Brasil….great people, great BBQ, greatest hospitality!

We crossed the Brasilian border Wednesday 6 of October at Foz do Iguacu. After 8 months Spanish, we now had to get used to the Portugese language. Pretty difficult. The same day we visited the Iguacu falls, impressive waterfalls at the Brasil-Argentine border.

A lot of people we meet always ask where we are going. When we say “south”, it is mostly not a satisfying answer. Even mentioning Ushuaia, still being thousands of kilometers away isn’t satisfying.  So, then we mention a city where we are going. But even then, people want to know what is next. They just don’t understand that we don’t know where we are going. And even if we know, our plans change as much as women change clothes. To give an example:
When we were in Foz, we decided to go to Sao Paolo. The next day we decided not to do it and go to Florianopolis. So that’s what we did. Along the way we spent the night in Barracao. After some kilometers (after leaving this village)  we changed our plan and decided to go to Porto Alegre, so we took the turn. People can call it indecisiveness, but somehow this way of doing things brings us the best experiences. Like this time.

Because, after we took the turn we met some Uruguayan bikers (L.A.M.A.). They were going to Santa Maria, because there was a big biker event with thousands of bikers. So…ofcourse, we changed our plan…..again and went with them.

It was a long day. Had problems on Uruguayan bikes and on Roels bike.so we arrived in darkness in the rain in Santa Maria at the bikers meeting. From the moment we arrived we were treated like rockstars!!

For sure we travelled most kilometers to get there (over 25.000km now),  but we didn’t expect this.

A lot of pictures, interview, meeting new friends, a few beers and we even met the only Brasilian guy who already knew our website (Evandro). We spent two nights in the parking lot campsite.

On Sunday we were invited for a BBQ at Arno’s place, who we met at the event.

Great BBQ, Great people. They also brought us to an airshow.

We had a special request for the pilots… For the ladies and mothers back home…

It was already late after that, so we were invited to stay at Arno’s place. Next morning a great breakfast and all our laundry was done! Unbelievable…
Monday we were brought to a mechanic shop to get some problems fixed (Roels carb, Steve’s battery). Artur and Buzina (also from the event) drove us around to find the best and cheapest spares and bought us lunch. All day long people were working on the bikes, trying to find the problem. It was too late, so we were invited in Croco’s place to spend the night and were invited for another BBQ by Artur in bar (moto garage).

Wow, Brazilian meat is the best!

Tuesday morning, with good hope, we went to the mechanic shop again. They found out that it was something with the carburetor, so Buzina GAVE the carb of his XT600 !!! It ran better on this one and we actually left. But not for long. We returned….it was still a bad running machine. By the time they adjusted the carb, again it was too late to leave. It looked like some higher power really wanted us to stay in Santa Maria. Again, we could spend the night at someones place (Artur this time) and again we were invited for a BBQ, football and beers. Arturs kid was banned from his room and we slept like babies.

Even his dogs (Tom and Milo) were offering their houses.

All this waiting in the mechanic shop, we tried to use our time wisely. I didn’t even ask for it, but before I knew I was using someones internet to work on the website.

Although we just spent a few days in Santa Maria, it felt like we made some friends for life. South Brasil is treating us really great. We love it.

So,,,what’s next? We already left Santa Maria, but why should we tell what’s next….it will change for sure. The plan is: there is no plan.

Thanks Arno, Fabiano and family, Artur and family and friends, Buzina, Croco, the mechanic shop Moto Garage and all the ones we forgot. You made our stay really unforgettable.

Obrigado!

We will make sure that Holland will let you guys win during the next football game…but for now, we still enjoy the last 2-1 victory.

CHAO AMIGOS

Dangleberrytoberfest

Ok…imagine Brasil……………Got it?

Now imagine Oktoberfest.

And now…imagine Oktoberfest in Brasil. We were there……!!!!!

During the motor event in Santa Maria we heard about Oktoberfest in Blumenau. Apparently the second biggest in the world. So we made a plan to go there, not that it says anything in our case (making a plan). But some plans, you really don’t want to change.

On wednesday oct 13th we finally left Santa Maria, after having the greatest time there. We were supposed to catch up with Evandro who was expecting us in some eco-resort. It took us two days due to the rain to get there. We met him in a resort. There they had this nice worldmap, where we had a good overview of where we started, where we were and where we are going.

Although Evandro “the smooth talker” arranged an 80% discount for us, we didn’t want to stay there. First of all, the jacuzzi and swimming pool were not at the right temperature.

And second, even with this discount the price was still way above our budget. So we decided to continue through the very nice landscape in this part of Brasil.

We ended in Urubici, where we stopped at the local fire station. Evandro did some smooth talking and before we knew it, we were invited for diner and were allowed to sleep in the classroom.

Again we experienced the greatest hospitality. What a nice country…

Next morning (sat 16 oct) we drove the final part to Blumenau. Very nice views again.

We followed the smell of beer to Vila Germanica…..and there we entered heaven.

Brasilian Oktoberfest…. We found a campsite at walking distance in town. And ofcourse, because we were Dutch and nice people, we only had to pay for one night and could stay as long as we wanted for free after that.

How can Brasilians make any money if they give us everything for free. We could use this not-spent-money wisely……

As if we were in Bayern. Lederhosen, Biergarten und Frankfurters everywhere. Tens of thousands of people that Saturday night…..Un-f*cking-believable!!!!

Sunday there wasn’t something else to do, so we oktoberfested a little more.

On monday Roel and Steve had to find a workshop to get new chains and sprockets. They were really worn and we had to change these before leaving. Evandro really helped us finding a Yamaha dealer, translating and talking. Cause, again, in the end we only had to pay about 25% of the total price and even got a new battery for free.

Tuesday we left the campsite and went to Florianopolis. After the Pacific and the Caribbean, this was the fist time we saw the Atlantic this trip.

We spent three nights in the great hostel Backpackers Sunset. You know why it is called like that?

We spent some days chilling and enjoying the sun and enjoying proper internet to call friends and family.

Friday 22 October we really had to head south. It is time to leave Brasil and enter Uruguay. We easily could have stayed our remaining time in Brasil, but also want to see some of the rest of South America. Decisions, decisions….. but for sure we will come back one day to enjoy and discover more of this incredibly friendly country.

Evandro, thanks for all the translating and stuff. We had a good time! Rest of Brasil, thanks for being you!

Obrigado

Chao Brasil, Hola Uruguay

Brasiiiiiil, lalalalalalalalaaaa, lalalalalalalalaaaa, lalalalalalalalaaaa, lala, Brasiiiiiil…..