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A Praia
Today I went to the beach for the first time (yes, I live on an island, I’ve been here for two months and today was the first time. I have no idea why it took me this long to get there)! Remember when I was younger and I wanted to be a mermaid? (If you don’t, I’ll quickly update you: I don’t know why, but like end of elementary school/beginning of middle school, I was obsessed with mermaids. When I’d swim in my pool, I’d always play ‘The Mermaid Game’ which consisted of me swimming with my legs together in the hopes of sprouting a fin and finding Ariel hiding out in the deep end. When we’d go to the Jersey Shore, I’d use my “mermaid instincts” to do things [I don’t really know what the instincts could give me, so just special things in general]. Eventually my brother started mocking me enough that I gave up my obsession [give up, not really, reduced the amount I like mermaids to the ‘normal’ amount]. Now, only in certain instances do my “mermaid instincts” come out once again). Okay, today I totally realized why! Honestly, what is better than laying in the surf as the tide rushes through your hair, and you’re digging through the sand for some baby clams that you will eventually open (aka kill) and then throw back into the tide, and walk out of the ocean like you were on Baywatch. Flippin’ nothing, that’s what.
Anyway, today is a pretty lucky day because you get to see pix along with what I’m saying! (No, Chloe, not naughty ones. Sick freak.) Ok, vamo-la…
. As I said earlier, Sao Luis, is an island. On my way to school every day, I cross a bridge that connects “A Cidade Nova” with “A Cidade Velha.” Side note: I’ve noticed no one refers to the two parts of the city as “old” and “new”, so I don’t know why I do. Whatev, it’s grool. To get to the beaches, you drive along Avenida Litorânea, which is your access to the beaches. At a certain point in our drive, the road itself ended and instead of parking and getting out of the car, our 4x4 Land Rover (pronounced Lan-jee Ho-va) continued its path onto the sand. You can see in the picture above that people drive right on the beach, park, and spend their day. There are “actual” roads to get to any of the beaches, it’s just faster/ kinda cooler to drive on the sand. You feel kinda BA because you’re like, “Yeah fools, I’m driving on the beach.” I think for the people who live here, it doesn’t hold that type of appeal, but go with it.
After about fifteen minutes of driving, and the passing of probably fifteen different bars/restaurants/places to eat, we stopped. We pulled up to a little shack that said that it had caranguejo (crab, the speciality in Sao Luis). Since our car was fifty feet from where we were sitting, we didn’t need to lug beach chairs/umbrellas/coolers full of food that you don’t want to eat (e.g. egg salad/soggy hoagies that you got at the Wawa in Philly. gross Nance, why would you always bring that knowing I don’t like it.) Here, there are tables, chairs, and umbrellas set up for you! No schlep needed! Since you park in front of a restaurant, it’s like you eat with your feet in the sand and the tide running between your toes. I definitely prefer that kind to the lugging-of-the-cooler kind. My (Brazilian) mom told me that it’s “typical Sao Luis” to have this kind of sitting/eating arrangement. In Belém or Fortaleza, the beach set up is different which give each North Eastern city its own flair. Kinda like this…lawl. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iBK__C2UUn0&feature=related
Something that I’m sure you’re all wondering about: the bathing suits. Yes, world, the name “Brazilian Bikini” does not lie, every bikini here is miniature sized. I like it! A couple weeks ago I went out shopping with my mom and after trying multiple bottoms on, she kept asking for one that showed more and more cheek. I was talking to some other exchange students about this and it’s like a catch 22! Our butts are so white from not wearing a Brazilian bikini, so we don’t want to wear them because you can see (in my case) the change in color from ‘blinding-ly white’ to a few shades darker, ‘white chocolate’ (yes, my all over body coloration is pale, fml). With that being said, of course I continue to wear mine, in the hopes of transforming ‘white chocolate’ to ‘cafe au lait (with a lot of lait).’ I’ve also found that people are more comfortable with their bodies. In my travels through Europe, I found the same thing. Moms wear the same size bikini as me (whether or not they should). Men wear speedos with the plan to tan their thighs. No one obsesses over their bodies like I’ve seen so many people at home do. Side note: I’ve also noticed that between same-sex friends, things are also more lax. Girls get un/dressed in front of each other, shower together, sleep together. I guess it’s like, I mean I’ve seen my boobs, how much different are yours from mine? It’s refreshing in a way to see people so comfortable with their bodies that they are willing to change their clothes without any problems. Okay, now back on track. Here is a picture of a Brazilian bikini.
If this were the US, this woman would not be wearing this bathing suit. But, because she’s comfortable with her body, the people around are comfortable with their bodies, there is no issue of, “Does this make my butt look big?”
Food. I mentioned earlier about caranguejo, crab. Yummmm, jawn is poppin. It’s simply steamed crab, but really good. What I found amusing about eating my crab, was the way to crack the shell. Oh no, of course you don’t use a normal silver shell cracker, you use a wooden board and stick.
I know, LOL, right?! Of course mid meal, I had to start making music with my paddle and board, who wouldnt? Note behind the wooden jawn, the bottle of “Jesus.” I finished it before taking this picture, but it’s pink soda that you can ONLY get in Maranhao. It’s really good. Like 1% has the taste of toothpaste, but still num num material. My favorite part about it is the name, Jesus. When people find out I’m an exchange student, one of their first questions is, “Do you like Jesus?” LOL, love him, bffaeae.
I know I’ve spoken about the music of the NE is some other posts, forró. It’s such a jam, like really, so good to dance to. Anyway, at the beach, for every bar/ restaurant area, there is one nice guy who opens the back of their car, puts on Aviões do Forró (a famous band), and allows everyone on the beach to enjoy! If you don’t like forró (1. G-d bless you 2. That’s the pits, because that’s the only thing you hear in the NE) you might find it annoying, but because nordestinos are basically bred to be able to dance/enjoy forró, there usually aren’t any complaints.
You will frequently hear people talk about theircasas da praia or beach houses. Ludovicenses (people who are from Sao Luis) might live in Renacença, my neighborhood, but have a casa da praia in Olho d’Agua or Araçagi. The houses that adorn the edge of the beaches are usually people’s casas da praia.
Other things about the beach? It’s beautiful! Every 3/4 of a mile, there would be a ridge that would break out into the sand, and it just created a beautiful landscape. There were some people kitesurfing, which looks SO much fun. When I was in Marseille last year, we went windsurfing and it was SO much fun! Super difficult, but once you got the hang of it, it felt like you were flying! Maybe I’ll try it? My insurance down here doesn’t cover ‘extreme sports’ (tits) so I’ll have to be 1. super safe or 2. not participate. #1 plzzzz.
And here are just some random (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hj6Gz2B_tok fast forward to 17 seconds and 42 seconds) pictures from my day at the beach!
Bad pic, wait, really really bad pic of me, but my brother Leo. Love him!!
I wasn’t ready! My brother Leonardo.
Random guy carrying some fruit etc.
Ah, adoro a praia!!
xoxo,
kf
