Florianopolis- doesn't it just sound cool? Before I had even set foot on Brazilian turf, I knew this was gonna be a list topper. The books describe it as what California was like in the 60's...a meshing ground of beach, hippies, and bohemian vibrations. Any place that's got those three elements...I'm all there! And...(this might be the best part,) Floripa (what the locals call it) is considered to be one of the only, if not the only, pockets of health-conscious, eco-friendly people all throughout Brazil! Alas, natural food stores! Oh I was in heaven the minute we stepped into a restaurant and read menus that spoke of salads, hearty sandwiches, and natural juices. Gold mine.
A whole lotta chillin' at Praia de Campeche.
One of the things that made our week in Floripa so incredible was that we were able to stay with the locals...and for free!!! This is all due to the CouchSurfing Project (www.couchsurfing.com)- which "seeks to internationally network people and places, create educational exchanges, raise collective consciousness, spread tolerance and facilitate cultural understanding." Pretty sweet, right? Basically, its a worldwide community of travelers opening their homes to fellow travelers...you know, people helpin' people. I contacted a few couch surfers in Floripa about perhaps staying with them...and just a few days before we were set to travel to the island of Santa Catarina (Floripa is the capital), I got the thumbs up from a girl named Grazielle...
Meet "Gra"...doing her thang on the guitara.
My first CouchSurfing experience was a success let me tell ya. We stayed with "Gra", her sister, Flavia (who they call "Fla"), and Fatima, their unbelievably youthful looking mamacita (and their two scary looking, but harmless pit bulls). Such a chill household (perhaps due to the constant marijuana intake? I've never seen anything like it!)...all of them very artsy, laid back, and super welcoming. I felt right at home...I actually felt like I was back in Santa Barbara, especially with the beach just 5 minutes down the road. We had the chance to meet a lot of their friends, including our tour guide for a day, George, an American living in Floripa for a few months...active, kick back, yoga instructor slash video producer, well-traveled. A sure highlight was the bike rentals, allowing us to pedal our way from beach to lake, natural food store to health food restaurant. Hitchhiking was another plus...a major way of transport for many of the locals...you should have seen Col and I trekking along the roads with our thumbs held high- good times, good times indeed.
Forte! Forte!
Party time with the family and friends. Nossa!
The fabulous Mark, Gra's bff. "Me ajuda, gente!"
Having the opportunity to stay with a family- in my opinion, it's the best way to travel. We were able to speak the language, meet the locals, and connect with a place outside of the travel guides...it doesn't get much better.
Gra and Fla's hysterical mother, Fatima. "Okay! Okay!"
Que gostoso! Acai topped with banana and granola...we took down as much of this Brazilian treat as we could- it will be missed greatly.
Gra and her friend gave us a kitchen side concert...quite the collabo!
There is something quite special about Brazilians and the smiles and the spirits they carry with them. On our last night, Gra cooked up an amazing meal for a large group of us. Post-dessert, the guitar came out and the songs were being sung, accompanied by lots of head boppin' and hip swayin'. The laughter was tangible. I sat there gazing around the room and an overwhelming rush of happiness came over me...that rush of heartwarming glee that makes you think- damn, these people know how to live.
Our last night in Brazil, getting ready to feast...
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