Buzios, Brazil

Brazil was our the last stop on the South American continent. The moment you enter Brazil, you see bright colors everywhere – homes, streets, fashion, and the natural topography.

We decided to start in Buzios, a quaint fisherman’s village that Bridgett Bardot popularized in the ‘60s (they pay homage to her everywhere). The water was spectacularly blue, the surrounding trees popped in dynamic shades of green, and the rocks were deep reddish brown. Buzios’ center was set in cobblestone and there were dozens and dozens of restaurants and bikini shops to visit as you made your way through the downtown area. Our hotel, Casas Barancas, was perched directly over the water and the view was stunning, particularly during sunset. We met a couple from South Africa (currently residing in Australia) and rented a buggie to two of the 23 beaches in Buzios. Our new friends, Tracy and David, were traveling to similar cities in South America and so we swapped stories and will see them in Sydney later in March. It’s funny- there are so few English speakers traveling through Brazil that I think finding people who understand your language is recipe for instant friendship. We found we have a tremendous amount in common with them and look forward to keeping in touch.