The Rio Reality: Apartments, High-Rises, and the “Paperwork” Problem
In this series, I’m writing from the perspective of life in a Rio neighborhood dominated by apartment living. This includes buildings ranging from three-story walk-ups to 20-story towers. Now, keep in mind, Brazil is roughly the same size and population as the U.S., so they do have suburbs. An area near me called Barra, for instance, looks a lot like a typical American neighborhood with a mix of houses and condos. I mention this so you don’t walk away thinking the entire country is just one giant high-rise.
The “Weathered” Exterior vs. The Modern Interior
From the street, Rio’s buildings can be deceiving. Since it’s a massive, densely packed city, there isn’t much “new” construction unless something old comes down first. Most buildings are 40–60 years old and show clear signs of wear from exposure to salt air and humidity.
But don’t let the outside fool you. Because space is at such a premium, people here are masters of the “gut and refurbish.” You’ll walk into a building that looks like a relic from the 1960s or earlier and find an interior that is fully modern, beautifully decorated, and impeccably maintained. The streets are tree-lined, the buildings are gated for security, and you’ll find office buildings tucked into residential blocks in ways you’d never expect.
The “Luxury” of Dry Clothes
Life here resembles New York or Boston, but the appliances differ. Apartments tend to be smaller, and the clothes dryer is considered a true luxury. Many individuals prefer to air-dry their clothing. You can find the “all-in-one” washer/dryer combos, but they usually do one thing well and the other… not so much.
The Bathroom: A Tale of Two Extremes
The bathrooms present unique considerations. Most are standard, but there are two things I had heard of but never experienced.
First: the Chuveiro Elétrico (or as the tourists dramatically call it, the “Suicide Shower”). It’s a shower head that runs on electricity to heat the water right at the source. While I’ve seen the pictures of wires dangling near the water—which gives off a real “Science Experiment” vibe—my experience has been with more traditional setups.
But I’ve saved the best for last: The Toilet.
The positive? The bidet is everywhere. Let me tell you, if you’ve never “watered the garden” after a heavy lift, you haven’t lived. There is nothing better than leaving the room squeaky clean!
The negative? The plumbing system. In many places, you get that “What you talkin’ about, Willis?” (I might be dating myself with that quote) vibe when you realize you cannot flush the toilet paper. Once the “paperwork” is done, it goes into a small trash can next to the toilet. Yes, it’s true. Yes, you get used to it. But it changes your morning routine! If you think washing your hands was a big covid thing I beg to differ! And finally, you never want to witness the “poppy has been a little sloppy moment” – I had to work in my Seinfeld quote.
Next week, we’ll dive into the “Sweet Spot” of Brazilian healthcare and typical monthly expenses.
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