The Bohemian Passage

Thank you...

2012-08-03T08:04:00.000-07:00

The Response to my last post, WANTED: Friends was overwhelming. In some ways bad and most ways good. I want to take this moment to express my gratitude to everyone who reached out to me. I am making great strides at improving my life. I am on a mission to rebuild and build my relationship, spiritual and mental health and overall joy for life. I even got invited to a book club, and since reading has become my newest hobby I was ecstatic.
Check out these friendships quotes that really resonated with me...

"Each friend represents a world in us, a world possibly not born until they arrive, and it is only by this meeting that a new world is born."
- Anais Nin

1) "Make new friends and keep the old, one is silver and the other gold"

2)"I have a hand, and you have another; put them together and we have each other."

- Different Versions of the Girl Scout Motto

"Though our communication wanes at times of absence, I'm aware of a strength that emanates in the background."
-Claudette Renner

Thank you for reaching out to reaffirm your love for me and build new relationships! I am truly grateful.

~Sabrina

P.S. How do you like the new look of the site?

WANTED: Friends

2012-07-31T11:11:00.002-07:00

Against the advice of some people I have decided to put out an ad for friends. When I ran the idea by one of my confidants he immediately warned against it and stressed that it was lame. But why is it lame? People have been putting ads out for lovers since the invention of the classified. So consider this my personal ad for friends....

My name is Sabrina. I am an August Virgo who loves astrology and numerology. I am not religious but I am highly spiritual. I am passionate about communication and culture. I enjoy spending my down time traveling, reading, blogging, trying new things and learning new things. I love nature, specifically natural bodies of water, waterfalls, hiking and tropical forests. Everyone has their quirks, mine is that I am very straight to the point. I need to be surrounded by people who are also straight shooters and honest. I am working very hard on reducing drama and increasing stability in my life so, drama and fair-weather folk are major turn-offs. My favorite candies are Dark Chocolate Peanut Chews and Strawberry Sour Patch Straws. I'm looking for smart, fun-loving, adventurous people who value true friendship.

P.S. I'm currently on the job hunt so any social activity that cost money if out of my budget. But I'd love to find free stuff to do!

Why am I doing this? After coming back from Brazil, my prospective on life, time and relationships have changed greatly. Additionally, most of the people who I seemed to be closest with before are much harder to access now. Most often when I reach out to them they are busy or have other plans that don't include me. Furthermore, I am unemployed and can no longer afford the things I used to do with them (happy hours, movies, wine festivals, etc.). If I have learned nothing else in this last year I have learned that things happen for a reason. So, I have decided to expand my circle and look for genuine people with similar interest as me who are interested in having a true friendship.

This doesn't discount anyone who has been in my life in the past. If it weren’t for those friendships I wouldn't know how important a companion really is. If you see yourself as my friend or interested and building new relationships, reach out to me.

Disclaimer: If you are confused or offended as this post, don't be. I have not forgotten you, but maybe we should do some friendship maintenance or rebuilding if it's worth it to you.

~ Sabrina

It's Not Over...

2012-07-11T11:20:00.003-07:00

It's been months since my last post... After returning from Brasil I disappeared. Not just from this blog but also from the world. The journey to enlightenment that I was on came to a screeching halt. I felt emptier than I've ever felt. I walked around missing the smell of the ocean, longing for the breath-taking sunsets and most of all the freedom that I'd felt in my heart. Those months in Brasil changed me... Salvador re-birthed a side of me that I had not seen in a long time. But I'm not in Salvador any more...

I'm back to realty... living in DC, job-hunting to no avail and more confused than ever on where I am supposed to be. I feel empty, disappointed in myself and discouraged. People see me and think, "Wow, Sabrina is doing great! She's only 22, just finished a masters and took an amazing trip." And I keep wondering... if I'm doing so great than why don't I feel like it? I have never had this much doubt about my abilities. I've always worked hard and gotten what I worked for. Lately, no matter how much hard work I do it doesn't seem to help.

I don't know much but I do know that the mental and emotional battles that I've been facing mean one thing for sure... It's not over. I am pursuing happiness and I have so much more work to do. The lesson for me is not how to be successful or how to make money... It's how to be free, how not to let the world or my profession swallow me up, how to reach balance, how to each happiness. I am truly struggling but I will not give up. I will not give in.

The Passage to Bohemia is NOT Over...

Hot, Beautiful and Romantic: Self-discovery in Rio De Janeiro

2012-04-10T10:35:00.001-07:00

My whole life I've been told by family, friends and lovers that I'm like a cat. Too affectionate, I touch too much, kiss too much and hold too much. In Rio I freed myself of that nasty sentiment and the stiffness and self-consciousness that comes along with it. I finally stopped trying to conform to the strict observation of coldness and distance that most Americans cling to. It's almost like I found where I fit in the world. Where my warm nature and passion is not also accepted but wanted and loved. To be honest the coldness I feel in the states is off-putting and suffocating. It's like people are fighting their desire for closeness to reserve a false sense of regalty. I've been hurt many times by this cold distance, pushed away fervently... But that was before Brasil. Now I know that my affection is normal and there is a place where people would love to reciprocate.

I will no longer allow anyone to make me believe that I am too affectionate or too passionate.

So, when you see me give me a warm hug and a kiss on the cheek every time, touch me and lean in when you're talking to me, rest your feet in my lap. And if you are my lover... don't sit too far away for too long, hold my hand in public, give me kisses and hold me tight no matter who is watching. Whisper a secret in my ear even though we are alone. Show me love emotionally, mentally and physically.

Afrobeijos,
Brazilian by heart and soul.

Six Days in Rio De Janeiro

2012-04-10T10:34:00.001-07:00

My first thought when arriving in Rio was, "Thank God I'm back in Brazil." The air was moist, it was hot and the sun was shinning brightly. I checked into my hostel, grabbed a bite to eat and spent the evening lounging and drinking at the hostel bar.
[Disclaimer: This post is hard to write because I have so much to say about Rio. I'll do my best to cover most of it. ]

Here's what my week consisted of....

Site-seeing
Pão de Açúcar (Sugar Loaf Montain) is a high point in Rio where you can get an awesome view of the city. It's great for viewing the sunset and when the lights come up at night time. To get to the top you have to take a ride in cable cars giving you even more dynamic viewpoints of the coastline and the ocean.

Escadas de Lapa (Stairs of Lapa) are stairs that have been decorated with tiles from all over the world. One man created and maintains this beautiful work of art. He'd collected the tiles from living in more than 40 countries. Finally, he decided to settle in Brazil. He started his masterpiece with out authorization from the city but received much honor and praise when city officials discovered it. He was even given citizenship.

Remember the Pharrell and Snoop Dogg video for the song "Beautiful?!" yup, right here folks!

Santa Teresa is known for its trolley (which is not running due to a horrible accident a year or so ago), its great restaurants and art stores. It's a great place to buy trinkets and souvenirs. Santa Teresa is also a good place to go if you want a chill night out.
Catedral was uniquely contructed, this cathedral looks nothing like a church. The glass pane windows are intricately designed and grandiose.

Cristo Redentor (Christ The Redemer) is a huge statue of Christ made of soap stone. The statue is intimidatingly large and incredibly detailed. Here there is also an amazing view of the city and the ocean.

Partying
I partied just about every night! Can you believe it? I put on my heels and make up and hit the town, it was awesome. I saw some of the most beautiful people and danced the nights away. If you find yourself in Rio, Lapa is the place to party. Bars/Clubs like Bar Do Boa and Rio Scenario are spots were you will always have a great time.
Lounging on the Beach
The beaches in Rio are filled with people all day long. At night it's lined with fairs to buy trinkets, sportsman dancing on rollerblades and tightrope walking over sand dunes. My personal favorite was the intricate sand sculptures that depicted different views of Rio.
The waves on a lot of the beaches in Rio are serious so if you are a weak swimmer be cautious. I lounged on the beaches of Copacobana and Ipenema. While I liked both Ipanema's posto 9 (9th section) was super cool. There were tons of young folks, people playing sports and a whole lot of eye candy.

Jason and Alexander here is your culture :)

Meeting Amazing People
I know this seems redundant but I just keep meeting absolutely awesome people. The staff at the hostel loved me and I loved them too. One of them even offered to let me stay at his house so I'd stay an extra week. I also met this amazing courageous women from Denmark (Shout out to Lajla), last but not least I slept in a room with eight architecture students from Campo Grande. I still cannot figure out how I'd grow so attached to them. I even cried when I was leaving. The look on Flavia and Caroline's faces just killed me! Everyone I mentioned made my time in Rio exquisite.
Now I understand why Brasilians can't get enough of Rio
Tchau,
Sabrina
P.S. Look out for Part II! Today you're getting a double feature. ;)

The Truth About Buenos Aires...

2012-04-05T10:30:00.001-07:00

[Disclaimer: I was sick for my whole stay in Buenos Aires so this post may be jaded.]
I arrived in Buenos Aires yet again unprepared. It was night, I wasn't sure how to get to the apartment I was staying in and I was feeling a bit under weather. After hopping on a bus and getting lost I finally found my way. Exhausted, I took a shower and climbed into bed.

Most of my days there were filled with sleep, hot water with hot pepper and lemon and TV. When I did gather the strength to get out of bed I was underwhelmed.
Buenos Aires (BA) is a big city, with big buildings (built long ago) and well dressed people. Sound familiar? I felt like I was in New York City, except everyone was speaking Spanish and there were No black people (I'll get to this later).
Now that I've sufficiently played the role of Debbie-the-Downer, let me talk about what I loved.
Coffee & Pastries
You know how we have Starbucks on every corner? Well BA has fresh bakeries and coffee shops on every corner. Grabbing a cup of coffee and 3 Medalunas for breakfast or a quick mid-day snack is inexpensive and delicious!!

The Grand Pu-bah of all coffee shops in BA is Cafe Tortoni. They serve over 50 kinds of coffee and great pastries and lunch items to go with it. I must admit I had THE BEST Churro of my life there.

Cafe Tortoni was my favorite part of my BA trip. The host sat me and another lone traveller together thinking we wanted a table for two and she welcomed me to take a seat. Guess what?! She was Brazilian! We had an awesome chat and traded contact info.

Shopping
Shopping in BA is superb! It's like shopping in Europe except the Pesos is about 1/3 of the dollar. I was in heaven! After a day on Av. Santa Fe I got all my summer shopping for less than half of what it would has costed in the states.
While I can't say much about my stay in Buenos Aires I can say it is a go to for the big city loving types of people. Maybe next time I'll explore more and have a different opinion.
Tchau,
Bohemian Beleza
P.S. Being a black girl in BA drew so much attention. People stared constantly, specifically, men went wild, hooping and hollering. The fact is there are many black people in Argentina. The population registers 2% as being Afro-Argentine. Where did all the black people go? When asked this question most argentines I encountered said, "We don't know, they just disappeard." Yea... Ok. Non-the-less, while wondering I did happen upon an organization focused on the movement Afro in Argentina. It was small, with few resources and reminded me of a community center. The people were warm and welcoming. I was glad to find it and not feel so much like an anomaly.

Visiting One of Seven Wonders of the World: Falls Iguaçu

2012-04-05T09:13:00.001-07:00

I arrived in the town of Falls Iguaçu mid-afternoon with no where to stay and not a clue where I was going. This was true Bohemian style travel. After spending an hour or so on the bus I realized I was long past the falls and in the center of the city. There was a couple on the bus who clearly weren't Brasilian so I decided to ask them where I was and if there was a hostel around. I followed them to there hostel. And that's how I found a place to stay.

Klein Hostel was awesome. I recommend it to all low budget travelers. They offer towels, free lockers, wi-fi, computer access, a pool and free airport transport. Additionally, they offer transfers to the area sites daily.
I went to the local market, made dinner and chilled at the hotel for the night.
The Falls
The next morning I got up bright and early to hit the Argentinian side of the falls. This side takes all day to get through and is rumored to be the best side. It's true.

I started my trek by heading Straight to the Devil's Throat. After a 40 minute walk on metal bridges constructed over water I arrived at the center of Garganta del Diabolo. There was no land for miles. It looked as if the earth had collapsed in this one spot and the water was falling into a great abyss. Mist from the fall rose up mimicking rain. I was overcome with emotion. I cried asking myself how such beauty was possible, why didn't I know about this before and last but not least, where were the other black people. After much more trekking and visiting other viewpoints of the falls I took a Speedboat right into on the falls. I got totally soaked and it was AWESOMMMME! It was one heck of a way to end my visit. :)

The next day on my way out of town, I visited the Brasilian side which has a lot more smaller waterfalls and different viewpoints. It takes only two hours to get through. I suggest visitors come here first so that you don't feel underwhelmed after seeing the other side.
The Bird Park
After seeing the falls I took a bus one stop to visit the Bird Park before my flight. Here I saw birds from all over the world. Brightly colored and chattering loudly. I entered bird habitats were birds perched right next to me. One hungry toucan had a good time pecking at my feet, trying to make it off with my flip flops (Hint: Don't where bright colors to an open bird park. The birds will try to eat you). The whole time I couldn't help but to think about my father and his love for birds. I finally understood... It's just something about their regal disposition that is captivating.

Wildlife
These sites are all open national parks filed with protected wildlife that include birds, fish, turtles, butterflies, monkeys, coates and much more.

Cute right? Negative. 15 (literally) of these suckas ganged up on me, snatched my plastic bag and got me for the two crackers I had left. Smh. I was traumatized for the rest of the trip.

All and all it was a great two days. Im blessed to have been able to go somewhere else few people get to see. Thanks for reading! Next... "The Truth About Buenos Aires"
Afrobeijos,
Sabrina

Tranquility and Simplicity: Chapada Diamantia

2012-04-04T16:33:00.001-07:00

[Sorry it's been so long! Enjoy!]

Tranquil and simple. Those are the words that come to my mind when I think of life in Chapada Diamantina. More specifically, the Vale Do Capão. It's almost impossible to explain the culture of this place. But I will give it a try.

Tucked away in the diamond mountains of Bahia there is a small town named Capão. Here you are pretty much detached from the world, cell phones don't work, wifi is non-existent and the Internet at lanhouses run so slow that it's not worth it. The center of life is the town square where you can find people playing their instruments, dancing, demonstrating Capoeira, drinking a beer and selling there hand-made crafts. It's a town focused on the simpler things in life and the preservation of those things.

This is the place that all free spirits escape to for a simpler life. This is Bohemia.

So what does one do in Bohemia?

Hike down to the center of a waterfall, Cachoeira Da Riachino (and have a near death experience).

It's my first day in Capão and I'm dying to get the adventure started right away. But first, I need to eat! I head to the center of town and grab a bite at a traditional Brazilian restaraunt. There I was eating my Chicken Ensopada looking at the walls around me covered in photos of all the beautiful waterfalls surrounding this place. All the while I'm thinking, what am I going to do today?! It's too late to take a hike into the mountains, I'm alone and have no idea what to do. So I do what a person does naturally. I ask a local. I leave there not only with something to do but also a guide for the next day's adventure.

Shortly after I hopped on the back of a moto-taxi and took off for my first adventure. With in minutes of my descent into the Cachoeira Da Riachino the trees clear out and there in front of me was an amazing waterfall, lined by trees and red rocks. The further I descended the more awe-struck I became. It was my first time seeing and experiencing anything like this.

When I arrived at the first natural pool I was greeted by a naked boy playing his guitar. In fact... Everyone was naked here. Surprisingly, this relaxed me. Everyone was free here, everyone was unguarded, everyone was bohemian.

Next I decided I wanted to feel the rushing water on my feet so I took off my flip flops (Yes! Flip Flops... I guess you know what's coming soon lol) and stood in the rushing waters of the waterfall. A wave of laughter came over me and I felt powerful and blessed. Like God had shared a secret with me.

I descended further down, scaling huge rocks and crossing the waterfall to get to the safest points. This is the part where I almost died (no exaggeration). While crossing the waterfall I slipped in some rushing water and it pushed me down a rocky and unlevel bed of rocks. After what felt like forever I landed in a bank of water. I grasped the edge of the bank and pulled myself up. I was pretty beaten up. My upper leg, ankle and wrist were scratched to hell and I had a throbbing pain in my foot. Now for most people this would have been a sign to turn back... But I didn't. I cried, then thanked god for my life, laughed it off and kept going.

When I arrived at the bottom tall walls of rocks surrounded a natural pool. I encountered two women here sun-bathing in the nude (I'd seen these women pass by minutes before my accident). Some how we started talking and I learned they were visiting from Spain, Montse and Sonia. The first part of the crew had formed.

I arrived back to Capão walking on one foot and famished. After dropping my bags and changing my clothes I limped out the door to hobble into town. Two guys had checked into the room across from me and some how we started talking, they were from Austria (Reiny and Mike). We ate dinner together and grabbed a few beers. The second part of the crew had formed.

We would all go to Cachoeira Da Fumaça together the next day. I orchestrated the plan and communicated with the guide. Ah, the guide. How could I not mention Sami!! The last member of the crew (and most helpful). With a lot of Portugues and French and a bit of English, he served as the perfect guide and friend of this group.

Hike 3 hours up a mountain and 3 hours back to see Cachoeira Da Fumaça.

The prayers of the night before to heal my foot seem to have worked only a little. I may have to miss out on the adventure today. I ask God again to heal me so that I could continue to learn how greatly he crafted the world. Within 30 minutes I was walking with minimum pain. Yet again I was shown that the power of God and the will of the spirit is all powerful.

It's 8:30am when we begin our ascent. We walked up steep natural stairs formed by a smooth and slick stone (surprisingly, I wasn't the last person straggling along and gasping for dear life). Finally, we reached the plateau and commenced to walk across the mountain.

After about 3 hours we arrived. There was little to no water in the waterfall because of lack of rain. But it was beautiful any way. It took me a few tearful trys to lay down and look over the edge over the mountain. But when I finally did it I felt like God had told me another secret. I was 400 meters high looking down at the earth. I saw a lake! A small body of water that you could only see from where I layed. It was magnificent. To be honest, I'll never come down from the top of that mountain. There I conquered my fear of falling and saw something few people see.

Take a two hour walk underground in a cavern.

The next day Sami joined us for a trip to the caverns just because. We took a two hour walk in an underground cavern. Here we saw formations created by the rushings of an underground river, crystallized flowers and sat in the dark silence of the cave. It was low, hot, dusty and a bit creepy but it was an adventure.

We left the underground cave to explore caves filled with water. It was beautiful! In one cave the water was crystal clear and the ground was covered with fossils. In another, the water was a piercing blue color.

Swim (sem ropa!!!!!) in natural lakes.

I swam at just about all of this places. Finally a natural lake, no chlorine and no pollution. I was overcome with childish joy every time I got in the water. Fish swam by brushing my skin and sea plants tickled my feet. I even found a nest of frog eggs! It was perfect.

Hike up a mountain just to watch the sunset.

As if we hadn't done enough walking, hiking and climbing we all decided to climb another mountain to watch the sunset. The Por Do Sol is very coveted in Brasil, as it should be. All of us found a little spot to sit alone silently. The wind hit my face as I watched the sun go down. I closed my eyes and thanked the heavens for this experience.

Meet amazing people who will remain life long friends.

Leaving Capão was difficult. I made some amazing friends who will remain so for a lifetime. With each day I spent with them and each adventure I conquered with them they became more and more a part of me. I look forward to visiting them all in their respective homes.

I'd like to dedicate this post to them. Thank you Mike, Montse, Sami, Reiny and Sonia. All of you changed my life a bit.

Ate Breve,

Sabrina

P.S. Remember the Milky Way we saw pictures of in our school textbooks? I saw it in person, the pictures don't do it justice. It's absolutely astonishing.

Good Morning Heartache

2012-03-18T08:47:00.001-07:00

I thought my first post after my trip to paradise would be filled with pictures and stories of the wonders I experienced... While I have all those things to write about, they will have to wait.

Last night AND this morning have been rough. I have passed my one month mark and now the subtle homesickness has escalated. Im no longer a little irritated. Now I'm a little miserable. Yes, I miss my family and friends but what really took me over the edge was missing my boyfriend.

I know what you're thinking, "you only have a month left." guess what?! Thats the last thing I want to hear because, That month feels like a year.

Now to reason this isn't just a wallowing self-pitying post.

Brazilian culture constantly pushes love, relationships and sex. It is one of the pillars of their culture (or so it seems). Everyday I'm constantly bombarded with people making out in the street, people asking me when I'm going to get a baiano boyfriend or if I miss my boyfriend (and if so, why don't you just get a temporary boyfriend here), or telling me I'm living a miserable life. While its great that they are romantics (or really horny) it's horrible for me. Every time one of these things occurs I'm forced to remember that my boyfriend is thousands of miles away.

Dear Brazil,

I love that you are in love with love but please ease up... You're making my heartache.

Sincerely,

Sabrina

Road Trip to Valenca....

2012-03-12T14:02:00.001-07:00

Any one who knows me knows that I loathe road trips. The idea of being packed in a car with 3-4 other people for hours on what seems like endless stretches of road make my stomach quezzy. With that said I went against my better judgement and agreed to what was supposed to be a 3 hour road trip.

Note of Caution: When a Brazilian gives you a time frame, double it. More specifically, Baianos have a way of letting time slip by without noticing. It's a bit of an art if you ask me.

The trek to Valenca entailed a ride on a ferry boat and hours of driving along lush terrain covered with trees, oceans and natural rock formations....

After about 5 hours we arrived at na casa de meu amiga Lias... And guess what she had??? A hammock! I'd never laid In a hammock before and boy was I excited.

My review: The slight rocking of the hammock makes for perfect relaxation... (If I was president I'd make sure that ever household had a hammock and a bartender to go with it!)

The Other Side of Things...

When arriving I had the impression that this trip would be great for seeing new beaches and relaxing... I was wrong. The group decided to go to a Magary Lord show, who I love also... But truth is, I'm sick of partying and drinking beer all day. I just want to chill. Read a book on the beach or write in my journal.... ::Sigh::

Unfortunately, if you are not careful old habits can follow you and mine surely did. I said, "sure, I'll go," ignoring what I really wanted (old habits die hard). I paid R$ 20 for a show I didn't want to see, sat the whole time and left early. Lesson learned... Again.

The next day came with more food and beer... But no exploration and no BEACH! Well not exactly... We did stop at Guaibim on the way back to Salvador for another... Yup, that's right folks, MORE BEER.

The ride back was exhausting to say the least lasting about 7 hours. Guess what was going on during out 2/3 hour for the ferry?? More partying!!!!

Don't get me wrong, I was happy to spend the weekend with my favorite amigos. I just need a serious break from beer (like a life long break) and partying. The brightside is now, I am even more excited to leave for the Vale Do Capao tonight for my solo camping trip. Four or five days of pure serenity and tranquility...

Afrobeijos,

Sabrina

[VIDEO] Thoughts After Three Weeks in Salvador

2012-03-09T18:23:00.001-08:00

Oi!

Check out my ramblings on carnaval, culture, food, language and relationships in Salvador.

Afrobeijos!

Sabrina

Homesick in Salvador...

2012-03-08T05:51:00.001-08:00

Ok, I'll admit it....I'm homesick. I know that's tantamount to blasphemy, but it's true. Here I am spending my days on the beach and all I can think about is making a home cooked meal in my kitchen back in DC. I miss my family, my friends, my boyfriend and my bed.

With that said I'm officially on a mission to climb out of this ungrateful slump and find, in myself, what I really came here for... Peace, beauty, love and happiness. The next few weeks will be filled with alone time and adventure. I'm enthused to take that time to drown in myself, to see what happens when I am pushed to my limit and forced to stand on my own to feet. It is then that I will grow and discover the treasures I seek.

Afrobeijos,

Sabrina

Campo Grande: A Walk in The Park...

2012-03-03T13:47:00.001-08:00

Since coming to reside in the lovely city of Salvador two weeks ago, I've been doing a lot of walking. I mean A lot. I've walked behind trios 6 nights straight for carnaval, I've walked up hills so steep I thought I was walking up a wall, I've walked down cobbled roads, across beaches with burning sand... Well you get the point. After all that walking with the unforgiving sun beating down on me I finally took a peaceful walk in the park, alone.

The neighborhood of Campo Grande is heavily influenced by art and a history of great struggle for independence. While in its present state it host great cultural institutes and colleges, this was not always the case. In fact, it was formerly the site of some of the fiercest battles in the Bahian fight for independence.

An intersection of this influence and history is made clear to this day. Campo Grande is often the site of protests against stiffling governmental changes. Futhermore, the presence of the park centered in Campo Grande shows homage to art and struggle. A number of divine sculptures created by Frenchman to honor the struggle for the independence of Bahia are hosted here. Gazebos and fountains also lace the parking creating a calm atmosphere in the center of a bustling neighborhood.

Check out these photos....

Afrobeijos

Crash Course on The Beaches of South Salvador

2012-03-02T08:25:00.002-08:00

I've been here two weeks and I've already had a crash course on the beaches of the south coast of Salvador. I even spent two days straight lounging on na Praia do Barra... Actually, I'm not sure if that counts as a big deal since I live walking distance. Either way, thanks to one helpful friend and one friend who is always eager to relax (like myself) I can say I know the way of the enthusiast.

Here are some photos I took... I have to say they don't even begin to capture the beauty and serenity I experienced.

Stella Maris (Star of the Sea), a beach for the young high-class citizens of Salvador.

The Farol de Itapua was built about 139 years ago. I lives on the Praia de Itapua in the Barrio of Itapua. Its structure made of cast iron stands at 69 feet tall.

In the 17th century the Farol da Barra guided ships into the most important port of Salvador. Built in 1698, it still stands at 72 feet tall and is made of brick.

View from the Farol da barra. One of the most breath-taking scenes.

The sun setting on the Praia Da Barra

Until next time....Afrobeijos!

CARNAVAL IN SALVADOR

2012-02-23T13:14:00.000-08:00

How does one explain carnaval with little to no photos...EAT, SHOWER, CARNAVAL, SLEEP (a little) in that order for a whole week. I am exhausted to say the least.

Here are some of my observations from Carnaval...

1. Buying a T-Shirt to dance behind and around a trio (A big truck that the singers perform on) was the BEST decision. When paying for a shirt to see Timbalada for R$300 (about $170) I was thinking, GOOD GRACIOUS. Guess what, It was worth EVERY PENNY. The energy of the trio and the dancing crowd just keeps you moving for hours. And Timbalada is AWESOME!

2. Making out with strangers is TOTALLY NORMAL. No seriously. If a man sees you and he likes you he will kiss you and vice versa. Even if you do not want it once he has got you in his grips it difficult to pull away. It is even publicized in Carnaval commercials. Please take this time to laugh at the image of me ducking and diving from the kisses of many Brazilian men.

3. The music during Carnaval in Salvador is awesome. Though I could not understand it all, a lot of it is about love, Carnaval and last-but-most-often, BEING BLACK.

Now that I have given you my observations here are my friends...

My Brazilian friends LOVE to party. I was the old fart that was tired at 2 am every night, they just kept going and I LOVED it. These are people I have grown to love in this joyous time.

Going to see Timbalada on Friday

Ilka Danusa! My housemate and Brasilian Sister.

Lais Freire! Oh how I love Lais. Nao Va Lais! Nao Va!

There is so much more to say but I will save it for the next post!

Bon Voyage

2012-02-10T10:09:00.000-08:00

bon voy·age

interj.

Used to express farewell and good wishes to a departing traveler

[French : bon, good + voyage, journey.]

There is nothing more comforting than familiar faces when you are about to embark on a journey full of unknowns. Yesterday, over 20 people joined me at 901 Restaurant to wish me farewell. With only 5 days left until my departure and the pressure of all I need to get done, weighing down on me it was exactly what I needed. Friends from different walks of my life came out to show me love and support yesterday. It was breathtaking to see how many people show up and showed out in my honor. The room was filled with good vibes, laughter, inappropriate jokes and beautiful men and women. Their presence gave me yet another confirmation that this is about to be a journey of a lifetime.

Vinny, Regina and I

Some of my favorite quotes from last night (paraphrased of course):

"We'd like you to send us back pictures of the culture." ~ Alexander and Jason

"Thank You Jesus!" ~ Regina

"When you get back, we will all be here doing the same things. But you, you will have some amazing stories to share." ~ Faqir

Taliah and Mo Mo

Me and Lauren

Faqir, Tevor and Larry

Polarizing Personalities

Abbie, Me and Dionne

Me and Nicole

THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR COMING!

Até breve <3

The woman who walks alone...

2012-01-19T13:05:00.000-08:00

I was reading my profile on Matador Network today and I came across this quote that I have in my About Me section...

"The Woman who follows the crowd will usually go no further than the crowd. The woman who walks alone is likely to find herself in places no one has ever been before. ~Albert Einstein

As my departure is nearing I have become more nervous. I'm not nervous about going, but instead I am nervous about leaving. Leaving my job, my boyfriend and stability. My thoughts are starting to be filled with what ifs. It seems that 'planners' spirit is still haunting me. This quote couldn't have showed up at a better time. It was a reminder. A reminder that if I want to truly be free I have to learn to walk alone. I have to let go of all my security blankets and just live so that I can find myself in places no one has ever been before.

I hope this quote does the same thing for you. Stop saying "I wish I could" or "that's a long way from home" or "what about him/her/them" and JUST LIVE.

Do you speak Portuguese?

2012-01-12T09:07:00.000-08:00

Nope, and heck yes I'm nervous.Going to a country and not knowing a bit of the language is one of the scariest things ever. To be honest I wasn't that concerned with it until I started looking for an apartment and I realized... NO ONE SPEAKS ENGLISH! I know naive and ethnocentric me... For some reason I assumed that at least one person in each household would know a few words in English. SHAME ON ME.

I remember the moment that I began to panic about my Portuguese language skills or lack there of. It was the end of a long day and I needed to find a place to stay ASAP. So I picked up the phone and called the homes of a few Brazilian renters. Within the next 5 minutes I was in a complete state of panic.I sat there trying to figure out a way to explain that I don't speak Portuguese but I need a place to stay. Gratefully, my last call was to a woman who was more than patient with me. She listened carefully, corrected me kindly and finally some how she understood that I would send her an email and we got off the phone. Within minutes she emailed me! It was relief to know that someone didn't mind trying to decode my chopped and screwed version of Portuguese.

Since then I have learned one thing. Brazilians are patient and understanding of those who don't know their language. They may laugh a little but they will correct you kindly and help you through conversations. No offense but most non-Americans are like this. For some reason...as my friend says Americans have a superiority complex that makes it impossible for them to adjust to others; thinking that everyone should adjust or strive to be like Americans. Sad, but true.

Long story short, I realized that I needed to get my Portuguese together immediately or I'm going to be an unhappy camper when I get to Salvador. With the help of three free language learning and translations tools I am feeling more and more confident every day. I've been waking up every morning with Portuguese on the tip of my tongue and it feels absolutely amazing. The pronunciations are starting to make sense and I'm understanding some of the rules.This week I am working toward getting with a language exchange partner to practice with 2-3 times a week for an hour.

While scary, learning Portuguese has been amazing!

Check out http://www.Livemocha.com a free language exchange program.

A SPECIAL HOLIDAY...

2012-01-03T07:09:00.000-08:00

AT&T 3G Wifi Ipad 2 (Best for International Travel)


iHome iDM12 (Small portable speaker fit for Ipads and Ipods)

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

After two weeks in California Las Vegas I'm back in D.C. Spending time with family over the last few weeks was priceless. My upcoming departure made it more special than normal. Even though it was only two weeks I learned so much about myself and the steps I need to follow to discover Oshun. My family was dropping Stepping stones of knowledge on me left and right.

It was apparent that my love ones had my journey in mind also. Almost all of my gifts this year were bought with my trip in mind.

Just a few of the things I received included:

AT&T Ipad2 with 3G and WIFI (these are best for international travelers because they have a slot for a SIM card)
iHome iDM12 (this small portable speaker is fit for Ipads and Ipods)
A electronics messenger bag
Lots and lots of sun dresses

Judging from all the electronics they are sending me off with I'm going to be a bit of a flashpacker (read about what a flashpaker is on the Matador Network).

Bottom line: my holiday was awesome and it gave me the reset I needed to push forward to February 16th.

THE INFAMOUS, 'ARE YOU NERVOUS' QUESTION

2011-12-15T07:07:00.002-08:00

One of the most frequent questions I've faced over the last few months about my 'courageous voyage' has been 'aren't you nervous?' I've had a variety of responses, including but not limited to, "nope, it's not that big of a deal," "maybe a little," "nervous? For what?"

Truth is...

HELL YES I'M NERVOUS.

I'm going to Brasil for TWO MONTHS and I don't know anyone at all. Who does that? I must be mad... I keep telling myself to stay calm but the closer I get to the trip the more nervous I become. Random questions like, "what should I take with me?" "how should I pack?" and "what if I don't make any friends?" Have begun to haunt my every thought....

So yes.... I am quite nervous ladies and gentleman. Thanks for reminding me... again. ::Sigh::

Discovering Oshun... Why Oshun?

2011-12-14T11:58:00.000-08:00

FESTIVAL OF OSHUN

Who is Oshun?

Oshun is a goddess known across the religions of the African Diaspora. From the beliefs of the Yoruba people to the practices of Candomblé by the "povo de santo (people of the saint)," she is ever present. Characterized as beneficent, generous and very kind, she reigns as the goddess of love, intimacy, beauty, wealth and diplomacy. She is the "unseen mother present at every gathering," omnipresent and omnipotent. As the Yoruba understanding of the cosmological forces of water, moisture and attraction she is seen as a necessity who should be revered and respected at all times.

Why is Oshun?

On my journey of self discovery I hope to find Oshun. Or at least all that she represents. I want to find true love, the love of myself in a deeper way than I've ever known. I want to find intimacy and comfort in being intimate with myself and being just in-to-me. I seek to find beauty across the hemispheres in myself. The beauty of a mind in solitude, the beauty of freedom of spirit and will. I could go on but I think you get it. She is all that I hope to gain so that I may live a full and happy life. By discovering Oshun, I hope to gain the wisdom to do just that. In essence I am using the musings of Oshun as my rite of passage, a passage to myself.

THE COUNTDOWN HAS BEGUN!

2011-12-13T12:55:00.001-08:00

In about 64 days I will embark on the greatest adventure of my life. Alone, I will be exploring Brasil for two months.

Why you ask?

To Discover Oshun for myself. I want to find what true love (self), intimacy, beauty, wealth and diplomacy mean to me. In discovering Oshun I hope to discover my own self. Truth is, my whole life has been dedicated to satisfying another, to allowing someone else to explore them self, to being 'the stable one.' To those who know me, you may be shocked but I'm a bit of a 'yes' girl. The mediator, the calmer of rough waters, the girl who really wants to go left but goes right every time because he/she wanted to go right. I'm ready to finally get out of the middle, ride the rapids and go left.

For the first time I will be satisfying me, exploring myself

and being only as stable as I need to be for me.