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naheed
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My trip to Barra da Lagoa
Posted:
Tuesday, May 11, 2004 10:32 AM (CST)
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Since a lot of my friends have been asking me about my recent trip to Brazil, I thought I would post a message here about my stay in Florianopolis.
In February I was headed to Brazil for the third time in just as many years, and was interested in exploring some new cities. I had heard that Florianopolis was absolutely beautiful and worth checking out.
Since I didn't know much about the area, I did a google search and came across iFloripa.com website. I found the website to be very helpful. The lodging sounded very reasonable, so I sent an email requesting a room and soon started communicating with German Porta.
German was indispensable in planning for my trip. Not only did he set me up with accommodations in Barra da Lagoa, he was also incredibly helpful in confirming reservations I had made in the other cities I planned to visit. German suggested I book one of Sr. Anoldo's apartments in Barra da Lagoa. Since I was a female traveling by myself, it sounded convenient - newly renovated, small kitchen, clean bathroom, right in the heart of town, close to restaurants, internet cafes and the beach. Sr. Anoldo picked me up from the airport and got me settled in on my first evening. The apartment did not disappoint. It was absolutely perfect. I really enjoyed being so close to the water. There were always people on the streets, and a lot of activity in general. During the day, the beach was jam packed with people and in the evening the fishing boats would come in and unload on the docks, and football and volleyball games would take place on the field near the beach.
Every night, as the sun would set, I would walk across the footbridge to the little bar on the canal where they were made the best caipirinhas. Since I was in town leading up to Carnival, late into the night you could hear drummers practicing and whistles blowing. One night, around 2am, there was a group parading down the block where the apartment is located. People were hanging out of their windows listening while others were in the street dancing. It was so festive and spontaneous.
I spent five days in Floripa as I had made plans to head up to Salvador for Carnival. I wish I could have stayed longer. One of the best parts of the trip was meeting a local couple, Paulo and Alicia. They are friends of German and they were kind enough to take me around the beautiful island of Santa Catarina and show me the many gorgeous beaches. One day we hit Praia Joaquina, Morro das Pedras, Armacao, Matadeiro, Pantano do Sul and Igleses. In Pantono do Sul we stopped for lunch where we enjoyed a whole fried fish, marinated vegetables, bolinhos, and plenty of cachaca and beer.
I found it fairly easy to get around Floripa, as the bus system does a great job of covering the island and getting folks onto the mainland. Also, the bus stop in Barra da Lagoa was a stone’s throw away from the apartment.
I checked out the marketplace in the historical center of town (be sure to have already exchanged your currency, as it doesn’t make economical sense to change dollars for reais with the hustlers on the street).
I was able to hit some of the other beaches around the island. Praia Mole was one of my favorites. I just planted myself at a table by a barraca, ate shrimp and drank cold beer all day. On the website’s suggestion, I decided to take a boat trip to Campeche. The island itself is a natural wonder and I really enjoyed the friendly crew on our boat. We had a bit of trouble upon our return to Barra (we got stuck in low water trying to get back to the dock). It was quite an adventure, but well worth the trip.
One of the most memorable evenings I had was at Paulo and Alicia’s house. They live up on top of a very steep hill overlooking the ocean. They were the friendliest of hosts, and prepared a great dinner of grilled anchove and side dishes. Paulo also makes a mean caipirinha. We spent the evening eating, drinking, talking, and listening to great music. They are hoping to convert their home into a pousada, and I wish them well. They really know how to show a guest a great time, and I recommend looking them up if you are ever in Barra.
My short time sadly came to an end, but if history is any guide, I will be back in Brazil next year. I will be sure to spend more time in Floripa, and specifically in Barra da Lagoa. All the talk about Santa Catarina being a magical island is TRUE. I can’t wait to return. And I will definitely be sure to plan my trip again through this wonderful, resourceful website. Thanks again, German!
Naheed
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