Every New Year’s Eve for the past few years has been spent on my comfortable couches at home, sipping glasses of sparkling champagne with my family and watching “Dick Clark’s Rockin’ New Year’s Eve”. The celebrity performers were fun to watch and the energy and excitement of the masses of people squished into Times Square practically spilled out of the TV, invigorating me and making me giddy. Or was that the champagne?
This past New Year’s Eve (2014), I decided on a whim to try something different- something on the other end of the spectrum, wildly out of my comfort zone. Reveillon is an all-white beach bash on Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil- a warm-weather, party city with beautiful beaches, beautiful people, and beautiful culture. It would be the beginning of a month-long solo trip traveling through South America, and I was incredibly excited. As I prepared for the trip, one thought nagged me- I was traveling alone, and staying at an airBnB apartment by myself because the hostels were too expensive; who would I be celebrating New Year’s Eve with, and would it be safe for me to be alone?
During my explorations in Rio, this thought was always at the back of my mind, though I enjoyed my walks through the streets and trips to see salsa on the beach. I found a hostel nearby where I hung out to make friends that would have similar plans as me. However, many people were leaving for New Year’s and heading out to other parts of Brazil for the celebration. Two days before New Year’s Eve, I headed over to Parque Lage, a beautiful park situated at the foot of the Corcovado Mountain. The interior of the mansion, which an incredibly wealthy man built for his wife in the European style, reminded me of the ancient Baths that I had seen in London. The turquoise water glimmered, surrounded by sculpted columns holding up an open-air roof. A tiny gray speck up at the top of the Corcovado Mountain represented the Christ the Redeemer statue. Tourists milled around, sampling treats at the small café near the back and taking pictures in front of the pool of water.
This past New Year’s Eve (2014), I decided on a whim to try something different- something on the other end of the spectrum, wildly out of my comfort zone. Reveillon is an all-white beach bash on Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil- a warm-weather, party city with beautiful beaches, beautiful people, and beautiful culture. It would be the beginning of a month-long solo trip traveling through South America, and I was incredibly excited. As I prepared for the trip, one thought nagged me- I was traveling alone, and staying at an airBnB apartment by myself because the hostels were too expensive; who would I be celebrating New Year’s Eve with, and would it be safe for me to be alone?
During my explorations in Rio, this thought was always at the back of my mind, though I enjoyed my walks through the streets and trips to see salsa on the beach. I found a hostel nearby where I hung out to make friends that would have similar plans as me. However, many people were leaving for New Year’s and heading out to other parts of Brazil for the celebration. Two days before New Year’s Eve, I headed over to Parque Lage, a beautiful park situated at the foot of the Corcovado Mountain. The interior of the mansion, which an incredibly wealthy man built for his wife in the European style, reminded me of the ancient Baths that I had seen in London. The turquoise water glimmered, surrounded by sculpted columns holding up an open-air roof. A tiny gray speck up at the top of the Corcovado Mountain represented the Christ the Redeemer statue. Tourists milled around, sampling treats at the small café near the back and taking pictures in front of the pool of water.
I waited in line for my turn to take a photo in the picturesque setting. When the time came, I asked a young man who looked about my age to take the photo for me. After the shot, we started chatting- he was not alone. A group of guys all came up wearing Wesleyan jerseys. In a flash, we were sharing our stories, talking about cool spots in Rio, giving out recommendations. Ian, the first guy that I had met, mentioned New Year’s Eve and asked me what I was doing- when he heard that I was alone, he invited me to spend the celebration with his friends at Copacabana Beach. I could not believe that a complete stranger would extend such an invitation to me! Yet, we all got on so well, and it was such an easy decision to say: Yes! Yes I absolutely will! I will never forget the party on the beach: happiness and celebration are truly common languages. These are the moments I love about traveling- connecting with people, reveling in new experiences with strangers, making long-lasting connections for the future.
~burn bright~
Jess