Rio De Janeiro, Brazil

• Rio De Janeiro means River of January. It was named so because the people who settled here mistaken the bay for a river and they got here in January.
• Everything in Rio cost about the same as in the U.S. ( 1 USD is about 1.7 Real)
• All the meals in Rio cost the same (if not more) than in the U.S. (most sit down restaurant cost R$15 - 30 per entree, while slightly nicer one cost R$30 - $60 per entree). Churrascaris tasted the same as those in the U.S. 
• Fruit infused Sushi are very common (I am not a fan though)
• But alcohol is cheaper here (caipirinha cost around R$6). Liquor and juice stands are all over the sidewalk that are next to the beach.
• Flip-flop are very expensive here. Most are sold for R$20. Platform flip-flop can cost as much as R$90
• Temperature in November is very nice. Although it is hot (33C was the highest during our stay), it was not unbearable.
• Copacabana beach has white sand but the ocean is full of trash. The water is dark green (kind of like those in L.A. but with a lot more trash). We got freaked out and did not get into the Copacabana ocean water again when we saw an used condom flow-by. EW!
• Ipanema beach (right next to Copacabana) has white sand and much cleaner ocean. The water is actually blue and there were tons of people jumping and swimming in the ocean.
• Portuguese sounds like a mixed of French and Spanish to me.
• Brazilians are friendly.
• Clubs stop serving alcohol and closed at 2AM (I was shocked!).