I have always wanted to go to Rio, and being able to spend a week there felt like a dream come true. I’m going to write about my favorite night in the city because it was one of the most exciting experiences of my life.
I was traveling with a friend I had made in Chile. After two nights in Ilha Grande, we arrived at our hostel in Rio de Janeiro at 7pm. While my friend rested in our room, I showered, headed to the lobby, and became fast friends with another traveler staying at the hostel. I told her I had been wanting to see live Samba music and she told me about her favorite place: Pedra do Sal. On the weekends (and Monday) it turns into basically an open Samba space where the music is great and everyone is dancing. I was hooked. When my friend was ready we decided we would all go. We were on the way by 10 pm. It is difficult to describe the experience, other than that it was nothing short of magical. We got out of the car and all we could see was a crowd of people and live Samba so loud it felt like it was playing into my ear. We pushed past the crowd on the corner of the street and were in an alleyway of people, food and drink stands, and bars with their doors fully open, people flowing in and out. It was crowded and almost impossible to walk but no one was in a rush. Walking down that alleyway was nothing short of extraordinary. Every 10 feet you heard a different song, because there was so much music being played. Everyone was dancing—dancing with friends, dancing with strangers and dancing alone—and everyone was smiling. I could not believe what was in front of me. We finally got to the end of the alley, made a left and were faced with a huge open space, a tent covering it and stairs surrounding it, leading back up to the street. An 8 person band was playing Samba music in the center. All around them and up the stairs people were watching and dancing. My words are not doing it justice, but it was beautiful and unlike anything I had ever seen. Here I was in the place I had always wanted to go to, with one friend I had met in Chile a few months ago and another just a few hours before—though it felt like I had known them for years—and watching so much beautiful dancing chaos around us.
Going into the trip, I knew that when I arrived back to Chile I would only have one week left. For this reason, I wasn’t sure if going to Rio was a great idea so close to saying goodbye to Chile and my study abroad experience. Yet this night quickly quieted any doubts I had and will be one that I don’t think I’ll ever forget.
Sophia Velazquez
Fall 2023
GW Chile - English Track (GW Study Program)
Elliott School of International Affairs International Affairs Major
The Global Bachelor's Program