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.

Blumenau: the Little Germany of Brazil

Welcome to Blumenau, perhaps the most German town in Brazil.

Every year Mike and I drive about 2 hours to the Itajai-Acu Valley to visit my brother and his family. Three of our nephews and nieces live in this city colonized by Germans that preserves its European roots to this day.

This town is located in the south of Brazil, an area heavily colonized by Europeans (mainly Portuguese, Germans and Italians).

One of the most famous building is the new City Hall, built in 1982.

It is really hard to believe. In fact, a few days ago we met a German boy in Florianopolis and he was saying how bizzare it is to hear that this part of Brazil is so proud to keep its German traditions. He was planning a trip to Blumenau to see with his own eyes.

But here is a bit of this town that received the first immigrants in 1850 and since then has been reference of the Germanic culture in Brazil.

The Itajai Acu River cuts the town and it is a threat every time there are torrential rains.

The city has been castigated by many floods because of its geography.

Another very famous building is Moellman´s Castle (now Havan store), a replica of the city hall of the German town of Michelstadt. It was inaugurated in 1978.

This is Rua 15 de November (November 15th Street), the main shopping area downtown.

Behide it, the major church was opened in 1956, and rebuilt in 1963 with it´s bell tower.

My nephew Rodrigo and I being tourists.

Kids there still call their grandparents "Opa" and "Oma" and people speak with a German accent.

The German language is still taught in schools as a second language.

Blumenau has the second largest Oktoberfest in the world, or at least they claim it.

Although they try really hard to keep the German traditions, it is not easy to keep the party 100% German. So, some may question how German this Brazilian Oktoberfest really is.

I have been to many of them, and I can garantee: it is a lot of fun!

Prost!!!
The Carlos Gomes Theatre, the main theatre in town, was opened to the public in 1939.

The German old architecture is everywhere.

The main economy here is still the textile industry.

Blumenau is home to many manufactors like Hering, Teka and Karsten.

The textile culture is also a German immigration´s heritage.

Hiking to Saquinho Beach

TRILHAS


The word "trilhas" means hikes in Portuguese and this island is full of them. Last Saturday we decided to take an easy one to a waterfall in the south of the island, on Solidao Beach, even south of Pantano do Sul and Azores Beach. The hike was suppose to be with few challenges and fast: about 15 minutes.

But once we got there, we ended up getting the wrong path that took us to another place, the Saquinho Beach. Although it was a more difficult journey, with very steep hills, and much longer (about an hour), we were glad we made this mistake. Saquinho Beach is another little paradise on the island.

On this map bellow, you can see where we ended up, showed here as number 13.

If you wish to do this or other hikes on the island, you can get information and maps here:

www.guiafloripa.com.br/trilhas

Solidao Beach, where we started our hike.

Most of the hike is through the Mata Atlantica, a tropical forest along the Brazilian coast. But at this point, we can walk for a while coasting the hill. That´s definately the best view of the hike.

From up there we can see Azores Beach and Pantano do Sul, two beautiful and still very preserved beaches.

Here, you still can find a strong local fishermen culture which attracts tourists, but not in a large scale like on the north of the island.

These beaches on the south of Santa Catarina Island used to be a natural habitat for whales. They still show up here in the winter time, coming from Patagonia.

Some penguins also show up here when it is cold.

Inside the woods, the hike is full of green... and mosquitos!

Sometimes you can see the ocean throught the plants.

It is just a taste to encourage the hikers to keep going.

Although the path is a bit challenging at times, the whole hike is done on concrete. Not bad.

The reward: the beach!

We are the only people there.
The waves were strong and we had to be careful because of the rocks.

Ana contemplating the nature!

The kids and I couldn´t resist and went for a swim.

Beauty everywhere.

A little stop to enjoy the view on the way back and wait for the late comers (Marcia, Ana and I).

We caught up!

When we got back, we decided to look for the other hiking trail, to the waterfall.

Again we got the wrong path (duh!), and suddently we were on no path at all, just fighting against the mosquitos, in the middle of the woods.

Up and down, up and down and no waterfalls!

What was suppose to be a fast and easy hike, turned out to be a bit stressfull, frustranting and long. But we had good laughs afterwards, when we found our way back safely.

Does it look like a path? I don´t think so.

Back on Solidao Beach, hungry and tired, we all agreed: on a picnic!

We always make friends.

Before heading home a nice open air shower to get rid of the salt water.

Fun day!

PS. After the Saquinho Beach the "trilha" continues (without the concrete path) for another 14 kms to Naufragados Beach, the extreme south of the island.

Maybe next time...