A day without a Plan

We kept today deliberately unplanned, with a 65% chance of rain in the forecast. As it turned out, the weather had other ideas. It stayed warm and a bit muggy, with clouds building throughout the day, yet not a single drop of rain fell.

For a change, we had breakfast at the rooftop restaurant, since the main dining area was taken over by a skin care and cosmetic surgery convention. Afterwards, Ursula and I set off on a morning walk, exploring the neighborhood about two kilometers north of the hotel before returning along the beach. A splendid idea. We both enjoyed it immensely, even though I ended up completely drenched in sweat. Fortunately, our room has a wonderful rain shower, which cooled me down in no time.

After a short afternoon nap, Wally called and invited us to a nearby Açaí Berry spot for a refreshing treat. Delicious and just what we needed. Later in the afternoon, Jaime picked us up and drove us to Praia do Jacaré, where every day at 5 PM a well-known saxophonist glides along the Rio Paraíba do Norte in a small motorboat, playing as the sun sets on the horizon. The whole scene was both unique and memorable, one of those unplanned yet magical travel moments.

Wally and I settled in for a beer while the ladies explored the nearby strip of clothing and souvenir shops. Jaime then surprised us with a small good luck charm as a keepsake. In a humorous twist, his phone had run out of battery, so I ended up paying for our little souvenirs. A fair trade and reason for good laughs.

On the way back, Mr. Uber took us to a local barbecue restaurant, where we cooled off with more drinks and enjoyed excellent beef and pork ribs, along with perfectly prepared Brazilian picanha.

A fitting end to a very easygoing and unexpectedly perfect day.

Outch …. I just realized that we are leaving Saturday morning - thus, tomorrow is our last day in João Pessoa.Read more