From Florianopolis
02/06/08 14:52 Filed in: May
27th May 2008
Florianopolis is an island (50kms long) beach resort area connected to the mainland by bridge in south eastern Brazil. Its fame includes many kms of white sand ocean beaches, many known for their surf and also more protected beaches on the sheltered mainland coastal side. Tourists flock to the area over the summer; many people from Argentina, Uruguay as well as Brazilians fill the thousands of rooms in apartment complexes, hotels backpackers etc. Internet cafes abound indicating the number of seasonal travellers, in fact here they out numbered the women’s shoe shops and chemist shops (and maybe bars) that have to be the most abundant shops in Brazil. Women are particularly well dressed from the feet upwards and the beauty aids display their effectiveness. I am told that a woman’s image is very important, but not to attract men, but to compete with other female beauties (have I been slow to realise this?).
Sea fish run northward up the coast as the waters to the south cool. This is all very good for the local fishing industry (commercial) or the locals getting a feed off the beaches. I was a haul of 69 very edible fish netted by a group of locals within just 15 minutes. (There is much more time off the water preparing the net and boat, relaxing playing a local board game something like drafts (I suspect much more complex) and having a good social time with mates). No women fishing but I am sure they will relish the catch when brought home.
It’s a truly delightful view on the beach on a warm and sunny day. There’s are few yachts and launches in marinas, but nothing like that in Auckland. In summer it’s likely to be congested everywhere, on the water, roads and beaches. Beach life is very civilised here, restaurants and bars, tables and sun umbrellas on the sands edge. Waiters see that a thirst of any type is well quenched and a seafood delight satisfies the taste buds and stomach. An occasional wander down to the surf is the hardest part of the day!
I was here as part of the support team for the lone Kiwi doing the Brazilian Ironman. Finishing 81st in his first Ironman from over 1200 competitors was great, as were the conditions on the day (Sunday), the crowd and organisation. The water temperature was like that in NZ in the summer, air temperature reaching about 25 degrees before cooling off to the low teens at night. It will cool off a little more in the coming weeks.
So much for my little excursion, now I must go 2000 kms back inland to the farm and start insemination a bunch of heifers, for the objective next year is to fill a milk tanker each day!
Ross Wrenn
Florianopolis is an island (50kms long) beach resort area connected to the mainland by bridge in south eastern Brazil. Its fame includes many kms of white sand ocean beaches, many known for their surf and also more protected beaches on the sheltered mainland coastal side. Tourists flock to the area over the summer; many people from Argentina, Uruguay as well as Brazilians fill the thousands of rooms in apartment complexes, hotels backpackers etc. Internet cafes abound indicating the number of seasonal travellers, in fact here they out numbered the women’s shoe shops and chemist shops (and maybe bars) that have to be the most abundant shops in Brazil. Women are particularly well dressed from the feet upwards and the beauty aids display their effectiveness. I am told that a woman’s image is very important, but not to attract men, but to compete with other female beauties (have I been slow to realise this?).
Sea fish run northward up the coast as the waters to the south cool. This is all very good for the local fishing industry (commercial) or the locals getting a feed off the beaches. I was a haul of 69 very edible fish netted by a group of locals within just 15 minutes. (There is much more time off the water preparing the net and boat, relaxing playing a local board game something like drafts (I suspect much more complex) and having a good social time with mates). No women fishing but I am sure they will relish the catch when brought home.
It’s a truly delightful view on the beach on a warm and sunny day. There’s are few yachts and launches in marinas, but nothing like that in Auckland. In summer it’s likely to be congested everywhere, on the water, roads and beaches. Beach life is very civilised here, restaurants and bars, tables and sun umbrellas on the sands edge. Waiters see that a thirst of any type is well quenched and a seafood delight satisfies the taste buds and stomach. An occasional wander down to the surf is the hardest part of the day!
I was here as part of the support team for the lone Kiwi doing the Brazilian Ironman. Finishing 81st in his first Ironman from over 1200 competitors was great, as were the conditions on the day (Sunday), the crowd and organisation. The water temperature was like that in NZ in the summer, air temperature reaching about 25 degrees before cooling off to the low teens at night. It will cool off a little more in the coming weeks.
So much for my little excursion, now I must go 2000 kms back inland to the farm and start insemination a bunch of heifers, for the objective next year is to fill a milk tanker each day!
Ross Wrenn