October 7 to October 9 2015 Florianopolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil

We entered our third state in Brazil, Santa Catarina. We are looking forward to seeing the island of Floripa, as the locals call it. On Wednesday, 7 October we made our first stop at a Merlo Luncheonette at 6:45 a.m. Weather had changed to cloudy and 20c. Our estimated arrival time is 11:00 a.m. since the usual bus route is closed and we need to detour.

Our selfie on the bus

Landscape from Foz do Iguaçu to Florianopolis.

City along the way after Joinville

Landscape of Santa Catarina

Florianopolis in the distance

After being dropped off at the main terminal we walked over to the local buses for Florianopolis with Donna. She directed us to the bus that should take us to our Couchsurfing hosts home, went got on the 138 Norte, this bus took us to the northern route and our hosts were on the southern route of the same bus.  We got off finally at USFC, walked across the street and started our migration uphill. You have no idea how exhausting the incline is until you do it with two backpacks, we took a couple of breaks and then.... We walked past the entrance and further uphill. Keith sent an SMS to our host, Fabricio and Ana waited for us to come back downhill and greeted us. We felt like Mountain Goats climbing, would have been a great joy to just roll back down but we didn't.

The view from our room, balcony overlooking this wonderful landscape

Our couch in Floripa

We had a very warm greeting into their home and sat down to lunch with Fabricio, Ruy and Ana, then settled into our room once we got a tour of the house.  After lunch, Fabricio and Ruy went to work. Keith and Wayne joined Ana in a road trip to Joaquina Beach, on the Atlantic side of the island and Lagoa da Conceição.  

Joaquin Beach, looking down just after we got off the bus

Wayne, Ana and Keith on Joaquin Beach

Looking back at Joaquin Beach from the water

Looking at the beach from the rocks, great view, Yup it is raining but still looks great.

Wayne and Keith on the rocks

Hanging out with our hosts..Alex in the foreground, Keith is playing chess with Ruy, Wayne is chatting with Fabricio and Ana took the photo

Thursday, 8 October was a wash. Keith, Wayne and Ana went to the grocery store since we planned on cooking dinner tonight. We walked to the market, checked out all the food available and decided on a pork loin for dinner with mango, and salad. We bought chocolate cake for dessert. We got back to the apartment bags in hand and exhausted from another climb, but just in time before the skies opened to a torrential thunderstorm. We relaxed that evening with the group.

Friday, 9 October we got up and out early for a trip to the beach, the day was supposed to be cloudy and chance of rain. We were going to try and visit Donna on the south of the island at the Otter Rescue but an otter got loose the evening before and they closed the facility, plus the hiking trails in the south were closed due to flooding.

We got on the bus below the hill, traveled to the Central Terminal to change buses to Lagoa da Conceição then to Bus 360. We headed over to Praia Mole.  We walked the beach then into the paths above the dunes and rocks to Praia da Galheta. 

Praia Beach

Praia Mole beach

Path from Praia to Gharta

Walk along the rocks to get to the beach

Keith above the waves breaking on the rocks

Storm swells and surfers out in the distance

Path above the rocks and some of the dunes

Water coming from the dunes onto Praia da Galheta

Keith up in the rocks when we walked back

We stopped at Bar do Deca on Praia Mole, one of the few gay beaches there. We met Robert, an American from Louisiana. He works for United Airlines and based out of Houston, he was at the bar with his Brazilian boyfriend, David.  They drove us to Centro and we stopped at Jocas Bar, which opened when we arrived.  We then went back to the flat to have dinner and say our good-byes to our hosts, since we decided to leave for Blumenau. We had so much fun that evening with everyone.  We joked and laughed and played games, talked on and on.  

Our time in Florianopolis was so much fun despite the cold and rainy weather. We would love to come back to "Rainopolis" when it is not raining and we can go to the beach and swim.  Our hosts are very active in the LGBT movement and we wish them luck with their endeavor in Brazil. We hope to see them again.

Alex, Keith, Wayne and Fabricio