GOOD TIMES IN FLORIPA

Arriving on a cloudy day in Floripa I decided to just chill in the hostel Tucano as this is my first day, the owner Caio a young dude is super cool as is the staff, all very friendly, it is the quiet season so not so much going on in the hostel, 6 people staying 5 of us guys all from the US and one Aussie girl. We decided to watch a movie to beat boredom so the texan dude pop the Last King of Scotland dvd and it was only me and him who finished the whole movie, the other boys did not want to see brutality and gore so they left nefore it ended, just as the credits were showing, power got cut, apparently because of the wind. it is raining here on and off and from the internet it says perfect sunny weather will be Tuesday and Wednesday so i have 2 days of good weather starting tomorrow so have to make the most of it. we ordered pizza and when power came back on one hour later we had dinner and washed it off with a good Malbec, went to bed past midnight, said farewell to the @ Oregonians and the Texan, travelling together they need to leave early to return the rent a car in Curitiba so they drive off early morning. Noah my roomie from Philadelphia a young graduate told me he has a friend arriving tomorrow from the US and theyre thinking of renting a car so i said count me in.

After breakfast i found out from the reception dude that there is a bus driver strike and no buses today, crap! So I can only do excursions that is walkable. He gave me directions to do the Camino da Lagoa da Costa, I started by following the road and saw lots of nice houses above this hilly road, 30 minutes later I come up to the entrance to the trail and it says 2 hour walk, I was the only person there, i started my walk, to the forest then it goes up and down going through slippery slimy rocks and was cursing myself for not wearing proper shoes. I heard and saw some birds one i thought was a woodpecker. Along the trail are houses with dogs and annoys me as they startle me every time they bark. One point I went through a bamboo forest, really cool, some streams along the way, am supposed to find a waterfall but did not encounter it. i arrived at a small village and moments later the trail ended so i decided to have lunch while waiting for the boat back to town. The boat came and i got on having no idea where it will take me, i can see the dunes from afar and we are getting closer to it as we go so i was confident this boat is going to town. We got dropped off at the bridge, i walked towards the dunes and when i got there i hiked up it and walked towards where the tall dune is and saw people sandboarding, I tried to get closer but the sand dunes were unpredictable from where I started, there were marshes and vegetations and wildlife, lots of birds, but i cant get across easily and always end up in a pond or muddy terrain so after 45 minutes walking when i thought I can hear the ocean already I had to stop i cant go on anymore as the vegetation got thicker. Slowly made my way back down and into the main road.Fish dinner at the hostel was delicious, Caio did a superb job, later that night i had a photo with the Guga kuerten double, one of his friends that resembles the tennis player from Floripa, he was my idol and Casio promised to try and have me meet my idol but to no avail so have to be contented with a double.

The next morning I was able to convince my roomies Teresa and Noah to join me in doing the Lagoinha de Leste trek, they are both from Philly, since the bus drivers are on strike we hired a taxi to get to Matadeiro beach where we will start the trek but the driver got confused and brought us to the Pantanho do Sul beach instead so we have to backtrack. from Matadeiro we just walked the beach and found the trail after asking the locals, it was easy we just walked through the forest but the trail branches off in several directions at certain points so we have to figure out which is going to the right way, after a few trial and error we found it and we followed it up to the forest and we skirt the mountains, a bit arduous hike clambering up at times and this took us a good 2 hours but the scenery everytime it opens out to sea is incredible. Got to a point where we can see Lagoinha do Lestel beach the trail got slipppery and muddy so we have to be careful. Once there we sat for half an hour snacking and watching the locals mostly teenagers play, they probably were here on a day trip some people were rock climbing.

Once we are ready we decided to follow a trail we saw the people go up to to see the rock climbers we did not ask if that was the shortest and correct trail, we assume we follow them and we get there, we clamber up to the top fort a fabulous view of the Lagoinha do lestel beach, took us awhile to get up climbing on our hands and knees. We enjoyed the view from the top then afterwards the trouble began, we could not find a clear trail to get to the Lagoinha trail, we followed several but always ended up to nowhere, a dead end, we kept searching then we saw a trail with plastic strings tied to trees going inside the forest but also a dead end, we kept searching then decided to go around the rocks heading left of the boulders and we thought we found a faint trail leading down a path, but eventually we got lost we saw what looked like a clear trail down below us but struggled to find a way for us to get there we are up on a ridge. Eventually we managed to get to the trail but needed to get down a ridge, slippery slimy rocks and grassy ravines. The trail lead to the forest and while walking we saw a boat from a distance and we waved at it hoping to get some help but they probably did not see us, we went in the forest at this time we are worried and unsure whether this is the right trail, it is getting dark already and we cant afford to make silly mistakes, the trail is not marked, no paint and signs, and we have reason to worry cause we followed some trails that lead to a dead end and we are hoping we find a way out of the forest. We got to a clearing but we cant see the beach just yet. The trail went back in the forest. The vegetation got thicker by the minute and lo and behold in the middle of the trail in the forest we encountered a shack that looks like someone lives there, with clothes hanging and pots in the dirty kitchen, no one was home, I noticed a trail behind the house so we followed it the trail keeps splitting but we try and go upwards and not back to the right we kept going left, the terrain got harder and harder and Teresa is getting tired and weak she felt dizzy and we stopped a bit to rest, i gave them my oranges to snack on while we kept walking, Noah egged Teresa on even to the point of scaring her, we are all a bit worried and scared, we dont want to spend the night in the forest, I am confident though the trail is not a dead end and that we eventually get out of the forest.

We decided after half hour more walking and still no sign of exit we go back to the shack and spend the night there, Noah was screaming for help as we walked, i kept calm not to scare the 2 kids, they are quite young and not experienced trekkers, Noah is very quick and agile so he investigates ahead of us if need be, we got to a clearing before the half hour deadline came and saw the beaches, salvation! We kept walking but to our horror we realized we were just going around the ridge we came up on and saw the PLagoinha do leste beach again , we got so worried we are not going anywhere, Noah did a quick check, later he yelled for us to follow the trail and we met up with him and saw the trail clearer though still not marked is more used, we realized this is probably the way the day trippers from earlier on in the beach went to get there. We found our way back finally we were all relieved and had a photo at the entrance sign, this trail is easy if you start from Pantanho but difficult if you started from Matadeiro as the trail sign are few and far in between and all markers are at the beginning of the Pantanho. You would think for a trail well used by tourists at peak season they will put some markers. There are so many trails, they should amke it clear where it goes, mark it! Took a turismo van to town as there is no bus, they are on strike. We got dropped off at the center and struggled to get a taxi to the hostel 15 kms away, After half an hour trying we got one and we made it home, and told our story. Delicious Thai curry for dinner at the hostel, and as promised I bought caipirinhas for the 2 Pennsylvanians , a reward for getting back, we bonded on that hike, we took care of each other.

After dinner I planned to go straight to bed as I was knackered, but Noah convinced me to go out with him to the Black Swan bar to see Corinthians play Inter at the Brazilian league finals, I managed to get Teresa come with us too, we got to the bar and it was a lively atmosphere, people chanting, great draft beers too! After the match as we walked back to the hostel we watched few people celebrate the win outside on the streets with chants and fireworks. We all slept well that night. The next morning it was all quite in the hostel, most went to the surfing thing, we slept in but Teresa woke us up 20 minutes before end of breakkie, then watched Wimbledon on TV then dropped off my laundry in town then went to Joaquina beach with Noah and Teresa. We walked, cant get a taxi, we tried to hitch hike no one would stop for us eventually we got a lift from tourists, a Spaniard and Swiss duo was kind enough to drop us off at the beach. The breeze was cold and we sat down for a bit on the sand then went to the the top of the rocks on the left, giant boulders being pounded by massive waves, we sunned ourselves for awhile then went to lunch at one of the restaurants there. Delicious dish in a pot shrimps galore and we had raw oysters yumm.

Dinner was Mexican at the hostel another excellent food. off to bed early then the next day in a van a few of us from the hostel went to see the WCT surfing championships in Imbituba about an hour or so from Floripa, we left late but when we got there it just started, air is cold but good thing the sun is out. We sat at the beach and chill watching the competitors show off, apparently the waves yesterday was better, an American guy Kelly Slater won the tournament, got some good photos of the surfers though I havent a clue who they are. I got bored at some point so I went for a walk and found a trail that lead me to a lighthouse, what is cool is I was alone, no one in the trail, fantastic view of the shoreline, 45 minutes walk one way. Had a few beers and wine in the beach NOah and I bought some supplies from the supermarket nearby. After the awards ceremony we chill for some party with music but we were cold, luckily the party ended soon and we left, a traffic ridden ride. Arriving in the hostel we had Japanese noodle thing for dinner. Duna the resident dog was jealous of a small puppy she gnraled at it. Noah as usual kept feeding her under the table when he is not supposed to. Teresa was not feeling well throwing up and all. Noah and I went out with our roomie Ed and 2 cool Fortaleza natives living in Curitiba, sweet I have palces to stay when I get there! The guys and I went to a bar had a few drinks then moved on to this club that Noah knows, we tried to get a discount as apparently Noah knows the owner but he is not there, cover charge was 20 reais, not bad, good samba live music, we tried to dance with the girls but they were so stuck up and not even entertaining a conversation, granted we do not speak Portugues but Noah does he was ignored as well. All we can do is gripe, Andres got lucky and danced with this hot chick and like a typical Brasilian he dances so well. Noah and I went outside of the club for a bit when a fight ensued and we took advantage of talking to the girls sat down near the fight and ask what was going on, good chatting then they left! Went back in the club then after the band finished we left.

On the way back to the hostel, Andres was driving quite drunk and Ed our roomie is scared we were gonna die! We stopped at a vendor selling waffle thingies for snack, Noah and Andres did a silly thing of forcing themselves to vomit so they feel better tomorrow. not gonna work. Went to bed and couple hours later we heard a gushing sound and alas it was Noah throwing up from the top bunk splattering his vomit all over the floor his clothes missing the bin badly. It went on most of the night, poor dude, I think it must be alcohol but since Teresa was also sick it could have been something they ate in the beach earlier. Our room stinks of vomit and good thing Ed and I were on the other side and none of our belongings got hit by the projectile vomit that came out from Noah. he looked terrible in the morning sleeping in the hammock outside in the veranda leaving me and Ed choke in the smell of vomit so i opened the window.
After breakfast since i was running errands anyway I bought them gatorade to rehydrate themselves.

Going out again tonight, we wanted to see System of a Down perform here in Floripa, Andres woke me up around 11pm and we went to Drakkar bar, guys night out again tonite and we were quite excited to see them play then later on when the band began to play we realized it was just a cover band!! They were great though but we were bitterly dissapointed for misleading us it is not even said that it will be a cover band in the posters, this was probably the most dangerous concert I have seen, arms, legs, elbows flying out people jumping around in the center going crazy soon as the band played, nuts!! To protect myself from flying elbows i have to push them out whenever they get too close to me, Lucas one of the Brazilians was hiding behind the crowd in the corner. Took about only an hour's performance then it was over, we left in a hurry to find a good place to party, we drove to El Divino lounge in the town center, really cool place, but they dont want me to wear my beanie, even if I put it in my pocket, I have to go back to the car and put it away. Excellent club, good music, electronica, good djs. We partied all night and tried to hit on girls, Andres was the most sucessfull but the farthest he got was a kiss, girls here are playing hard to get we concluded.

After the night out we went to Bob's burgers for breakfast at 6am! We got back to the hostel 630am and went to bed. Got up at 11am and said goodbye to the cool Brazilian dudes, Andres and Lucas returning back to Curitiba, and I will see them again soon when I stop by their cities, Curitiba and Fortaleza respectively. Sunny day turned cloudy in the afternoon, good day to just chill, after having a walk at the Sunday crafts market in the town center we had lunch at El Querubim, all you can eat buffet or por kilo, good food. Watched Wimbledon for a bit then went for a nap. Andre and Lucas the brazilian dudes living in Curitiba reutrned, Lucas forgot his bag so they picked it u. they will now leave at 2am so they will rest for a bit, Andre have to work the next day and Lucas flies to Fortaleza for holidays and hopefully I meet up with him there.Luk the Dutch dude contacted this girl he met at a bar days before and told her to bring her friends along and so they came to the hostel to hang out with us, they are all gorgeous and speaks English. After dinner we all went out for a few pints, and irish dude joined us and some more fellows we wemt at the bar, I called it a night early around 11pm I went back to the hostel with teresa and the Brazilian boys needed some sleep.

Rainy day the next morning, sorted out my stuff, paid accomodation and went out for lunch at Nigiri a superb Japanese place. Then off to the town centre to purchase my ticket to Montevideo, Teresa and Noah came with me and we hung out in town for a couple hours, lousy weather, continuously spitting. Got back to the hostel and had my left over cheap oysters!! 24 pieces for 12 reais($6) quite a steal!
Pizza and movies for dinner tonight and popcorns, tomorrow a long bus ride to Uruguay.

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