Brazil

Brazil is such a contradiction. People appear happy and smiling and carefree yet the problems here are of a third-world country. I suppose the laid-back beach life adds to this lifestyle. We made friends with many locals and when we saw how they lived, we knew how lucky we were to be born in the States or in Kate's case, England. If any of the guys that we met saw how I lived in New York, and I am not wealthy by American standards, they would think I was Ivana Trump.

Canoa is exceptionally beautiful with palm trees dotted up and down the beach and jangadas, traditional fishing boats made by locals, lined up on the sand. My friends, Jill, Michelle and Dana, came to Brazil for a week and we stayed in Canoa - riding horses at sunset on the sand dunes, cruising around the lagoons in dune buggies and dancing forro at night. Forro is the music of the northeast and was created from two English words meaning the dance 'for all'. Of course, everyone here can dance well. I love dancing forro - it is a bit similar to salsa.

It was so great to see my friends and find out that Bell Atlantic no longer exists and Temptation Island is a show that everyone is talking about at home. They brought news, English magazines, and lots of laughs. They loved Brazil and could not believe how cheap it is to travel here. Our pousada cost $7.50 per person and had a private bathroom, a TV, a frigobar, and a balcony that overlooked the gorgeous, turquoise Atlantic Ocean. The owner, Miguel, was from Italy and looked after us like princesses. One night he made us dinner (pasta with pesto...yumm!) and we invited two local guys that we befriended on the beach to join us. It was great fun dancing to the Carnaval music, learning how to make a caipirinha, and playing silly games that did not involve speaking English or Portuguese. Neither of the guys spoke English. We liked them both and they were our constant companions for the week.

One of them, Izaias, (the names here are impossible to pronounce) took us on a dune buggy with a friend and took us horseback riding. The dune buggy ride was hilarious. We were cruising along when we came to a hill that was about 70 degrees slanted downward (at least that is what Michelle, math teacher extraordinaire, said) and I started to climb out of the buggy because I thought he had made a mistake and we were going to tip over. We went flying down and Izaias grabbed on to my legs to keep me from falling out. It was awesome. Apparently, it is very difficult to actually tip a dune buggy. Took lots of photos, tramped up and down the sand dunes, and went down a steep hill on a wooden board into a freshwater lagoon.

Horse riding was also a blast, well, a blast for everyone but Dana. My horse was massive and strong and without a doubt the best rental horse I have ever ridden. We were galloping uphill in sand and I still had to rein him in because we were going the fastest I have ever gone on a horse. Dana had a bit of a scare when her horse flipped out while we were walking down the main dirt road in town, called ironically enough Broadway - it is as far from New York Broadway as you can get. Anyway, Izaias was leading her horse past three old women and a huge truck. They did not fit and knocked down one old woman and then her horse started rearing and spinning in circles. Dana, being the inexperienced horsewoman, through her arms around the horse's neck and started screaming for Izaias to help her. Luckily, a local man came to the rescue and grabbed her horse. Dana jumped off and vowed to not get on a horse again while until she was middle-aged!!!!!!!!!!!!

So, now, it is Kate and I - a group of two. We have met so many people on this trip and have traveled with some people for weeks so it is odd to again just be the two of us. Today is April 16 - two months until I am home again. Cannot imagine being home but am looking forward to it. Kate is coming to New York for a month so we can readjust together and reminisce about our year in South America.