Before arriving in Rio de Janeiro, we learned about the markets in class. However, I never expected there to be so many markets! It seems that everywhere you look, there is a market. It’s absolutely wonderful!
I’ve always valued hand crafted items and one-of-a-kind treasures. I love all of the artwork that I have seen in the markets. Each painting has it’s own unique character and I love the texture of the paints used. There are so many skilled artists here in Rio, and their work is exquisite. I have had the opportunity to visit two markets so far, once on Saturday night along Copacabana Beach beach, and we all went to the Hippie Fair Sunday afternoon. I loved experiencing the markets at different times of the day because they feel like two different experiences. During the day at the Hippie Fair, it was bright and sunny, somewhere close to 90 degrees and there were so many different sounds and smells. You could hear musical instruments being played at some of the tables overlaid with the sound of cars honking, people’s conversations, and the sound of a street musician. The whole market seemed to be buzzing and there was a very high energy surrounding the entire market. The sun was incredibly hot, and it was nice to walk under the vendor’s tents to escape the heat of the sun. At the street market along Copacabana Beach, there seemed to be a slightly calmer energy; there was not as much hustling and bustling. The air was cooler and there was a very nice breeze that circulated throughout the market. The items found at this market weren’t always handcrafted, and this market definitely seemed to be targeted more on tourists, whereas the Hippie Fair seemed to target not only tourists, but locals as well. The items displayed in the mart at night were lit by artificial lighting, which in my opinion, has a different effect than when they are lit by the summer sun. Negotiating with the vendors has posed many difficulties. Most of them do not know English, so trying to figure out how much something costs is always interesting. The one girl vendor pulled out her smartphone and used the calculator to explain the costs of the items she was selling. I thought this was a very clever approach and made communicating much easier!
Overall, I have really enjoyed my time here in Rio, and I hope to visit many more markets before having to return to the US. I think my favorite part of the markets are the paintings – I wish I could buy them all!
