2° 48' 0" South, 40° 29' 0" West

Backpackers amongst themselves, often talk about places they have seen or heard of as hidden jewels. So as travelers exploring the north east of Brazil we could not avoid the wonder of sand dunes, dragonflies and donkeys.

 Until 20 years ago, Jericoacoara was still a simple fishing village, hidden behind sand dunes. There were no roads, no electricity, no phones, no TV's, no newspapers, and money was rarely used. Today it has become a mecca for Brazilians and travelers alike.

Getting there is a mission and would only be accessible through a touring agency around the Fortaleza beaches. It takes 4 hours , a couple of buses and a  4 x4 to get there, but it’s definitely worth the trip. You know you are close to Jeri when dirt road turns to sand, the ride turns into a rollercoaster and there are sand dunes on the horizon. 

Once you arrive in Jeri you will most likely be staying in a pousada, which are Brazilian budget hotels. After assessing your room (own bathroom sweet as!) and bagsing your bed, you head off to explore the town. It’s quite a surreal place to be as NO ONE is in a hurry for anything and flip flops are optional.

BTW…( at low tide you need to walk for at least 5 minutes to get shin deep)

The beach itself has a few small bars with the sounds of reggae streaming through the air, but the dominating feature is the duna do Por-do-Sol, which you climb at sunset to watch the sun disappear over the ocean. It stands about 30 metres + high and is a beauty in it’s own right. Beyond the Por-do-Sol the beach stretches for as far as the eye can see. 

A truly beautiful place.

                                                COCONUTS

You know you’re in Brazil when it’s not weird to walk down the street sipping on a coconut.  Brazilian beaches are swarmed with “mini fridge” carts packed with fresh coconuts ready to be consumed. They sell like hot cakes at a bakery, like candy floss at a fair or beer at Big Day Out!

From the numerous coconuts we have sipped we have to come to expert conclusion that they all taste pretty much the same! AND when you’re done sipping on them, find a guy with a machete and he’ll happily cut it open so you can eat the young coconut flesh inside. All this only sets you back R$2.00

           

  AÇAÍ

You will notice when in Brazil, that locals have very healthy food habits. If they snack on anything its usually fruit related.  Acai  is one of the most popular snacks you will find, second to coconut water.  But its not just a snack, its part of a lifestyle, like an afternoon espresso in  Italy  (what would life be without it). I cant get enough of this mixed berry/chocolate flavoured fruit. Not only is it absolutely delicious, its also packed with antioxidants, amino acids and essential fatty acids, all of which are a vital part of a healthy diet!  It is usually served in a bowl  - AÇAÍ NA TIGELA  ("acai in the bowl") completo con banana e granola and if you lucky some condensed milk drizzled over the top. A MUST have!  

 TAPIOCA 

When i first saw the sign for Tapioca i was hesitant ...( cause i didn’t think it sounded tasty), but then Rachel ( a fellow traveller who spoke Portuguese)took us to get some from a street vendor on the beach at Fortaleza...then BAM....I LOVE TAPIOCA!!  What they do is crush the Tapioca grain into powder form and put it on a hotplate (pancake style), the grain binds together and then just pick your topping! Carne do Sol ( beef jerky-ish), Frango ( chicken), Shrimp, Coconut, Banana, Chocolate..or my favourite condensed milk...YUM!!! Cheap and cheerful at R$3.00

Primeiro dia .....

First day in Brazil... Sat in the courtyard of our hostel....

 (Albergaria Hostel http://www.albergariahostel.com.br/  )  after a long hard day of jet lag naps. We got a Bohemia (South American beer..its pretty good)in one hand and a Caipirinha ( that our landlord made us) in the other. Hostel is the epitome of chill-out time, like a big white walled den full of hammocks, pool table, giant plasma screen and a fridge full of cold beer...what else do you need in life???

We got the window seats!!  

Hasta luego xxx 

3 Sleeps till...... &&