Once off the bus an entirely new form of sensory overload takes over. We are on Ipanema Beach. If this was an opening scene to a movie, Bette Midler would be singing Steam Heat over the titles. It is fabulousWe are wearing shorts and shirts and we both feel incredibly overdressed. It appears that no one in this city wears anything but skimpy bathing suits. That seems entirely appropriate for the beach, but elsewhere perhaps not so much:

People on the bus and waiting for the bus

Young people in nice restaurants

The Naked Lunch?

Older men having coffee

They walk the streets and the beach like this. Hardly anybody wears a hat which seems strange in the heat of the sun, but what is even stranger is that no one carries anything. Keys and wallets or purses are nowhere to be seen. Women have the advantage of having a couple of places to tuck a small purse, but for men the choice is rather limited, somewhat uncomfortable and could lead to false advertising.

Rio is justifiably famous for its beautiful people, and we see stunning young men

Tall and tanned

and stunning young women

.. and young and lovely

strutting their stuff in skimpy swim suits.

But what is really liberating about this town is that everyone, no matter what their shape, struts their stuff in skimpy swim suits. And believe me some have a lot more stuff to strut:

and when she passes

each one he passes

Although many people care what they look like in their swimwear

goes

many more don’t give a damn

aaaahhhhhhhhh

That too sets the Fabulosity Meter ringing.

And if you are spending the day on the beach and suddenly feel the need of a new outfit, there is no need to move – you can find one right there

Cop a bikini on Copacabana

We spend most of the day strolling along the beach. When we get tired of looking at the beautiful and the not so beautiful people we stop for a drink at one of the tiny cafes, where amazingly we can sit and listen to funky looking bands playing terrific samba music

It is an amazing day and a FABULOUS city.

We LOVE it.

At this point, dear readers I might offer you another Passenger of the Week. But this time, in honour of this wonderful city where anything goes, and a lot of people do, I thought I would offer a small competition. I am posting a photo below which is in need of just the right caption. Please add your suggestion below. The winner receives absolutely nothing but my gratitude and the appreciation of all the other readers

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