praia da pipa

I wonder how many times I will feel the sensation of paradise. here in Praia da Pipa life is very tranquil, surrounded by the sounds of the sea. this is a little beach town not far from Natal, a place frequented by foreigners seeking a place to relax, surf, and watch the sunset. and of course there is the nightly street party with all the life and energy that is so typically Brazilian. every day the sights and sounds create a beautiful composition similar to the day before. this sensation of deja vu feels quite comforting as it brings a little bit of stability to a transient life. yesterday I experienced a moment of awe at the sight of dolphins swimming by just feet away from my kayak. tomorrow another adventure awaits, the sand dunes of ponta negra...

sleepy town of olinda

as a cultural aside, we spent a few days in olinda, one of Brazils best preserved colonial cities, filled with churches and artists ateliers, revealing olinda as a historic bohemian city of pastel colors and cobblestones streets. a perfect momentary refuge from many days of beaches and nights of carousing. until praia da pipa where the beach life continues...

fernando de noronha

I am on an island virtually untouched by man. some of the most beautiful beaches I have seen, surrounded by cliffs and a nature you cannot capture in words or photos it is very underpopulated here, as only about 400 people are allowed on the island at once. so much for the nightlife! this is truly a hidden paradise. sooji and I are traveling with fabio our italian friend. our days are spent driving around in a buggy exploring the 12 beaches, snorkeling, tanning (yes we are VERY tan!!), eating lots of moqueca and grilled fish. it has become a simple existance, and indeed a happy one. this afternoon we will return to recife and find our way to olinda, an old colonial village...

salvador da bahia

Salvador da Bahia was Brazil´s first capital and the most African influenced city, where blacks preserved the roots of their African culture. this is very evident in the rich, vibrant music and art, seen and heard around every street corner in the restored historical neighborhood of Pelhourinho. we saw the very popular local band Timbalada at which performance Caetano Veloso made a guest appearance. we felt much like brazilians!! we also became acqainted with the orixas, Afro-Brazilian gods very elaborately carved in wood, seen at the Museo Afro-Braziliero. after spending 3 days in the intense heat and energy of Salvador, we joined the sea turtles at a small ecological beach resort, Praia do Forte. this is where a national project, Tamar, is working with local communities to preserve sea turtle breeding grounds, as they are an endangered species. turtles are such fascinating creatures!

arraial d'ajuda

to the tunes of dj tiesto sooji and I boarded a bus for a 24 hour ride...to head north, to the region of Bahia. our last days in Rio proved that Rio de Janeiro is indeed one of the most beautiful cities in the world (from what I have seen thus far). we spent an evening in Lapa, a historic part of the city where we experienced Rio Scenario, a most impressively designed antique store turned restaurant/lounge with live samba band and such good energy! what amazing ambiance!! we also spent an afternoon in Santa Teresa which is filled with ateliers and a great artistic flair. playing the role of a tourist (and in search of a little redemption) I went to see Corcovado, the christ, the largest art deco sculpture in the world. the views of the city were incredible! and then it was time to leave. my greatest challenge will be not to become attached to the places I visit, not to mention the people I meet...and now, we have found another paradise near Porto Seguro, a little beach village with much elegance and some of the most gorgeous beaches, called Arraial d'Ajuda. it is perhaps the St. Tropez of Brazil? they say God is Brazilian...

rio in the rain...

there exists a beautiful quietude in Rio as a light rain falls and the beachgoers take shelter in the shopping malls and many of Ipanema's corner cafes. rather than indulge in an afternoon of caiparinhas, or yet another one, I decided to experience art in it's simplest form, at the International Museum of Naive Art, the largest collection of folk art in the world. 'A naive artist paints dipping the brush in his heart'. much is said through these anarchist poets of the brush. following this visual stimulation was a grand feast with friends. have I mentioned the meat yet? tomorrow I am hoping for a little sunshine, but there are worse places for daydreaming in the rain...