TravelStream™ news feed for member cat6698 on TravelPod's free travel blogs service http://www.travelpod.com/syndication/rss/cat6698 en-us Copyright ©2010 TravelPod.com Mon, 07 Dec 2009 08:08:48 -0500 http://www.travelpod.com http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/cat6698/2/1260092124/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/cat6698/2/1260092124/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/cat6698/2/1260092124/tpod.html Mon, 07 Dec 2009 08:08:48 -0500 Kitesurfing adventures in Brazil

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Guajiru, Ceará, Brazil

Well hols nearly over and I have managed to progress quite a bit given all my obstacles (constant shoulder pain and stitches in elbow etc etc ). I can ride in big wind and big (for me) waves and stay upwind and do some transitions and jump (slight exaggeration but feels like jumps to me) off waves. Mr F has managed to land a few back loops (crashed a lot too) and some big jumps, so he's happy.

Summary of kite spots for any other interested kiters:

Cumbuco - lots of good wave/small chop action and generally plenty of space as theres a long beach. Tides will affect wave size. Usually bigger wave at shore, so need to body drag out unless you are good kiter. Plenty of beginners there.
Cauipe Lagoon (4km from Cumbuco) - flat water, idillic if it wasn't so busy. Prepare for possible kite tangle as we had 4 in 4 days kiting. Best to go early morning - we even went at 6am and found a few people already there. Also we found sunday quieter, altho you do have locals bathing at water edges...
Paracuru - great when low tide as v flat water but again v busy - not as bad as Cauipe Lagoon, quieter early morning
Guarjiru - v quiet spot by fishing village (max 6 kiters, often none). Lots of wave action, so not for beginner, as you can't really get to less choppy patch. Again varies with tide, so sometimes easier than others
Lagoon near Guajiru - flat water forms at high tide only but v quiet when we were there, altho could only hold 10 kiters max. We had 6 max and often had the lagoon to ourselves

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Trairi, Ceará, Brazil

Relaxing is dangerous, really !
So I wake up for the first time in days without shoulder ache from kitesurfing and decide to go outside and read in the hammock. Mr F said he would like more sleep so I leave him in peace.
I take my laptop and 2 books.... really looking forward to a good hours relax. Its 6am so v peaceful outside. I get in the hammock one side and feel myself falling out the otherside. In order not to drop the laptop, I land on my right elbow on to the concrete floor. Embarrased more than anything, I get back in the hammock and prepare to read. Then something red catches my eye ...a graze i think, but on examination i find my elbow skin split in two and hanging off.
Panic sets in and a whaling banshee arrives in the bedroom and all lie-ins are out for Mr F! Luckily I have a first aid kit and Alex attempts to Steri-strip my elbow back together (this takes some time as the 1st 3 strips end up on Alex fingers and not on me). Anyway after 2 hours the bleeding hasn't stopped and we realise that the strips are not holding the wound.
And so we end up on a Dune Buggy trip to the nearest hospital (19km) in Trairi. We had the best A&E service ever: in and out in 10 mins and that includes anaestetising and sitching my elbow and it was FREE! Puts NHS to shame. The bad news was when we asked the Doc (who thankfully spoke English, admin staff didn't - thanks to Mr F who had practiced his Brazill Portuguese phrases for me) if I would be Kitesurfing today, he boomed NO and said at least 3 days off. We have bargined with him and he said maybe after 2 days rest.....so wait and see how I heal.
On the postives, the taxi driver decides we should go sight-seeing and takes us in to town where we have a suco -fruit drink (see photo of wounded soldier) and buy some contraban water (its v expensive in resort and we are forbidden to bring outside food and drink drink - but we drink a lot of water and having to pay 3$RS for small bottle really adds up and we need big bottles!) Then he takes us the scenic route home along 15 km of beaches......back at resort by 11am, so Mr F can get out on the water while I rest in bed for a bit !
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Guajiru, Ceará, Brazil

Having great stay at Rede Beach Resort- v romantic venue - got ground floor room looking across pool and straight out to sea. Really great staff and quiet now we have lost the couple with noisy kids next door. And wonderful breakfast - never has the variety been so good and lots of local cakes - yum!!

The sea is a bit choppy and waves scary at high tide and in certain parts of the beach. Mr F is enjoying them tho. I was ok until I stopped after a long run and realised that they were coming at me and were bigger than I liked and then the wind dropped so I was struggling to get out of the water and away from them. Fortunately for a few hrs a day (high tide) there is a flat water lagoon 20mins away and v quiet there as we are away from it all here. Had great sunset session on 2nd day and no one on lagoon then, so really had to be my best session yet. The buggy driver just waits until you are finished and the other day he helped launch and pack up our kit - you can't ask for more than that.

Mr F has been stuck on my pink board (his board was damaged after it dropped off buggy roof in Cumbuco) as repair needs more time to set, so he is looking forward to having it back , especially to handle these waves........

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Cauipe Lagoon, State of Ceara, Brazil

Had a fab birthday - started with banana pancakes in bed. Then we took another dune buggy trip to Cauipe Lagoon and had a great morning session there, followed by fish lunch - v yummy.

Finished the afternoon with Mr F and I having massages at the great massage place down the road and 3 caipirihnas to go so Mr V could enjoy them with us back at the apartments. We had wonderful lobster dinner and cocktails at 31 restaurant and got a table right on the beach front. Then to complete the evening we picked up the biggest chocolate cake ever from the local shack in the market square that Chris (DJ we met organised earlier in the week for us) (amazing they have choc cake her too!) and a few cheeky Cuba Libres back at the ranch. A good time was had by all as you will see in the photos!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/cat6698/2/1259059839/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/cat6698/2/1259059839/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/cat6698/2/1259059839/tpod.html Wed, 25 Nov 2009 15:02:16 -0500 Kitesurfing adventures in Brazil

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Paracuru, Pará, Brazil

We hired a dune buggy to take us to Paracuru to kitesurf today. Its 70 km by road or 40 km by beach and a v scenic and interesting ride thru sand dunes and lagoons. Unfortunately its a bumpy ride, so Mr V 's back didn't enjoy it. We passed people out kiting along the way - in Tiaba and Tiaba Laggoon. We eventually reached Paracuru (apprx 1.5 hrs drive) and its a great spot (quite busy tho), at low tide it forms what they describe as a lagoon, basically theres a reef 300m out which reduces the waves/chop. Unfortunately my shoulders were wrecked after only a 30 min session and it took 2 rounds of painkillers before I could speak again. I had to sit out virtually all day - really hard as it was such a lovely location..... :(
I have had to have a big talk with myself and have another day off kiting tomorrow, luckily both Alex's have agreed to join me. We're getting into the morning yoga too, so we'll do that, plus massage and relax round the pool instead.



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Cumbuco, State of Ceara, Brazil

I finally had to admit defeat and take a rest day. I have had shoulder pain since day 2, despite doing less kiting than the others, and despite my great pre-hol exercise camapaign. I have diagnosed myself this morning (its great having free wifi at the apartments) with Rotator Cuff Tendonitis in both shoulder joints. Treatment: REST,ice and anti-inflammatories. Well I have been icing and taking painkillers for 3 days, so had to listen to the websites advice and rest. This has been hard as everyone else went out today :(

Its not all bad as we have hammocks here to relax and read my books. Also I have been having regular massage up the road, near Sunset Beach Hotel. Today Alex F came with me. This is a deluxe massage ($25 Reals, less than £10 for apprx 1 hr). The massage is on the beach in covered area and they specialise in sports ailments. You tell them where the problem is and then they pay particular attention there. The massage includes ice treatment on sore spots, all the while heaveny fragrances are sprayed in the air. You get a facial massage with oils, then shower in outdoor shower and dry off in sun and get hair/foot treatments,and I had special antiseptic for graze from cyclist running into me! Everyone has tried a massage and loved it!

Also managed some retail therapy and bought some new Havianas - mine unfortunately went missing at the Lagoon the other day...

Also had a great meal at Restaurant 31, which is right on the beach - lovely fish and great cocktails. Definitely returning there. Decided to have an early night after this, as we had quite a few Caipiriha's last night after we met an English Dj who was DJing at Sunset Sessions at Durobeach bar. He took us to the local square for nightcap and v cheap Caipirinha's.....

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Cumbuco=Caipe Lagoon, State of Ceara, Brazil

Today is the second day of visiting Caipe Lagoon, which is 4km away from Cumbuco. We have organised a taxi transfer (see photo) via dune buggy with all our kit. It is amazing there - flat freshwater and I am learning so fast there. Unfortunately it is v popular, so we have had a few kite tangles without incidence (Loupey - 2, me - 1). They have an amazing fish restaurant (choose your fish - not for me, but the boys do it). Plus just when you need it a little man arrives with ice-creams or yesterday, fresh mango juice - this is the life.

Yesterday we arrived at the Lagoon at 8am and it was still fairly busy, so today we arrived at 6am (don't forget this is 9am UK time, so not too much hassle) and we had it quiet for apprx 45mins - these guys like to get up early here !).

I am very excited today, as I mastered upwind riding (finally) yesterday and today I have managed transitions (where you go from left to right without stopping). I am busy celebrating with vodkas & coke as I type !! It feels like it has taken forever to master but its all coming together now!!
Unfortunately despite vigourous excercise campaign before hols, my body is weak and I have bad shoulder pain in the joints again (woke me in my sleep last nite). I am having a break now - Loupey and Mr F are going for an afternoon session back outside our apartments (I did point out that Mr F complained that he was worried we would not have enough relaxation time on this holiday and there he is going out for more !!)

There is also a little sunset party 4-8pm so we are going to check that out tonite....




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Cumbuco, State of Ceara, Brazil

Arrived at Cumbuco Airport apprx 22 hrs since we woke up. Thankfully we got thru passport control in 20 mins (we were 6th of plane) - chaos there and locals get priority. Loupey and Alex spend 1.5 hrs there yesterday!!
Met our taxi driver who spoke not a word of English, fortunately I grasped that he wanted us to wait by the bus station from similar words to Spanish. Alex was excitedly telling him in Portuguese that 'we wait, we wait'. I said thats no good, if he doesn't know where we are going to be !!
The taxi turned out to be a wreck of a car with smashed windscreen and dent in the side and as we drove thru Fortaleza dark suburbsm I wondered if we were going to be taken somewhere and mugged (paranioa as v tired), When we hit the dual carriageway, the car veered from one lane to another, what wen thru my mind was:
1. Is he drunk?
2. is he falling asleep?
3. Never mind about the plane crashing, its whether you can survive the drive at the other end!!

After a panicky whispered conversation with Alex, it turns out the steering had gone to he was struggling to drive in a straight line (great!!). I decided to close my eyes and hope that we got there soon.

As we drove into Cumbuco, we realised that we didn't know where we were staying, as our local contact hadn't told us. We just hoped the taxi driver did! He dropped us outside this very quiet apartment in pitch black which was locked......where was LOupey & Alex??? At this point I am a little concerned, esp as my mobile appears to have lost signal. Alex goes off to find the security guard and chat to him in Portuguese (he;s done more CD's than me -yes I am concerned as to what he will be trying to say??). Anyway he cone back with a man and a key, so its all good and we get inside.
It turns out that LOupey and Alex had crashed out briefly (tired from flight and hard day on the water)and locked the door - didn't expect us that quickly. They soon perked up and after a couple of cheeky drinks, we all hit the hay.


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Cumbuco, State of Ceara, Brazil

Woke up to fabulous views of the beach no more than a few meters away. We seem to be staying in the deluxe apartments, (3 bedroom/bathroom, so we each have en-suite), even though we booked the cheaper ones. They have outside hammocks, huge beanbags, lots of comfy chairs and are finished off inside to v high spec. "Result o'clock" as Mr Verdier would say.

And it gets better when we discover that we can kitesurf straight from here. When we need to pop back for drinks/re-apply suntan lotion we have everything right at our apartment, plus fresh water outdoor shower right at beach edge to rinse off us & our kit. Got a good morning session in. Mr F is singing the praises of his new board - Mr V tried it out and loved it too. Mr F's finally landing jumps and loving kitesurfing....

Found a good local restaurant and had great fish lunch = took ages tho, so might have to get food in for lunch in future. Also those Caipirinhas were very strong, so just as well we had a break before heading back on the water.

Added to that, despite the town being very basic, the local supermarket delivers (via young lad on push bike) free of charge to our door, which is great as we are`apprx 600 m from town, also we have a water fountain here and they also deliver our 20litre water bottles!!

]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/cat6698/2/1258295720/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/cat6698/2/1258295720/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/cat6698/2/1258295720/tpod.html Sun, 15 Nov 2009 09:43:13 -0500 Kitesurfing adventures in Brazil

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Lisbon, Estremadura, Portugal

Well its a Business Class lounge, so actually its all good, as we have unlimited drinks, food, magazines, showers and most importantly for me free wi-fi. I actually have time to catch up on all those things that I haven't had time for........including checking out possible accommodation for our trip, good kite spots, as well as emails, Facebook and wind and weather reports from the WHOLE on North Brazil......in fact I think I am rapidly running out of time and will have to be dragged away and on to the plane soon!!

Thanks to airmiles/lots of travel we're flying Business, so not dreading the 12 hr (ish) flight ....can't wait to tuck in to the free champagne and relax in bed seats etc.....it really is the way to do longhaul travel.

See you in Brazil!

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