Kitesurfing in Baleia

Oi! I arrived in Brazil October 10. I delayed my trip this year because my son, Alex, had come home only a few weeks before and I wanted to spend more time with him. Alex is home from working nearly three years in Japan. It was great to spend time with him again.

My first stop is in Praia da Baleia, Ceara at the home of my wonderful friends Vera and Lester. http://dreamlandinbrazil.com/

They have a beachfront guest home which they share with other kiters. This year they seem busier than ever. The first few days there were 2 Germans, 1 Swiss and 1 Greek guy traveling together, a sweet German family with a one year old baby, and a very interesting restauranter from Aspen. The 4 guys left and an American couple came who I had met the year before. Next came two guys who kited in with only backbacks. One Swiss guy I had known from Jeri for many years and a super funny Dutch guy with such wonderful world stories! They are kiting their way 600km along the coast!

Two backpackers kiting from Cumbuco to Barra Grande, 600km

They kited off into the North and two Italian couples came with a driver I had done a downwinder with last year.  Whew! Never a dull moment! Except for the endless kite gear discussions. http://dreamlandinbrazil.com/

I have kited everyday. Did three short downwinders. Kiting here is directly n front of the house and Lester has a compresser set up, SO EASY. And Vera has fed us with fantastic shrimp curry, langosta moqueca, fish with white sauce and banana, etc, etc. Today we will have one of my favorites, macaceira fritas. And of course there are the caipirinhas or maracujainhas every night. I made a flourless French chocalate cake today for everyone. We’ll see…

strange hybrid board, it was fun to ride

My hair is turning blonde, too much sun I'm eating too well But I have had a lot of relaxing time, kite time, social time, meeting up with old and new friendsWhat more could I ask for?  So in the next few days I will go to my other home, Jericoacoara

Things I have learned recently

If you don't wear flip flops when you go grocery shopping you won't get sand in your grocery bags. Or you could use a backpack instead of those ubiquitous plastic bags. Someone should make some "Jeri" shopping bags out of kite or sail cloth. 

That gawd awful sound you hear the jegues (donkeys) making is not necessarily when they are having sex as people say. A very quiet pair were entwined in front of my house :≀Then... Oh so cute, there seems to be many more babies this year.

How to choose the best maracuja (passion fruit) to buy; They sometimes look all wrinkly on the outside and the insides can be dried out . But the wrinkly ones can be the most ripe. Buy the ones which are heavier.  

Commercial break; Nuskin really works. Small  scrapes and scratches tend to become bigger and bigger holes in your feet here in the hot salty water. But that Nuskin helps them to heal and takes the pain away especially when you're rubbing the wound against your foot strap every day. And you can make new friends by offering to share the stuff. 

Squeeky toys can make fabulous instruments in the bateria. My friend Ingrid who operates Jeri At Home Guest house and another guy played them with our workshop band for the Choro Jazz festival Jericoacoara

Save some energy, the waves and wind could be bigger and stronger tomorrow! I have used the 4.0 pretty much the whole season, a handful to times with a 84L board, but mostly with the 65L board. A couple of days I was overpowered and a couple under. And I have only used the 6M kite.  Whew!

December in Jeri can be soooo cool. Only about 25 or less sailors on the water and great wind and waves this year. Oct and Nov there are average 80+ sailors on the water. Papae Noel brought us some big waves and strong wind, plenty for everyone, surfers, windsurfers, SUPers, kiters. MY WAVE! 

Be careful with friends who appear to be difficult with other people, because eventually they are gonna be difficult with you too. 

Brazilians LOVE to get a tan; even on a jangada in Camocin, Ceara

You can always find a way back from a kite downwinder

I can sleep in a hammock! Well at least for a couple of hours. Sometimes It's so hot in the evening I pass out in the hammock on the veranda cooled by the delicious breeze.  I haven't actually tried to sleep all night. If you haven't slept in a hammock the secret is to position yourself diagonally it is more comfortable, your body is almost horizontal.

Cherish your friends, cherish every day, show them you care...

☮Tchau, Patricia