Liesbeth is going to Rioooooo

Yes god, I can dance around the bush, but the title gives it away and I will shout it out in capslock for clarity: I BOOKED A TICKET TO RIO DE JANEIRO THIS WEEK! On Thursday morning, December 25, I will board the plane and on January 13, I will return sun-kissed to Amsterdam. The reason for this trip is of course THE SUN, but also because I always become terribly depressed from Christmas, New Year's Eve, and the days in between, so I prefer to be abroad then. Last year Vietnam, the year before Cape Verde, and now Brazil.

It was already clear that I was going away, but not where. “Something in Asia, where life is cheap, and with beaches, I don't care about anything else” was the initial search query. But actually, I have been to Asia quite a few times and never to South America, so that piqued my interest. Moreover, and this may seem a bit paradoxical, but I am really crazy about fireworks. I find it the most fun thing there is. A bit strange for someone who says they hate New Year's Eve, but somehow that contradiction works very well for me. After some online research, I came across an article stating that Rio has the most beautiful fireworks ever, and then I thought, hey, Rio, isn't that fun?

But okay, also a bit scary, because I'm going alone. Now I find traveling alone wonderful in itself but everyone always says scary things about traveling alone in South America. Should I do it or not? And life there is not necessarily cheap, and tickets are not either. On top of that, and anyone who follows me on Instagram knows this, I was stuck in a huge decision vacuum because I had my eyes set on a pair of ridiculously expensive boots, first from Givenchy and then from Jimmy Choo. Boots or ticket? Ticket or boots? Or both?

Until I suddenly came to my senses and decided of course not to buy the boots and of course to go for that ticket. Then it will just be a slightly more expensive vacation; I still talk about my trip back then, those kinds of memories have no price. And then it was actually done quite quickly. On Monday, I bought a Lonely Planet and on Tuesday, I found a ticket for a price I found acceptable. I removed the last bit of doubt with the quote that every Lonely Planet book starts with: “All you've got to do is decide to go and the hardest part is over. So go!”

In the meantime, I have mapped out the first week and booked a bed in a dormitory in a hostel for the days around New Year's Eve. I also made a wish list and am now puzzling over how I am going to do all that, because of course 2.5 weeks is far too short. But until then, I will be completely immersed in Brazil, and I ask you: where should I go! Where should I not go! Tell me! If you've been to Brazil, send me an email (see contact page) because I am very curious.

For now, I wish you all a very nice Sunday, I am buried in travel books and websites. Bom dia!