Childhood memories from Balneario Camboriu

This picture was taken in 1981. I am the little one wearing yellow clothes, and we are hanging out outside of my step mom´s family summer house on a hot summer day in Brazil.

This is Balneario Camboriu, a popular vacation destination in the south of the country, about 100 kilometers north of Florianopolis.

Today, 2010, I had a change to go back there after years and I found a very different place.

FROM WIKIPEDIA:
Balneário Camboriú is a city and a major beach resort in the Brazilian southern state of Santa Catarina. The town, with its steep hills dropping down to the sea, is popular amongst South Americans. The main ocean boulevard is called Avenida Atlântica (Atlantic Avenue). Balneário Camboriú is famous for the cable car which (uniquely in the world) links the two beaches of Balneário Camboriú and Laranjeiras. The town is located 10 km (6.2 mi) south of the city of Itajaí and 80 km (50 mi) north of the state capital, Florianópolis, and has a population of 94,344 (2007 census office estimate), which swells to 700,000 in the summer.

Balneário Camboriú means "Golfo do Mar (Sea Gulf)", in an Amerindian language. Ilha das Cabras (Goats' Island) is directly opposite the city and is too small for inhabitation but is lit at night. Sailings from nearby Laranjeiras Beach take place aboard 17th century-style pirate ships and sail around the island before returning to Laranjeiras. The city also has a statue similar to the Cristo Redentor (Christ the Redeemer) in Rio de Janeiro, called Cristo Luz, but the one in Balneário Camboriú portrays Jesus with a broad-brimmed hat on his shoulder, which houses a spotlight that shines out to sea. The Cristo Luz is lit at night as well, but with lights that change colours periodically. Another common sight in the city are paragliders that fly along the beach, alongside the tall buildings, from the gliderport in nearby Praia dos Amores, located 1 km (0.6 mi) to the north of the city. To the west the city is bordered by the Camboriú River, which meets the ocean at the southernmost limit of the central portion of the city, where the cable car (teleférico) mentioned above is located.

As a child, this was my home for the summer vacation every year. We used to stay in a very modest house on a small street, surrounded by other kids from the neighbourhood. We loved it!

But as soon as I became an adult Balneario Camboriu lost its charms. The city has developed in a very fast pace, condos poped up everywhere and the cheap nightlife attracted unpleasant tourists as well. I might be a bit snob, but I just started hating the over crowed place. That´s when I stopped going there.

This is where we used to hang out on the beach, in front of the lifeguard post.

Today the beach is empty because of the cooler fall weather, but on a hot summer day tourists literally fight for a spot on the sand.

The island bellow is the "Ilha das Cabras." One day, when I was about 12 years old, I joined my sister and a friend on a swin to the island and back.

It was an unforgettable adventure!

Off season surfing is very popular here.

The Hotel Imperatriz used to be one of the fanciest hotels in the city.

And it was our hidding place. Whenever we wanted to do something behind my parents´back, my friend Dea and I - still teenagers - used to walk a couple of kilometers to this area, and have fun!

Great memories!

It was nice and quiet to be back, but I don´t think I would enjoy another summer here.

The city is also a popular place for seniors, since it becomes really quiet here off season.

Traffic has changed a lot since last time I was here.

This used to be our movie theatre: Cinerama, the only place to go when it was rainning.

Now it is a shopping mall.

Our old street. But no original residents.

Remember the little and modest green house (first photo of this post)?

Well, now there is a tall green condo on its place.

Rua 1520 was our summer address.

Today, it is just memories.