(Originally written for the Capoeira Brasil Los Angeles Newsletter – Aug. 2011)

What happens when you put 39 capoeiristas from the US, Brasil, Australia, Hong Kong and New Caledonia in a beach hostel for 10 days? Lots of laughing, dancing, sightseeing, eating and bonding (but little to no sleeping). While the Rio Capoeira 2011 event was a large part of the CBLA trip to Rio last month, the group also had a few days to check out some of the non-Capoeira parts of the Cidade Marvilihosa, Rio de Janeiro.

For many of the people on the trip, this was their first exposure to Brasil so the trip organizers put together an itinerary of activities that allowed the group to check out the tourist highlights while also getting a flavor for the city of Rio de Janeiro. One can’t visit Rio without posing in front of the immense Cristo Redentor statue or without taking the famous cable cars up to Pao de Acucar. We hit up both of those sites in one day and have hundreds of pictures to show for it. There was a nature walk through the Tijuca Forest (the world’s largest urban rain forest) which lead to a beautiful waterfall just a short drive from all the action of the city and a visit to the famous colorful Lapa stairs which had been a gathering point for capoeistas back in the day.

Although it is winter in Rio, the temperature during the day was just right for relaxing on the beach. Whether you visited the laid back shoreline just outside the hostel doors, or took a bus to head to the famous bustling beaches of Copacabana or Ipanema, you could soak up the rays while hunting for the perfect bikini, sarong or beach cheese on a stick. Imagine! All of your souvenir shopping accomplished right from the comfort of your beach towel. Still we did manage to visit some actual shopping centers such as the cavernous Baha Shopping mall and the outdoor craft extravaganza, the Hippie Feiria to make sure we were doing our part to support the Brazilian economy.

And when all the shopping, sunning and sightseeing were done, there was always a huge meal awaiting. Fresh meats, fish, fruit, pastas and (more than a few times) Brazilian pizza. Thank goodness we often ended the night at a club where we could dance our cares (and calories) away. The first night of the trip the group went to an open air samba party which many said was their favorite night of the trip. There was also an amazing live reggae concert hosted at our hostel and big nights out in Lapa to dance in some of Rio’s famous live music venues. Of course the professional musicians were amazing, but I’m not sure they could compete with our now legendary Capoeira Brasil bus sing off. (For the record the back of the bus definitely won the “Off Key songs in a foreign language” category).

But lest you worry, even before we got to the forum, there were opportunities to get in some Capoeira training. There was a trip to Formado Fuinha’s batziado on one of the first nights, an impromptu night roda in the hostel kitchen and a surprise morning workout with Mestre Boneco on the beach. Jog, stretch, ginga, partner drills, swim, sprint, swim, sprint, roda. Whew! What an amazing way to start the morning and to get ready for the big event to come towards the latter half of the trip.