The Cold Cape and Blue Sea

The weather has finally started cooperating and we've been able to enjoy some beautifully sunny days on the beach. Cabo Frio is a great city and our host, Mariana is very sweet and patient with our feeble Portuguese! But she speaks english very well, and has showed us much about what daily life is like in this part of the world. For the most part, life is good. People take the time here to enjoy eachother and there is very little rushing around, even when there is work to do. The idea of 'lateness' does not exist in the same way as it does back home. We put so much emphasis on time, that I think we forget to just enjoy eachother's company. We have a lot to learn from this Latin American lifestyle! They know what are the most important things in life!





We visited a town called Buzios and another called Arraial do Cabo. Both were absolutely amazing places. This picture of the sea was taken from a vista above Arraial do Cabo, from which you can see the Great Atlantic stretching out to Africa. The feeling there was beyond words. The sun shone intermittently as the thin clouds raced by in the brilliant blue sky above. The green waves crushed against rocks and the spray hung in the air, allowing plenty of time to reflect on the meaning of the contacts that we make in our own lives. The friends we have made here are like family already, but we've got to keep moving.



These places are absolute paradises. I just keep getting this feeling that we are going back in time. This simple life is the good life.

We checked out a samba 'class' that was more like a party in the town square. Anna learned some new dance moves from some very good Brazilian ladies. They are already getting ready for Carnival 2009 down here! Any reason to have a party is a good one! Another fun and easy dance style we've seen is called forró. Music is everywhere and everyone is as willing to teach you a new dance as they are to listen to you butcher their language!










Let me use this forum to make a plug for this amazing cultural-exchange/cheap-travel website that we've found:

http://www.couchsurfing.com/

Highly recommended!

Our profile:

http://www.couchsurfing.com/people/thecappas

It is exactly what it's name suggests! Contact people in cities that you are visiting and you can stay with them in their homes, instead of in a hotel or hostel where you'd be more likely to meet other foreigners. It's allowed us to see much deeper into the regular life and customs of our global neighbors. It seems quite safe, and if your host/guest is not a good match, you can just move on. We've really made a good friend of Mariana in Cabo Frio, and hope there are many more to come!

For the most part, people are really welcoming and the Portuguese quote of the day is:

'Fica vontade'!