Florianopolis

After Carnival I thought Rio would be tame. However, that is not how this city works. We spent the next few days relaxing and taking in the city. We went to a marketplace downtown and stopped by a museum. The museum is famous because it was the house if Getulio Vargas, one of the most renowned Brazilian presidents. Vargas was in power for many years as a dictator and was known as the president of the poor. He was loved by all the people and after his dictatorship he was elected a few years later as president. When he feared that his beloved country would fall into the hands of the military he killed himself, in this museum, in the name of the people and democracy. His house was preserved perfectly and they even had the gun, the bullet, and his blood stained shirt on display.

We also went to the top of Pão de Açucar. This large mountain comes right out of the mouth of the harbor with shear cliffs dropping straight to the water. You get to the top via two gondolas, rewarding us with incredible views of the city. In the distance you could see Christo, the giant stature that overlooks the city. We also had the oportunity to take in a day at the beach. We took the bus with two of the people we were staying with, Celhao and Ana Laura to Itacoatiara in Niterói. The beach was gorgeous with large waves coming into the beach between large cliffs. Brazil is full of beautiful people. I was stunned to look around and not see one mildly unattractive person. We body surfed and drank out of cold, sweet coconuts. I got a nice sunburn but the pain was worth it having come from Vermont.

That night we took at 3:40 am flight out of Rio to Florianopolis, an island in the south. The island is a popular getaway for many Brazilians and Argentines, with 42 beautiful beaches and a lively nightlife. We spent yesterday at the most famous beach, Joaquina, where Brazil hosts its national surfing competition. I rented a surfboard and tried my luck at the waves only to be destroyed. Despite only getting up a few times on the short board, I had a blast in the warm seas.

Today we get on a 20 hour bus for Montevideo, Uruguay and from there we will take a ferry to Buenos Aires, Argentina. I am looking forward to practicing my Spanish but I am reluctant to leave this stunning country.