We ended up moving to another campsite due to our disappointment with the first one and a desire to see more of the island. Because we didn't really understand the bus routes we asked what the best way to get to the next place would be. Although the campsite is pretty popular most people didn't seem to understand where we wanted to go and we ended up spending a total of 4 hours on 3 different buses to get there. Upon arrival it started to drizzle so we hung out in a pavilion and played Farkle while we waited out the rain. The campsite turned out to be the only state-owned and operated campsite in Brazil. It was much larger than our previous site and much better maintained, it was called Camping Rio Vermilho. Which means Red River Camping. We ended up staying at this site for the duration of our stay. There was a small town located about 30 minutes up the beach where we were able to buy groceries and go out to eat.
On our first day on Praia Mozambique, which is the longest beach in Florianopolis, Kristin and I decided that we'd like to try surfing. Initially we figured we might rent a board for the day or half the day and maybe even get a lesson. We checked out the first Escuela de Surf on the beach and were told that boards rent out at 20 reales or about $12 per hour. Then we saw a board sticking out of the sand with a for sale sign on it. 30 Reales! We quickly bought it. It was pretty beaten up and much too small for learning, but hey, we knew we weren't going to become experts. We just wanted to have some fun. The boys we bought it from, who were about 12 years old, waxed it up and sent us on our way. We spent the day playing in the waves, attempting to surf, but mostly just riding in on our stomachs. The next day we sold the surfboard to a group of Argentines for the same price. It was perfect!
After selling the surfboard we hiked to a nude beach, which turned out to be more of a gay nude beach. There were few women and all of them were fully clothed. We didn't spend much time there. As we crossed the path back to our beach a storm rolled in. I led the way down the path through the cold pelting rain and stepped poorly turning an ankle. The rest of the walk back to town was not pleasant. My ankle swelled quickly and has yet to heal completely.
The following day we took a trip to the northern coast to a much more crowded beach called Praia Inglesas. There the water was warmer and the people were packed like sardines onto the soft white sand. There were vendors of all types. They sold everything from cheese on a stick to jewelry. We tried some coconut covered in chocolate and churros, yum!
It rained nearly every day of the trip and the last one was no different. Luckily these rains were light and usually only lasted a few hours. We decided that in order to catch our 5 pm bus back to Paraguay we should leave around 3. We packed up the tent and all of our stuff and headed to the bus stop. By the time we arrived at the local terminal in the centro it was 5:05, we raced the 2 blocks to the long distance terminal only to find that our bus had already left. Luckily the agency was able to put us on the next bus out for minimal cost and we got to stay a little longer in Brazil.
The buses we rode in and out on.
Waterfall we hiked to on the first day.
Our hostel from the first night
Natalie and I on the path to the beach from Campsite #2
Kristin and I taking the surfboard out.
Beach Bar
Home Sweet Home
At the top on our hike to the nude beach
The Storm coming in
Praia Inglesas
Yummy steaks we cooked up
Brazilian meals are monstrous
With our surfboard
