Brazil, Beer, Beaches in the Rain

We had last seen each other a cold January night in New Delhi...

Jordi and Vanessa went to the Andaman Islands, while Alberto and I headed the opposite way to Goa and onwards. They returned to Ibiza to work the Summer season.

Now, here we were reunited at the other end of the World, another bustling city, cold and rainy too!

Sao Paulo, Brazil,

Jordi waiting at the airport, we stranded in Bolivia, thanks to a canceled flight, the only bad connection in a year!

Luckily, Fernanda, a Japanese Brazilian angel we met in Peru willingly flew to pick him up with her mother!!!!

Imagine his surprise, waiting to see his two best buddies from childhood, instead getting a call on the loudspeaker and being met by a beautiful Brazilian of distinct Asian features and her mother!!!

Vanessa would be arriving in four weeks, when the weather was better, clever woman.

So, the three amigos begin their mini tour of Brazil...






Blumenau OktoberFest...

Ein Prosit!

My, oh my!

I was back in Germany, but, the people were singing in German and talking in Portuguese!

And,

It was raining, everything was green and the women were wearing traditional German dress, not to mention the architecture!

I felt right back in the heart of Europe, almost like the 11 years spent plying my trade in the Swiss Alps!

I want the beach!

I forgot to ask for the Sun, though!

So, we got the wonderful tropical beaches of Florianópolis all to ourselves, along with some intrepid surfers, crazy enough to risk freezing for a few good waves.

All to ourselves because it rained for a week straight!

It has been raining for eleven weekends here... must have something to do with what we are doing to our lovely planet!


Part Two:

Trancoso...

Now, this is Paradise!

This is the Brazil I had envisioned all my life!

This is the reason why I left Brazil for last on this trip around the World!

My day:

Wake up at dawn with the sun in my eyes, the surf rhythmically inspiring me into a jog, barefoot along the beach...

Surf a couple waves, say a salute to Yemanjá, Neptune and Poseidon...

A breakfast of fresh pineapple, watermelon, guava, passion fruit juice, sliced papaya and melon, fruit salad followed by a cup of black coffee

Then, play paddle or football on the beach... listening to great music, a salad with some fish for lunch, conversation with the fun, happy, local people, before heading up to the town in our buggy for some fantastic pizza or picanha (delicious steak)...

At last, the most difficult test of the day...

Dancing!

Getting my hips in swing to the rhythm of Forró; dancing made easy by so many willing teachers!

I found when they tried to tell me what to do (1,2...1,2), I could only keep it up for a little while... when they just said to follow their rhythm without thinking, it was so much easier, fun, even!

And...

That is the end of the trip!

I can´t believe it... time flew!

You can see why I left Brazil for last... Now it´s time to work again!

But,


Wait!


My new job starts on the 17th of November and it happens to be in Bolivia, again, which means, in effect, that I am starting another trip around the world!

Now all I have to do is effectively close this trip with a nice review, then, start the new one!

Cheers and Smiles!

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