“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