The Friday we left we got up early and flew from Montevideo to São Paulo to Floripa. Once getting settled into our hotel near the centro in Floripa, we all went out to eat as a group. Saturday we went on a bus tour of the island. They took us around and stopped at a few places along the way including a beach and a sea turtle rescue and research (I think) center. We road on the top of the double decker bus. It was bright and sunny and we often had to duck to avoid tree branches and the like. It was fun but exhausting to be in the sun that long. Sunday we went to church and got to meet several people. It's cool to get to go to churches all over the world. I've done that a lot this year (UK, Norway, Germany, Spain, Uruguay, Argentina, and now Brazil) After church we took a bus down to Plaia Joaquina and went sand boarding. Which really is interesting. There are some sand dunes close to the beach and it was so much fun to go down the dunes (back up, not so much). We did that for a hour and after we were properly worn out and covered in sand, we walked down to the beach and washed off in the ocean. The water was so much warmer than in Punta or even in Montevideo. But some of the locals we talked to thought it was cold.
Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday we went to UFSC (Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina) and listened to lectures by the professors and post grad students there about subjects pertaining to anthropology. Yeah we had to do the school/educational part somewhere. Wednesday we went on a boat tour. The only thing really exciting that happened there was a dance contest that a couple of the guys were more or less forced to participate in (one even one!) and I jumped off the ship. I didn't just jump ship but they had it set up so that we could jump into the ship and swim around a little bit. It was really fun! A bit terrifying to jump off even though it wasn't that long of a jump.
Thursday we changed hotels from our hotel in the center of the city to another part of the island. It was more secluded but we were right across the road from Plaia Mole. But the restaurants and grocery stores were about 2 km away. Friday we windsurfed. Our visiting professor does actually windsurf so he taught us. It's hard! But I more or less did it. Saturday we went on a hike to a secluded beach the hike was a bit harder than I (or any one else for that matter) had bargained for but I did it. The beach was so pretty and there were some amazing views!!! The rest of the trip we relaxed at the beach. We didn't spend as much time at the beach as I thought but that's ok. The weather was so nice in Floripa. Floripa is just really nice. Apparently it's a lot like Hawaii. Or at least that is what the people who have been there said.
I don't remember what night this was but we went to a churrascaria (brazilian steak house). There was so much food! They would bring around meat to the table and you could eat as much as you want!!! It was all so so good. Well at least everything I had. Oh it was amazing!!!
Portuguese (as I briefly mentioned) is similar to Spanish but at the same time quite confusing. I had learned a little bit and have studied a bit even before but still it's hard to be dropped in Brazil and have to communicate. It was nice to get back and speak Spanish here. To communicate in Brazil I would try the few words I knew in Portuguese and if I didn't know it I would just say it in Spanish and hope they understood. And I could understand a little bit especially if people were talking slowly.
It is gorgeous and I loved Brazil! I hope to go back someday!
