My 2020 in Books

I craved further loneliness

"She paid for the chips and my sandwich as well, and we headed over to the high-tops at the far end of the shop. It was almost empty save a few undergrads who had made their way over to this graduate student part of campus, probably for the quiet, the decreased chance of recognition. I’d once been like that, so lonely that I craved further loneliness. Even after I’d made a few friends in college, I would still go out of my way to create whatever conditions I needed that might allow me to be alone."

~ Yaa Gyasi, Transcendent Kingdom, 2020 

Favorite Experiences in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Rio de Janeiro doesn't have a good reputation when it comes to safety. But it's not as dangerous as it seems to be. Alone, I walked along the beaches of Leme, Copacabana and Ipanema, I took cabs, I wandered around Sta Teresa and Lapa, I visited the usual tourist destinations—while taking photos of everything with my phone. Nothing bad happened to me. The cariocas I met are warm and friendly, eager to help a lone female traveler like me.

Here are my favorite experiences in this wonderful city:

Exploring Jardim Botanico

Standing in awe of the sheer beauty of the city

Walking along the beaches of Leme, Copacabana, and Ipanema

Wandering around Centro

Seeing the Maracana Stadium