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Published: December 10th 2006
28th November- 4th December
Natal (meaning christmas in Portugese) is called the sun city for its golden beaches and sun. However like many brazilian beach cities, it has caved in to the populace need and erected edifices of tourism all along its shores. That said..i had a wicked time in Natal...mainly also because i partied my ass off in CARNATAL ( carnival in Natal) which just happened to coincide with my 27th BIRTHDAY!!! yeah...i was meant to be married and on my way to having kids by now! and being the only one of my siblings not married by the age of 26 (believe me....no regrets!), i found solice in celebrating my birthday with great bunch of backpackers from all around the world.
Staying at a hostel built as a castle (even the staff have to dress up in medieval costume!), we brought out the drinkks, sung my birthday in 5 different languages!! very cool! ate cheap supermarket cake and partied my ass off in carnival!!!!
Now let me just explain carnatal. this is an annual event in Natal, where the partyin is Bahian style. (Bahia being the state where Salvador rules supreme...and
the beautiful Yvete Singali
brazil´s answer for Britney Spearsthe carnival said to be absolute heaven to party goers!). A 4 day carnival, i could only afford to pay entry for one of the nights; the other nights we would popcorn dance around the ropes.
The one day i had entry into the BLOC (singer on top of a moving trailer, participants all wearing one branded coloured shirt and controlled by a moving man rope barrackading the participants). I had a ticket to see Yvete Sangali, Brazil´s answer to Britney Spears. Having gone with some guys from my hostel, it was strength in numbers as we had to wear the pink shirts!!! no comment!
Yvete....We love you!!! as they would often scream in Portugese up to the intoxicating sounds belowing out from the platform. Indeed, Yvete was the ´IT' star- beautiful, young, great voice and catchy songs that sent everyone into rampid joy jumping up and down singing....and i enjoyed every second of the crowd as i understood the music through their excitement. when she started singing Lambada....the crowd was electric!
So alas....one can understand why i didnt actually see much of Natal itself!!!!
praia do pipa
yes..i went out and bought myself those skimpy swimmers!!! its very brazilian ok! cant be looking like a tourist! i headed out to the nearby beaches of Praia do Pipa to relax me before the energetic days of carnatal. Heaven on a beach...jagged cliffs bordering turqouise seas....seems to be a common theme here in the north of Brazil...the beaches up here are truly living up to their names!! 3 days were spent simply lounging by the beach side, people watching and generally doing absolutely NOTHING! this is quite hard should i mention to you out there slugging away in the workforce!!! we would be swimming in the beach, and Dolphins would simply swim up close and occasionally jump as they frollock around for tourist excitement. let me just say- when you have a free Dolphin swimming metres from you, hard to contain the excitement!
There was one beach called Praia Do Golfinhos (Dolphin beach) has a romantic story. bordered by high multicoloured jagged cliffs, It is only accesible by walking from the adjoining beaches from either side, which can only be done at certain periods of the day when the tides are down...i just hope that the high tide is never too high!!! big trouble unless you´re a very good swimmer!
praia do Pipa- praiai central
another little taste of paradise...u just have to go look for it! Stayed at a Pousada there called 'Vera My house' where one should be careful of the owner and her daughter. both like kissing and are man hunters! Great place to stay though. Met some great guys from Uk and Ireland and we partied into the wee hours of the nights in Pipa...
Retrospectively, it may have been a better idea to go Pipa AFTER carnatal....smart move mario!
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Mindy
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Your Budgie Smugglers
Yeah right Mario!! Don't even try to justify wearing those nasty Budgie Smugglers... you had some similar excuse in Turkey for the green ones ... Just admit it - ya love them.. hahahaha!!