Monday, August 29, 2016

Out on the streets

Opportunities to travel and experience new cultures continue to unravel as my career in journalism and commentary develops. I always knew I was fortunate as an athlete to visit fascinating places and meet people from such varied backgrounds, I did not for one moment imagine this would continue into my professional life. There are several advantages of retirement from full time sport and one of the significant aspects is the freedom I now have to unreservedly sample food, culture and adventure at any time of the season. I have always been keen to experiment with tasting new flavours or heading off the beaten track, but as an athlete this had to be seriously refined.

My love of food is a common theme on my travels, the diet and produce of a country is such an interesting part of its culture. Of course I enjoy smart restaurants with stunning views over the sea or funky bars where the cool kids hang out, although to many peoples surprise I would chose street food over the latter any day. Some friends think this choice a little unusual, for me it is about the people you meet rather than the view you have.

I was delighted when a local Rio friend took a group of us to what turned out to be a “street bar” - I am not sure of the official name – where locals and a small handful of tourists were altogether chatting and drinking in a buzzing atmosphere. This place had no entrance or enclosure, it was a natural gathering with music, drink and food on offer. Queuing for street food I showed my ignorance of the Portuguese language in asking for help with my order, as a result a brilliant discussion was then struck which led to insightful local knowledge and insider tips. Fortunately I am heading back to Brazil with time to follow up these suggestions.