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Fifi Flipflops Big Adventure

November 2015 - April 2024
An open-ended adventure by Fifi flipflop Read more
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  • Fifi flipflopFifi Flipflops Big Adventure
    Day 48

    Cachaca Brewery

    January 15, 2016 in Brazil ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C

    I cannot believe it, we have been invited to the place where they make Cachaca , for those of you that i havent introduced this drink to, its the main ingredient in Caiprinhhas.
    When we arrive the guy who is supposed to be showing us around is not here and as we get into the car to leave a voice shouts to us that the son of the owner will show us around , back out of the car and into the brewery we go . This place is amazing , they have a machine that seperates the sugar cane from the chaff and then inside thy have a small distillery , they can make up to 100 litres of cachacha a day and they have just aacquired a larger vat that holds 75000 litres but currently is leaking so they need to give it some tlc . Dimitry speaks pretty good English so the tour is really interesting and the taster session is even better. We head back home where neylor is preparing a bbq and eat our last supper in Miracema. The thought of leaving this place is really sad as it has been our base for the past week and the help of all the various English speaking people here has definitely given me a taster in the Portuguese language. Elena (the lady who helps in the home offers to give me a manicure and pedicure , my nails still have the shellac polish on from weeks ago , so this is a god send. Felling like a new woman , we all head out to the ice cream parlour where Biaa has asked Mark and I to do another interview process . After completing this we all head into the attached games room and have a game of pool. Im sad to say we were defetaed by the Brazilians , well done guys. It is now midnight and we will leave in he early hours of the moning to head to Campus.Read more

  • Fifi flipflopFifi Flipflops Big Adventure
    Day 49

    Campus

    January 16, 2016 in Brazil ⋅ ⛅ 25 °C

    We get up at 5am and finish off our last bit of packing we are still carrying an excess bag but were one large bag lighter so im not too concerned. Saying our goodbyes is hard, but as i have said to all my students , its not goodbye its till we see each other again. Aldo and suane pack our things into the car and we head to Campus to see Bruno and his brother Anasuo. The journey is 3 hours in a car and im glad we havent had to catch a bus as im sure this would be doubled. We arrive in Campus to find Bruno still in bed who we quickly arise and he takes us to show us his University. Bruno is a really clever guy, but his project at the moment is studying how various influences affect the growth of fruits to help the 3rd world countries . This is really interesting and im intrigued by how so few factors can have such a massive affect. Bruno is a very popular guy on the Campus (not just with the ladys ) and the university is known to be the best in the state . We all take lunch together and then unknown to us we are now heading to a place called Cuzious (another 4 hour journey) in the car, but this place was one of my places to go in my lonely Planet book , and its where Aldos brother lives with his wife and kids . After the long journey we pull into the home , which is huge (i was wondering where we were all going to stay) and are greeted again by Aldos mum and dad(Sicleni and Carlos ) The hospitality they show is second to none so i know we wont be dissapointed. The house is beautiful with a massive swimming pool a huge bbq area , and the inside is to die for all very tastefully done.(i could live here)
    Well i thought I could entertain , but this place has put me to shame. The evening has been filled with Endless beverages including cachacha tequila beer and endless bbq, and the entertainment has been just as good, singing dancing and playing UNO. Its amazing how a game of cards has no language barriers and the laughing that has come from playing this is wonderful.
    Its only 9.30 at night, and we are all invited to swim in the pool - feeling slightly boozy i go and change and mark come down with his snorkel on . Mark then thinks its a good idea to have a drinking competition with Aldos brother and this ends with us having to put Mark to bed (very messy), hes going to be rough in the morning. It has poured down all day but the rain here is so warm that it really doesnt put a dampner on things but I retire to bed hoping that tomorrow will be a little brighter. Now i understand why it is called the rainforest.    Read more

  • Fifi flipflopFifi Flipflops Big Adventure
    1
    Day 52

    Buzios

    January 19, 2016 in Brazil ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C

    We get up in the morning to more beautiful food for me to realise that I have left my lonely planet guide at Bronos place in Campus - this is a nightmare as its like my brazilian bible , looks like were heading back to Campos, but at least we'll get to see Bruno and Inacio again. Mark gets up with a head like the birkenhead tunnel and aldos brother is no better.
    Time for a bit of site seeing so we head into the town where Bridget Bardot frequently used to stay back in the 0's (I can see why). Buzious is the playground for the rich and beautiful think i will become a doctor in platic surgery and by a house here . All the designer shops have got in on the action (lecoste etc ) but it is twice the price of England. Mark is a happy man as there is no room in my rucksack so his wallet is safe.
    Alverho and Hennata drive us to the 'tourist" viewpoints then we head for lunch to a place that does crepes filled with what ever filing you could dream of, they were delicious and very filling. A quick cacacha in a bar called Buddha ended up in us getting tickets to go clubbing for free so seeing as it was the boys night last night , how could i say no.
    We head over to the laundrette to do some much needed washing and drying , it has poured down for 2 days now, how am i ever going to get a tan for Carnival??
    On route home we stop off to buy the ladies of the house some flowers to say thank you and mark retires to bed while i get ready to head out clubbing (its hard being married to an old man)
    We arrive to the club and could not see what all the fuss was about . When you enter you are given a card and all your details are taken, every time you go to the bar you hand in the card and when you leave you pay. This is great as it stops the queues and the service is quick. From nowhere the music changes and everyone starts heading to the "curtained area" in the corner of the club. Through the curtains there are shadows of women and as we are allowed through the most beautiful women dressed in very seductive leather outfits with what i can only think are strap ons dangling down. I stood mesmerised for nearly 10 minutes watching and then to my total surpise a random woman approached me , thank god for aldo as she was intent on taking me home ( think it must be the hair) . We arrive home at 4 in the morning and Mark is still flat out , and before log so am i , another brilliant day x    Read more

  • Fifi flipflopFifi Flipflops Big Adventure
    Day 53

    Millionaires Lifestyle

    January 20, 2016 in Brazil ⋅ ⛅ 25 °C

    We have been invited out today on the boat, the housekeepers prepare all the meat and drinks and we set off to the Marina. As the boat pulls in I cant beleive my eyes , its a huge speedboat with a 3 berth jetski attached to the back. Everything is loaded onto the boat and we set off. We head out of the marina and do a tour off the small beaches before anchoring off. The bbq is attached and the beers are passed around , before the boys set off on the jet ski. The huge wireless speaker is connected and we now have a rock boat, tke brazillan funk is pumping out so loud my heart is banging to the beat. We dance eat and frolick in the sea and I honestly don't have a care in the world. Mark is offered a go on the jetski and before i can blink he is off . I decide to have a try at the paddle board which is a lot harder than it looks but without blowing my own trumpet I'm quite good at until i need to turn around. I spend minutes paddling to one side but am still going straight, I panic a little as at this rate ill be in Rio de Janeiro before i'd planned. I try paddling on the other side and for some unknown reson this works and i'm heading back to the boat. Bruno(the owner of the paddle board is fantastic on it , doing head stands etc and later in the day comes back from the beach with strawberry Caiprinhas . Food off the bbq is cooked all day and we drink more and soak up the atmosphere. It has not stopped raining here but as we head back to shore Mark and I are both sunburnt. We grab a quick shower and its time to head back to Campos to collect our books. A 3 hour drive and we book into a hotel, after all the sea air and only having had 3 hours sleep I sleep like a baby .Read more

  • Fifi flipflopFifi Flipflops Big Adventure
    Day 53

    Road to nowhere

    January 20, 2016 in Brazil ⋅ ⛅ 25 °C

    After 3 days without internet the morning is spent catching up on my blog. We still do not have a phone so we walk to the place that the Claudio in Miracema has arranged for us to get the phone unblocked. I ask for the guy but he doesnt speak a word of english and doesnt have a recollection of talking to Claudio so we give up and head into the VIVO store. Thank god for google translate we are able to purchase a small phone and use it to arrange to meet Bruno at his house at midday. we have to get a taxi to Brunos as it is about 5 miles from the hotel . The house is in a complex and there is a security gate where they buzz through to the flat to make sure they are expecting us, even though there is no answer(we are naware of this) the security guard tells them we are Americans and this seems to get us a pass as when we get to the flat there is noone in ???? We call Bruno and his brother but there is no answer and the taxi is gone. So our only plan of action is to walk . After one hour of walking in one direction there is nothing until we arrive at a main highway. We turn around and now walk two hours in the other direction where we find a small bar and eat a couple of savoury "pasties". We receive a text to say Bruno will be home at 5 so we atke a leisurely walk back and sit in the bar about 20 mins from the University. Its crazy here as Bruno has received a text from someone in the bar telling him that we are here, yet again we stick out like a sore thumb.We walk back to Brunos and meet him athe gate . His brother arrives home and we arrange to go for Pizza . In the restaurant they keep bringing out all different types of pizza at regular intervals and you choose which you want (eat as much as you like) just when i think i cant eat any more out comes the sweet pizza.
    We drop Bruno and Inacio back to the complex and carry on back to the hotel to plan our departure in the morning.    Read more

  • Fifi flipflopFifi Flipflops Big Adventure
    Day 53

    Cabo Frio

    January 20, 2016 in Brazil ⋅ ⛅ 25 °C

    A five hour bus journey bringsus to Cabo Frio where we get a taxi to our first hostel. This part of the journey is quite daunting for me as its the first time we are on our own. The hostel is really quite impressive and Leonardo (the owner) speaks really good English(with the aid of google) How did anyone get by without the Inernet ?? We make our own beds and grab a shower(warmish) before heading out for a bite to eat. It is raining lions and rotweillers . We borrow an umbrealla from the hostel and only walk 10 mins down the street , making a hasty entrance to the nearest bar/ cafe where we order a crepe delicious. For the first time since being here I am cold so a quick dash back to the hostel for a warm shower. Downstairs Leonardo is playing the guitar so we sit with him and he offers us to play a video game the most basic version of Mario I have seen. Its like the Atari set I had when I was a kid. We retire to bed early as we will leave tomorrow but honestly wish we could stay for a few more days.Read more

  • Fifi flipflopFifi Flipflops Big Adventure
    Day 54

    First of many

    January 21, 2016 in Brazil ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C

    So today we hit the beach for the first time. It was like a little piece of paradise and while Mark ventured towards the sand dunes I took some time just to sit and take it all in. I feel very blessed to be doing what I am and the first few weeks have been like a holiday but now the realisation has kicked in of the enormity of it all. This is the very beginning of the adventure yet we have already seen and done so much. This trip has already changed my outlook so how will I feel in 12 months? We head back to check out of the hostel and our taxi arrives to take us to arraial de Cabo. We arrive very quickly and once again we are really pleased with the hostel. My sister was shocked that we were sharing a dorm but this really is the cheapest option and I'm pretty used to it from my navy days . We intend to walk out to the beach but guess what? ....IT'S RAINING AGAIN! We go into the nearest restaurant and sit down for something to eatRead more

  • Fifi flipflopFifi Flipflops Big Adventure
    Day 56

    Arriaial De Cabo

    January 23, 2016 in Brazil ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C

    I haven't written for a few days but we are in the same place and if i'm honest I have taken a little time out to relax and take it all in . This place is really beautiful the beaches are perfect and the atmosphere is very relaxed or should i say it was till yesterday as lots of people started arriving for the weekend.We have actually met someone English which is really unusual in the places we have been , although lots of the people staying in the hostel are keen to practise their English and my Brazilian is improving daily(with the help of sign language) .
    The hostel we are staying at is really clean and comfortable and we are currently sharing a dorm with 4 other people . Mark went out last night with Josh and rolled in at 4am pissed as a fart asking for the DIB DIB (his word for a remote control) to turn the air con down. As you can imagine this went down like a lead balloon and one of the guys asked to be moved.
    Although it is really cheap out here I have decided to do a little cooking and we head to the supermarket to buy the basics. I have really missed doing the normal things like cooking and cleaning , although i did do hand washing yesterday with the 2 buckets of water and the sink with a washing board built in, oh the joys of backpacking. After dinner we sat and played cards and listened to some music, Mark has said he won't be drinking until carnival now? thats 2 weeks away , we will see!!!!    Read more

  • Fifi flipflopFifi Flipflops Big Adventure
    Day 57

    Boat Trip

    January 24, 2016 in Brazil ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C

    We get up early in the morning and decide that today is going to be hot hot hot , there is not a cloud in the sky, and as you can probably tell that is unusual so far.
    We have met an Brazilan guy who speaks perfect english so we ask him if hed like to join us , thank god we did because the process of boarding a boat is quite strange here. You have to buy a pass to enter the marina as well as your boat ticket so once boarded we head out for the islands. I can say we werent dissapointed, this place just keeps getting more and more beautiful. One of the islands we go to has a huge tree that looks like a bonsai tree and this place is an ancient indian burial ground . Even though we have factor 50 on the sun is so hot we are still burning. We then ride past a rock called monkey face and it really does look like one although i dont think the pictures do it justice . Heading to the next island Mark and i stay on the boat , and one of the divers pulls a sea urchin from the bottom .
    We head back to sure and i say to Mark about going to see the sunset we follow the sun and arrive at Praia de grande(big beach). It is one of the biggest beaches I have seen and curves around for miles. The sunset is a little dissapointing as there are quite a lot of clouds but even this doesnt take away from the beauty of this place .    Read more

  • Fifi flipflopFifi Flipflops Big Adventure
    Day 58

    Under pressure

    January 25, 2016 in Brazil ⋅ ⛅ 28 °C

    Today we headed to another beach in Arriaial . The beaches here are very different even in the same citys, some are for surfing , some are for snorkelling, and some are for boats . We have decided to take a diving trip today, only to 10m but i want to try it before i commit to booking my Padi course. We head out on the boat and begin prepping all the gear for the dive , god i thought getting a wetsuit on was bad enough but my god the gear was massive , weights tanks and flippers. Raffael and Mark let me go first and the instructors from Deep Trip were amazing. Sabrina spoke perfect English and as i entered the water I felt really confident . We spent a little time on the surface and then when i was comfartable we started to descend , however when i got to about 4 m the pain in my ears was really bad and no matter how much i tried to clear them it was still bad. I thought it would be a good idea after a couple of attempts to try and fight it and as we descende further the pain was excrutiating and instead of concentrating on my breathing my focus had moved . As i panicked water started to fill my mouth, I had no idea how deep we were and panic had no overtaken any concentration I thought i would die . We ascended back to the surface and Sabrina asked if i would like to try again , but the pain was still excrutiating so i chose to get out , I was so dissapointed but hoped Mark would have a better experience. He did! I was so glad for him, but so dissapointed for myself . Ah well theres always the surf !!!!Read more

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