Profile
Blog
Photos
Videos
So our intention of staying in Barra for just one week was just a foolish whim!.
We moved into the apartment on 24th August and I am writing this blog from the balcony of the apartment on 19th September, whilst being watched by 'Vaughan and Verity' (a couple of vultures on the roof !!!)...so we are still very much here..(for now unless the vultures get the upper hand!!)
We really did have every intention of leaving and exploring more of the island but as the days came and went we realized that this place is total paradise and as a result we are finding it extremely difficult to move on. Every week we have asked the lovely round shiny cheeked lady (always via Google translate) if its ok to stay another week and she has happily agreed (whilst rubbing her hands together and showing pound signs in her eyes...well Brazilian Real signs!. There's no one else here at the moment, so she is quid's in!)...everybody wins!!
We have been able to explore on foot and by bus though. The buses here have an interesting system, it seems there is one price to get around the entire island as long as you get off and on the next bus by staying in the bus terminals. When you get on there is a bloke sat at a turnstile half way up the bus who you pay and then you can carry on to the back of the bus for the rest of your journey, sometimes the turnstiles get jammed and you end up trapped as the bus pulls away....with lots of passengers watching it can be very embarrassing! One young lad got stuck in the turnstile trying to get his surf board through...that made interesting viewing!!
As with the rest of South America , Barra enjoys a good party. We hadn't been here long when they celebrated San Pedro's day. This is mainly for the children of Florianopolis. Not sure why but they dress as little Tudors, holding their hands up together very regally like Henry The Eighth and Anne Bolyne and parade down the main high street with a jazz band following behind. They make their way to the local church while firecracker's go off all around them. They then disappear inside the church and don't come out for about two hours while the parents and priest sing some fairly dirgy songs!! Poor kids but when they do come out, the locals have put up huge bouncy castles and fairground rides on the beach and they chimp about nibbling on churros and chugging Pepsi until the early hours or until the parents have stopped drinking and take them home all sandy, sugary and hyper!..(both parents and children!) Not sure what the significance of Tudoryness was but it was an amazing site ..they looked adorable.
Most evenings Ray and I walk down to the lagoon. It's such a beautiful place and at dusk it comes to life with old prawn fishermen flinging their circular nets like frisbees into the water and dragging up hundreds of fat prawns which leap about in a frenzy trying to escape the dreaded bucket and lurking beady eyed herons. One evening one escaped by pinging itself out of the bucket, I kept my eye on it and discreetly nudged it through the wooden slats of the pontoon to freedom...good deed done, the prawn lived to ping about for another day.
Just by the fishermen the old men gather under the trees and play dominoes and chess on the specially designed concrete chess tables. They all appear to be around eighty plus, all wrinkled, leathery and sundamaged from years of exposure to the elements with out an once of Piz Buin! The dominoes and chess games are quite competitive, I don't think they are gambling but you'd think so with all their noise, cheering and shouting. It gets quite heated at times especially the more they drink their special herbal tea and smoke their special pungent ciggies!! While this is all going on there are usually a bunch of young men playing football on the beach. The goal posts (logs and bricks )are only about a metre apart but the skills these young guys show is incredible. I know nothing about football but I can fully understand how this country produced legends like Pele. It s from playing footy on the beach, using tiny goal posts for accuracy, in the burning sun everyday since they could toddle...brilliant and fascinating to watch
Ray and I sit there watching the penguins, the herons, the snowy egrets (looked that one up!), frigate birds and the cormorants darting into the water, pulling out silvery flappy fish then drying their wings on the rocks at sunset as the fishing boats return to the harbour...just idyllic.
The pace of life is so slow here. Our days have mostly consisted of waking up to the sound of the ocean, breckie of fresh pineapple, melon and eggy bread , beach bumming, lunch, a bit more beach bumming, siesta in the hammock (yes we have a hammock on our balcony!!), strolling around the lagoon at sunset, supper, bed, wake up..start all over again....honestly ..its exhausting!!
I can actually feel the years of stress in special educational needs, the funding fiasco's, the thoughtless, money driven managers, unreasonable targets, unreasonable line managers, Ofsted inspections, red tape and bureaucracy seeping out of every pore and disappearing into a stressy past, none of which really matters or exists for me now. This trip is certainly doing its job!
My heart went out last week to my friends , family and collegues who work in eduction and who returned to start another academic year. They will do an incredible job as always but judging by their Facebook posts many are already feeling under valued, stressed and unsupported. I wish them all the best for the coming year. I remember that so well , but for the first time in 16 years I am not there with them....I miss them and the students but being away from it all is such a great feeling!.....
Ray and I are happy, tanned, relaxed and well……..and enjoying life ......... (maybe next years student residential should be in Barra Da Lagoa??)
- comments
j oliver superbly described i was there def on the beach so happy for you both well earned and magic love dad
Alison Really enjoyed your blog Laura and so pleased that you are enjoying your trip so far. Sounds like you and Ray have found a little paradise of your own, it will be hard to leave. Keep writing girl love it!
Carol Beake Another beautifully crafted account of your "once in a lifetime" trip. Sounds as though it is a "must visit" place. Continue to be happy. Much love Aunty Carol x
Mel Thompson Right that's it, I'm booking a flight! Know what you mean about having a less stressful life, particularly in September! Have been at the Southampton Boat show today being all nautical and excited! Keep blogging. xxxxx
Dawn Lovely Eggs Laura it sounds wonderful, I went on a trip around Goa and Sri Lanka all before 9 o'clock this morning.What would would we do without the net .but who knows plane tickets in the future. Glad you are both having a great time Dawny X
Lor Hey Dawn, lovely to hear from you!!...thoroughly recommend a trip like this...do it when the smashers are fledged...its amazing!! x
Clare Sounds absolutely fabulous, am loving the blog :o) xx
Lyn You sound so relaxed good for you both - it's well deserved!
Jen B I want to live in Barra!! Sounds fab!!! Glad you are feeling de stressed Laura - you deserve it my lovely!! xx