We started in Fortaleza in a small town called Prea. Let me just preface you with the notion that there are no roads here. To travel, you have to take a sand buggy that drives on the beach. The closest “city” to Prea is called Jeri, which basically has no real floor. It’s all on sand. Homes have sand inside. Stores have sand inside. Restaurants are on top of the sand. And by sand, I don’t mean beachfront Miami prime time property. I mean that literally the city is just on sand, no asphalt, NADA. No shoes allowed either. I can't imagine what their beds feel like?
The reason we came to Prea was to kitesurf. Warm water, clean waves, and sick downwinders for miles and miles. We stayed at this amazing hotel called Rancho do Peixe. It was a half ranch, half beach bungalow spot. Absolutely amazing.
WARNING: there were frogs in the toilet. I was a bit stunned by that, but the hotel’s answer was “well frogs do like fresh water.” So I made peace with the frogs and did my business. I have to confess, I would always flush them down the toilet before getting started.
After 3 kite days, we left the beach jungle for Rio de Janeiro. Talk about an amazing city! Surrounded by Favelas, mountains, beaches, and metropolis. In a normal city, you have different areas with different vibes. In Rio, you have different beach lifeguard stations that represent this eclectic city. Lifeguard station# 9 is where the hottie tottie celebs hang out. Station 6, more of a family crowd. Station 5 is the gay scene. Kind of like the table scene at lunch in high school.
Beside the beaches, you have Favelas. We visited the largest favela in the world: Rocinha, tax free living. We walked in from the bottom of the favela (favelas usually sit on mountains, with homes stacked up the mountain) and ate the most authentic Brazilian meal. There were 14 year olds walking around with AK 47s and all types of guns. (I am not a big gun connoisseur, so I couldn’t tell you what they were really holding, but they could kill.) Young kids selling drugs on the street, taxi drivers on motorcycles with guns hanging on their necklaces, MAYHEM? Yes and No. There is no crime within the favela (all crime takes place outside). Favela residents are singing and rapping Brazilian hippy hop. Believe it or not the favela had hidden surveillance cameras. The minute you walk in, the chief knows you are there. They have electricity, power, and heat, all without paying taxes. Not too shabby..
Some amazing restaurants to note in Rio are: Casa de Feijoada, Oasis Churrasceria, Aprazivel, the restaurants in Leblon, King Kone (just opened recently in Miami), and Botequin Informal (fine beer spot).
Unfortunaly we didn’t get a chance to visit Buzios, but that is next on the wish list.
Last stop: Florianopolis. This place is so over rated. It is filled with Miami wanna be’s, backpackers, and cover charge. Kind of like a Tamarindo, Costa Rica with Ibiza apirations. They have a few roads and too many tourists, so the traffic is brutal. The partying is good, but you can run into the cheesy transy stuff. The food, shameful! Sobitch no likey, clearly.
Highly recommend Brazil. Top country, easy, in South America.
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