Serhs Grand Natal

We travelled north from Natal to a tiny place called Genipabu, famed for is tranquil beach and huge sand dunes. To get there we took our first local bus and then hopped in a taxi which Bruce bargained for hard!!!!

We arrived to the beautiful beach with a more relaxed yet still very Brazilian vibe. We are still the only backpackers in sight.. and we were promptly serenaded by 2 wizened old Brazilian guitar men on the beach. We found a little pousada called Rapa Nui owned by a ...

So after a whirlwind of packing up the house and shipping ourselves out... we finally made it to Brazil yesterday evening! We flew to Lisbon and then connected to Natal and caught a taxi to Ponta Negra which is about 15 minutes south of Natal.

We are slowly taking it all in but its quite surreal.. we are a 5 minute walk from a huge long beach where it is literally bustling with life. You wouldnt believe it. You sit ...

... a mid-evil pub. There were also about 10 bars in one complex right down the street. The funny thing about that place was that all the women in the place were hookers. All of them!! I sat in there for 3 nights, smoked a cigar, drank a coke, and went to bed. I did not get approached by any hookers. I guess that is a good thing but a blow to the ego. :o))

During the day, I hung out at the beach with some people from the hostel and went on long walks. It was a ...

... is surrounded by Lake of Guaraíras and the Atlantic Ocean). Located in the biggest ecological sanctuary in the state of Rio Grande do Norte, chosen by the Guia 4 Rodas as one of the 10 most beautiful beaches of Brazil. www.pipa.com.br I feel pretty good about being on my own, in fact having just spent 25 days with a group, it is nice to have some time to myself and march to the beat of my own drum. Itīs never the days that are a problem but I do find the evenings can be ...

... with. We stopped at a gorgeous fresh water lake in the dunes where people were swimming and relaxing with waiters bringing them fresh coconuts, cocktails (caiprinhas mainly) and beers under shaded tables for a very low cost. We ordered Margaritas. At one point the buggy and us boarded a small raft and were lugged over a water crossing of about 100 metres by a man pushing with a bamboo pole. Next stop saw Nadia sand ...

... these same two dolphins have been coming here every day more or less for years and the best part is that they now have a baby dolphin with them, well more like a 10 year old kid dolphin. These dolphins are very used to people and I vow to not chicken out the next time I see them. Amanda by the way is an American hating left wing **** of sorts. We are cool, but I definitely keep my distance as I donīt really want to spend any more time ...

... not at baseball games, only on the breaking floor. Hang out with Thiago for awhile at the beach. He invites me to his house in Florianapolis which is supposed to be an amazing place (Florianopolis, not his house) but I donīt think I will have time to get there. BTW: Brazilians love, love to invite strangers to their house I am starting to figure out. Head back to the hostel and the one Brazilian chick who doesnīt like Americans and speaks ...

... they might bargain which they dont). I leave the arrival and move to the taxis in the departure area, trying to catch a taxi that has just brought someone. Instead of going for the queue to arrival, it should jump at my offer. Well, the only thing jumping at me is the airport security, pushing me to the taxis in the arrival area, thats where you catch yr taxi right, the first one in the line. As if I didnt know. They are quite persuasive and make me leave. I ...

Tibau do Sul: een zeer spannende aanloop en een heerlijke vakantieweek We zijn een dag van tevoren uit Fort Orange vertrokken en hebben het zo gepland dat we 's ochtends vroeg, bij opkomend water de lagoon bij Tibau do Sul in kunnen varen. Deze aanloop belooft nog spannender te worden dan de vorige (bij Fort Orange). We hebben dit keer geen gegevens uit een pilot en C-map (ons navigatieprogramma) heeft geen detailinformatie van de lagoon. Wat hebben we wel? Arjan en Marjolein hebben ...

... the Western hemisphere (The Easternmost point of Brazil is even closer to West Africa then to Southern Brazil!), naturally tens of thousands of slaves were brought in, land was cleared, and some in Northeast Brazil prospered even up to today. But when the West Indies began to compete in the sugar market, the bubble burst and the economy stagnated, leaving thousands to battle for the waning flow of money or to migrate to a larger city to find work (this is how Brazil's ...