Rio de Janeiro, 3 in the morning, I reluctantly woke up to catch my 7 am flight from Rio to Lima, not knowing that a short trip would lead to so many interesting moments.

On the way to Galeão Airport, I chatted with the taxi driver about the city’s unique late-night vibe.

He mentioned that it was the best time to take passengers, as there were no traffic jams or rush hour stress. However, as a woman, I couldn’t imagine feeling completely safe driving at this time, especially in Rio de Janeiro 😀 .

About half an hour later, I was already at the airport lounge, enjoying the early arrival feeling, which disappeared as soon as I found out that my flight was delayed.

All I could think was “Damn, I could have slept a bit more!”

Despite the annoyance, I got in line for passport control and I felt surprised to see how my situation was a paradise compared to a Brazilian woman who smiled at me.

She – probably in her early thirties -had just lost her husband and was traveling to the US to meet a friend, hoping that the trip would bring her some comfort during this difficult time.

*This encounter made me feel grateful for my current life.

After a 2-hour delay, boarding was completed and I found myself with an empty seat next to mine. Time for a nap before landing in Lima!

During breakfast, another moment of different opinions between me and a stranger drew my attention.

The flight attendant served us biscoito Globo, a Brazilian starch biscuit that I had disliked since childhood.  

By this time, I was enjoying another moment of joy for having brought a lot of delicious Brazilian snacks when I looked at the opposite row and saw a French guy completely thrilled by the same biscuits.

He liked them so much that he didn’t care licking the crumbs from the bottom of the packet, much to the surprise of his son and me.

*I was amused by the scene thinking how different we can be from each other both in big and small aspects of life.

Upon arriving in Lima, I took a shuttle to Miraflores, eager to freshen up with a shower in my room.

After an hour, the driver brought me to my Airbnb address. I informed the host of my arrival who said:

“Aline, please press the apartment number on the intercom and the doorman will open the gate for you.”

I entered the building and went up to the apartment.

The door was unlocked and while coming in, I froze in disbelief of what I was seeing.

The living room was a complete mess, there was dog food spread all over the floor, stuff and leftovers on the table, and a filthy smell in the air telling me that the place hadn’t been cleaned up in ages.

I started walking around calling my host, without a reply and feeling doubtful.

Why wasn’t she at the door to receive me?

Is it the right place?

If not, why does the apartment layout look the same as in the pictures?

After going back and forth a couple of times, I gave up.

I went down determined to use my no existing Spanish to talk to the doorman and try to solve the situation.

When I got to the reception, I saw my host outside the building surprised by my delay, and I finally understood what had happened.

I in my endless smartness, pressed the intercom of the wrong building (the next door), which was very similar to the right one, and happened to be unlocked.

I explained the story to my host (skipping the disgusting view of the place) and ended the day wondering:

“What if the owner of the other apartment decides to report me for breaking in?” 😮

Well, more than one month has passed and so far, the only outcome from that weird arrival has been this post and a few funny moments recalling how much my inattention can cost me.

For more travel stories, check the category “Travel Tales” and for more insights on traveling, check the category “Suitcase“.

If you have any questions or suggestions, leave a comment below. Your input is more than welcome.

See you in the next post!

👉 Are you ready to go deeper?