The blackfly song

There is a song for everything! I even found one about a black fly. In Brazil they are called bashu.... something. The song is about North Ontario. But we went to Ilha Bela. The song would work there too.

So I wanted to go to Ilha Bela since last time we lived here. We watched, shall we say, a home movie? Sure, that will work. We watched a home movie that was filmed on the island. It looked really pretty. Yes, the island. So after Easter there was another holiday the next weekend. Perfect time to go. I have to say the island is really pretty. sorta. Kind of like the Keys I guess. Very relaxed and laid back. But the beaches are dirty. Well the water. The beaches? Full of sand fleas and black flies. I did not know this when I booked. I do not like bugs.

So we headed out Friday after Easter. It is only 3.5 hours away. It took almost 7 hours to get to our hotel. Next. We had an awesome room! I mean it was really a small house, very nice. The two other couples we went with? Well not so much. Point 3, it rained. A lot. First night, the waiter at the restaurant dropped some glasses and spilled water on my son's feet. Next night, different restaurant but extremely delicious, same kid got a whole bottle of beer AND water spilled down his back. The waitress tripped. He was really great about it actually. She was so embarrassed and apologized left and right. Och, no worries! He did get a free t-shirt out of it since he was soaked. They made a very big deal about it never having been worn. Hmm.... The food took a bit. We joked it was because the cook didn't have a shirt and he was not comfy half naked and cooking.

But we had one gorgeous day at the beach before the rain snuck in. Minus the fleas.

Yes that is a guy on his paddle board with his dog. It was very lovely. But I will never, ever, never go back.

Sand flea bites. Even the bottom of my foot. Because why would you spray the bottom if you are wearing flip flops? Well, because the bugs crawl under them and eat you. Lovely. I counted 30. This was 5 days after. Best pictures I could get. Sorry. We are at 3 weeks maybe? They are just stopping itching. Yes, I used Skin So Soft, the US version of OFF! because it has deet, and citronella cream. Still bitten. But this is not the worst. What was bad was seeing these lovely, and not so lovely, ladies in the brazil teeny weeny bikinis with bites. All. Over. Their. Butts! Yes, imagine a cute girl in a non-existent suit covered in these suckers. Really, no cream ladies? Imagine them also coming back to Sao Paulo and scratching their asses at work. It's funny if you really think about it.

All Night Long (All Night)

There is no other perfect song for Carnival than Lionel Richie's "All Night Long." Because that is what the participants do. They dance All. Night. Long.

What happened to the days when we could go out to TJ's in Gainesville and wait until after 2 am when they let the under 21ers in? We would get there at 1:30 in the morning to get in line and dance until 5, go home to sleep a bit and be ready for lunch and another get together. Ahh the good old days. Now? I want my bed by 10 pm. No late nighters for me anymore. Heck last night I think we fell asleep at 9:30! We are so old. But, my hubby wanted to go to Carnival. We are in Sao Paulo. We did not do this the last time because the boys were really young, and we did not have a sitter. I probably could have found one, but I am neurotic. I would not have had fun because I would have been thinking about them the whole time. Now, I am still neurotic, but they know what to do in emergency situations. I think. Or at least I hope.

So Sao Paulo Carnival. Muito Bom! Wow it was fun! We did the camerote. Which means for an obscene amount of money, or slightly less than obscene, you get to go to a convention center where there is free food and drinks and alcohol. Yes, free buffet of all.

Who wouldn't love that bar! Then they bus you to the sambodromo where there is more free food and drink to watch the parade until 6 am. Then you go back to the convention center for breakfast and off home you go. Did I mention it started at 11 pm? Yes, after me bedtime.

So we got there around 8 or 9, can't remember. Ate like pigs and drank like fish. Wait, do fish drink? Maybe a better term is drink like a camel? I don't know. Then we got on the bus to go to the parade route. And ate and drank more. I can't even describe the people around us. Let's just say we think some were women but weren't sure. They were dressed better than me that's for sure. Better boobs too. So not fair. Anywho, we were having a great time with our buds, enjoying the parade. It is amazing what these samba schools can put together. I will add photos at the end for you to see. Just outstanding. We were right on street level at times, and others we went up top to get a birds-ish eye view. We ended up watching 4 out of 6 schools off and on. Each school was an hour long. These participants have to sing the samba school song and dance over and over for an hour. In these heavy costumes, some of them. I was very impressed. 

I made it until 3 am. Then I fell asleep on a beanbag for about 20 minutes. The position cricked my neck and I must have done something to it because now I have a bulged disc in my cervical spine. Oops! But hey, that is my souvenir! We enjoyed it so much we are planning Rio Carnival next year. Anyone wanna join us?

We left around 4 am, got in a taxi and headed home. The poor taxi driver I think was up all the day before and that night. He was falling asleep while driving us home! Holy smokes that was scary. We, who were exhausted, were trying to keep this old guy awake for the 40 minute ride home. That I did not enjoy. But next year? Rio baby!!!