Hi,

I would love to buy a place in Ipanema or Leblon and settle in Rio for the long-term (like everyone).

I was wondering how many Americans actually live in Rio full-time (or most of the time), how fast this number is increasing, and what downsides this "flood" of foreigners will bring to the area?

Also, are normal Brazilian girls fairly easy to get to know?

Hi,

It is difficult to come up with the exact number of Americans living in Rio full-0time. I would estimate that there are about 10,000 US expats currently residing in the Rio de Janeiro Metropolis area.

Most of the foreigners here reside in Brazil part-time (2-6 months per year). The numbers are growing fairly quickly. I´d say by about 30% per year.

The damage that can be done by increasing numbers of foreigners in Brazil is the same as everywhere else... higher prices, worsening local attitudes...

Unlike other countries, Brazil is able to painlessly assimilate much higher numbers of foreign born residents due to its size and highly receptive and flexible populaton.

Wow!

10,000, increasing by 3,000 per year! That sounds like a disaster waiting to happen. I know Copacabana is just a mess, and I find it quite unpleasant down there.

I saw very few Americans in places like Ipanema, Leblon, and Barra, and was hoping it would relatively 'unspoiled' by the tourist / ex-pat hordes that have descended on Copa.

Maybe this is just wishful thinking.

These are the numbers for the Grande Rio area that includes Barra, Baixada Flumnense, Zona Norte... not just Copa. There are over 12 million people living in the area, so 30 or 40 thousand of gringos are not going to make that much of a difference.

So the disaster if it were to come would be most likely to approach from some different direction...

Have you found Cariocas to be very receptive in welcoming foreigners into their ranks?

I am deciding between Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, and obviously, prefer Rio because of the beach.

But I also wonder which city is better for a younger, single ex-pat like myself. I would really like to immerse myself in the culture, make Brazilian friends, etc.

Work can be done from either city, so I am not too worried about that aspect.

I was there for three months....the receptivity was overwhelming. Boris included. I had the greatest time of my life and want to be back there. Long term plans are to possibly retire there.
The girls are amazing. I will go into details later if you like. Boris is much better at commenting about doing something permanent though. General feeling though is if you love amazing food, music, culture, people, women, attitudes, country...then you will fall in love with Brazil as I did.

It's like a warm blanket descending on you...gradually and pleasantly. My culture shock was not going to Brazil and Rio...it was my return to NY.... made me want to throw up.
Life goes on
Best wishes

Hi Mark,

Thanks for your comments. Rio sounds great. By the women, I assume you are talking about the 'normal' girls outside of the Copacabana area?

Also, I'm wondering which neighborhoods would be nice to buy an apartment in outside of Ipanema/Copa/Leblon? Are Lagoa and Flamengo nice areas?

Lagoa is home to some of the most expensive Real Estate in Rio de Janeiro.

Flamengo is slowly recovering its former glory. More and more Cariocas are trading their apartments in Copa and Ipanema for somewhat less expensive and more spacious flats there.

I met all kinds of girls...will not use the classification of 'Normal' as i don't know exactly what you mean.
But yes...met lots of girls and they are lovely.

Cariocas are very welcoming.

Took 7 hour bus ride to Vicosa to meet woman there. Best time of my life...all her friends took me in and we sang songs and made love.

It was great.

Holy cow. You know, when I got to Brazil in 1990 a lot of local expats asked me if I was crazy. I had gone to Rio to open an English language bookstore but ended up with a newsstand in Ipanema (just before the curve into Copa). So I saw a LOT of expats as I had ads out that I bought English books. Many of them tried to wake me to reality but they were mistaken about my motives. I was married (already to a Brazilian who HATED being back in Brazil).

I left Rio in 1994. I never ran into many expats just going from place to place. Even most of my customers were Brazilians and not expats. I cannot imagine there are a glut of expats in Rio.

About girls. Forget it. Culturally Brazil is different as are most countries. Your problem will be that you are not a Brazilian and you will be like a magnet for not necessarily the best. You will have no trouble finding any girls just as a rich man would have no trouble finding any girls. Think about who you are. I once was riding on the bus into Copa with a friend of mine. This was way back in 1986 when I was just a vagabond. A girl smiled at me and my friend took it from there. I did not speak a word of Portuguese and even though I was a bum he was telling the girl that I had Car dealership back in the states. She want me to take her to the U.S. and would be willing to convince me. My friend loved the situation and I had a nice few days even though I tried to get my friend to tell her that I would NEVER take her back regardless of how persuasive she was. Oh well.

Now, if you want to go to Brazil and get to know it ... Heck ... how much would someone get to know the U.S. if they went to New York City? NYC is not the U.S. Is Florida or New Orleans or maybe Salt Lake City or Green Bay? Brazil is no more homogeneous than the U.S. I'd highly suggest going to the hinterland. Go to small cities. There will be a lot less gringos and a lot less people who feed on them.

Thanks for your thoughts.

Which cities would you recommend?

Personally, I would try out Natal in the Northeast or Florianopolis in Santa Catarina state in the South. Belo Horizonte would also be fine except that I prefer to be near the sea.

forget rio, get down to the south, don`t be a sheep

... but we are open to hear your reasons for going South instead of sticking around the South East...

sheep outfit. It's ok though ...cause you are a good little wolf -:)

Tchau
Mark