while wild horses and yak stand on the side of the road grazing in the fields or drinking from the winding rivers. It’s a bit more rugged outside the city, but no less friendly. Ulaanbaatar is consistently ranked highly by travelers who are lucky enough to go there. The lamb dumplings alone are worth the journey!
This destination (and the whole country really) is near and dear to my heart. I spent a year living in Poland and made it my job to explore every corner of the country. What I found was a series of destinations that many people gloss over in favor or Warsaw or Krakow, the more international locales. However, when I think of places to visit in Poland, my mind first goes to its Baltic Coast. Just across the Baltic sea from Sweden, Poland’s “Tricity” of Gdansk, Sopot, and Gdynia sits about four hours north of Warsaw (by car). These cities have an incredibly interesting history, which has allowed them to retain their distinct and varied atmospheres. Gdansk, formally German, has an industrious feel, an international airport, and an impressive city center. Sopot is a resort town with Europe’s longest wooden boardwalk and many fancy shops and hotels. And finally Gdynia, the most Polish of the three, boasts beautiful beaches, several hilly parks, and a ferry to Hel and back. Who wouldn’t want to to see all of that?!
Dani Francuz Rose 