"Bachatango" - Tango dance song

Kelsey and I in the park in Palermo

Buenos Aires was nothing short of an adventure. The big city and the crazy hostel we stayed at was a blast. Kelsey and I finally met up last friday and it was very exciting. We spent the evening eating empinadas and catching up. We also met a lot of other people staying at the hostel and all had a great time. Saturday, Kelsey and I wandered around Paleremo and Ricolleta visiting the really cool and old cemetary and park. For dinner we met up with Kelsey's cousin's mother and father in law who are from Buenos Aires. They drove us around the city telling us a little history then off to a delicious dinner. They were so great and interesting and kind. We had a great time. They also love sailing, so we swapped sailing terms in spanish and english. That night we spent more time with our friends in the hostel. There was Pedro and Fabio from Brazil, Sandra from Italy, Julie from France, Krista from Germany, and Claus from Romania. We had a lot of fun swapping stories.

all of us waiting for tango to start!

Sunday we explored the famous antique market with some of our new friends and even watched some tango! We got our mate cups to drink traditional argentinian tea with and had a great time. We then went for pizza at a pizza place the hostel recommended that claimed they had the best pizza in the world. It was pretty good, but it was no margarita in Naples thats for sure.

Monday was our last day in BA so we walked over to La Boca, a very bright and colorful street full of the tango dancers, shops and restaurants. Then had the famous chorizo sausages for lunch out by the river and explored around. That night our hostel had a free tango lesson. We went, and I learned that I can not tango. But it was fun and we were all terrible and hot and had a great time. We spent the evening enjoying each others company because all of us were splitting up on tuesday. But the exciting thing was we had convince Julie and Krista to join us for a few days in Uruguay! So the adventure continues!

mozzerella and onions... what could be better?

La Boca

Guess what I found.... MILKA CHOCOLATE!!!

I got really confused by this sign...

In the market. Way to many things we could buy.

Kelsey in front of the "worlds greatest" pizza

The bridge, do you see the rowers? They were rowing a double WITH a coxswain at 2 in the afternoon. We werent very jealous...

the full moon over the city

the cemetery in Ricolleta

"Gangnam Style" - Psy

All of us at Bea' s apartment for our churrascca

I can´t believe my time in Floripa is already over. This week has flown by. I am sad to leave my Brazillian family but also very excited to meet up with Kelsey and start the next part of our adventure. Sunday night was when I finally fullfilled my dream of having Yellows Pizza. In Brazil they have rodezio pizza which is like a buffet but they bring all the pizzas to you, so you dont have to get up, and you can make requests. I fell in love with Yellows four years ago with my friend Karly when I had the greatest pizza combo on the planet. White chocolate with strawberries. I dont think I have a friend that I havent talked to about this pizza. So Bea, Rodrigo and I went and it was amazing.

our great cook, Beas brother

Monday night Bea had a Churrasco at her apartment. Some of yall have probably heard of churrascarias (it was in Bridesmaids, though you dont really get sick) where they have all these different kinds and slices of meat and they bring them over to you. Well I was wanting to go but instead we just had it at Bea´s house and everybody was there, like a cookout! My host cousins, aunts, uncles, Vo, everybody. It was a blast and extremely delicious. Especially the desert of a whole pinapple covered in cinnamon, skewered and cooked over the coals. It was all so good, I ate entirely too much. Then there was a dance party, including a "Gangnam Style" dance off for a while because it was Pietra and Bernardo´s favorite. Then a skype reunion with Betina (Bea´s sister in the states) and Gabriel (the brother that is visiting Betina) and their families. It was so much fun.

Tuesday was spent doing laundry, packing, organizing everything for my trip. Tuesday night Rodrigo and I met up with Danny and went to my favorite bar down here, Chopp do Gus. It was so much fun. With a live band playing brazillian tunes we samba´d the night away. I got to have the famous quatros quejo french fries, they are amazing.

Wednesday was spent out at pria mole reading and exploring around. It was the first time I had made it out to Pria Mole, and it is still my favorite beach. With the soft sand, big waves, beautiful mountains and rocks to climb at either end of the beach you just cant help but love it. I even bought a new anklet from the hippie that I am positive I bought my bracelet I still wear from four years ago from. She even commented she used to have one like it, and I remember when I bought it noticing the woman I bought it from was wearing the same one. So small world. Tomorrow I will be on a bus for 25 hours.... pray for patience and that my kindle lasts the whole time (I have a really good book on it).

ps more photos to come but I have made it to buenos Aires, my kindle lasted but not my book!

“Mexican Hat Dance" - Every Mariachi Band.

Vo and I on the mountain of hearts

Friday was a great day full of surprises. Bea had taken off work and we were heading to the south end of the island with Vó. Vó´s sister has a house right off the beach near Pantonal de Sol (a beach I have been to with Mom and Dad, and also with Meg). On the drive down, Bea takes me to see great views at a couple of other beaches, and up to a beautful church on the "Mountain of Hearts". We get to the house and it is breath-taking, Ondina and Vandelli live there every summer. It has a huge wrap around porch and a fantastic view of the beach called Solidao. Then out of the kitchen comes Elisa, the host cousin I stayed with in Manaus four years ago! I was so excited to see her and ask about her kids who had taken me all around Manaus when I was there last time. Her sons Uma, a couple years older than me, and Iago, 8 years younger, had taken me to see all the waterfalls in the Amazon outside of Manaus, including jumping off one. Tiana had taken me out and introduced me to some of her friends. They had all been so great. Well then Eliza tells me Iago and Tiana are there! I was so happy to spend time with them! Especially since they all know english! Tiana, Bea, Elisa and I all went down to the beach for a couple hours. It started to rain so we walked back up to the house and took rain showers. It was wonderful.

Tiana and I on the beach.

Vo and Ondina the sisters. 

the view

Ondina had planned a feast for us of shrimp and fish and rice and beans for lunch. Then after we were all so full we took naps. I love that about Brazillians, everybody is up for an afternoon nap, its expected. Then Tiana and I did a 30 minute hike over to this little "hippie beach" as she called it called Saquinho. It was a small little village that you could only get to by hiking. It was beautiful. Then back to the house where I was invited to stay for the night. Iago, Tiana and I all went into Lagoa and had some Casa Do Pastel, they had never been! Then we went to Casa de Noca for some dancing and live samba music.

the trail

Casa do Pastel, my old friend

Tiana on Saquinho

Saturday was another day on the beach. We had so much fun swimming in the ocean. Tiana is like me and acts like a 10 year old as soon as she hops in the water so we were just kids on the beach all day. At lunch we had Vatapa, an afro-indiginous shrimp dish that I could only explain as similar to shrimp and grits, but not, and way better. A nap in the hammock and some more time on the beach fulfilled our afternoon. That night I was roped into going to dinner at one of Ondina´s friends apartments downtown. Vó was also going to be there. We were suppose to get there at 7, we got there at 8 and were still the first ones there. People filtered in for an hour all in all about 25 people. Iago, Tiana and I were dying for food. Food was finally served at 10 of fish and shrimp strogonoff... it was intersting. Iago Tiana and I left early, around 11 and headed downtown to a mexican place... Guacamole. We had a blast with a Mariachi band and dancing we spent the rest of the night enjoying nachos and beer and having a blast. I stayed the night in Centro with Iago and Tiana at Ondina´s downtown house.

Elisa Tiana and I at the dinner party

at guacamole

Sunday I headed back to Vó´s house for some time on the computer skyping and emailing. The weekend was a great one. I loved seeing Iago, Elisa and Tiana again, and meeting Ondina and Vandelli. Everyone here is just so gracious and kind. I love it. More on Florianopolis to come. I leave Thursday morning for a 25 hour bus ride to Buenos Aires, so many more adventures before I leave Brasil!

and last but not least, for your enjoyment, us dancing

"Mamma Mia here I go again" - ABBA

Leaving GSP

FLORIANOPOLIS! I have made it! I really can´t believe I am back. I fell right back in love with it. I was so excited to see Rodrigo and Vó waiting for me at the airport. We had lunch together at the famous weigh your plate buffets that are so popular here. Then it was off to pria brava where Bea, Amanda and Fabio were. I finally got to meet Bernardo (3 1/2) and Pietra (1 1/2). When I last left Amanda was pregnant with Bernardo. I was so exhausted from the flight and no sleep that we headed back to Vó´s house, where I am staying, and I went to bed pretty early.

Sunday came in with a trip back to pria brava and some time on the beach. Monday I went with Rodrigo into Centro and wandered around. My friend Danny, who was in my language class with me four years ago lives in Floripa now, so we met up at his bakery. Then I had lunch with Rodrigo, Danny, and Sergio. It was so good to see him. Though we still can hardly communicate. Moday night I went back out to Pria Brava with Fabio and spent two days out there. Hanging out with the bambinos and swimming and lots of reading. It was a great time, and Amanda a gracious host.

Peitra and I getting to know each other.

my Brazilian Mae and I

Wednesday night I came back to Trindade, and Thursday heading to Pria Joaquina for a couple of hours of time in the sun. It has been hard since everyone is working I have a lot more time to myself, but I have been having a good time.The weekend is right around the corner so I should get more time with Bea and Rodrigo. I´ll keep you posted.

Bernardo playing on the beach. 

Amanda and the kids lounging on the hammock

"One Day More"- Les Miserables

So the time has come again. I am heading off on another adventure. I am heading to South America for 3 1/2 months. I will start back in florianopolis with a visit to my host family. it has been over 3 years since I have seen them and I am ecstatic to see them all. although it will be hard to leave my wonderful family who has grown a bit. nieces and nephews are so hard to leave!

After a couple of weeks in Florida it is on to meet up with my good friend and traveling companion Kelsey in Buenos Aires. Kelsey and I rowed at cofc together and both share a love of travel. So expect some good blogs to follow as I attempt to learn this new kindle fire....

ps I did see les mis and it was amazing and you should see it. I went with Colleen and Erin when they were in Anderson. and yes we cried, and yes I took them to skins hotdogs!