19/5 - Finally Niteroi and anyone who knows a wind dance?

Last Sunday, I finally got around to visit Niteroi, the city on the other side of Guanabara Bay. As for many other places and activities, I’ve been thinking about going for months, but it has never seemed to happen really. Could possible be because the list of places and experiences I want to visit and get in my life, doesn’t really match with the time available. Anyways, for once I skipped the typical Rio expat way to go by car and took the Metro and ferry instead. My colleague picked me up at the harbour on the other side and we started the afternoon with Fortaleza de Santa Cruz da Barra. A beautiful drive along the coast, with hills on one side and beaches on the other, took us out to the point of the small peninsula, where the fortress was overlooking the entry of the bay. Chalk white buildings, a small chapel and palm trees and rose bushes along the walk ways within the walls of the fortress, rather made my mind drift to Greek islands and romantic sunsets than to a mindset prepared for the history of the place. Quite scary, how inventive people throughout history seem to have been when it comes to treating prisoners, not only in Brazil - but also in Brazil. Anything from making them go blind to drowning them all in a hollow rock, which would be flooded by the sea, seemed to be great tactics back then.

After the beautiful Brazilian torture place with history lessons, we had a drive around to some of the beaches in the area. They were as pretty as one could wish for so close to a city and heaps better than the touristy Ipanema and Leblon. To make sure we wouldn’t forget that we’re in Brazil, the compulsory oilrig was of course parked in a focus seeking spot to decorate the picture perfect view. The classic Rio joke about Niteroi, is that the best thing with the place is the view. Not sure I would agree it’s the best thing, the beaches will beat it for sure, but no doubt about it – Rio looks great from the other side of the water as well.
We finished the day off with a proper high tea at one of the kilo restaurants. Don’t think you’ll get a more British meal anywhere in this country. As always, kilo places are great, in the way that you only pay for what you choose to put on your plate. Not that great, to get it black on white how much nibbles, triangular sandwiches, chocolates, cakes, crepes and cheese you have actually chosen to put on your plate though. But hey, only Sunday once a week and Niteroi was worth the treat. Thanks Patricia for an excellent afternoon, need to come back and see more for sure.
Awfully quiet about kite surfing lately, don’t you think. Not much moving around on the board unfortunately and not a single ripple on the water to be seen moving at the kite surfing place. The clouds appear to be very stationary and pretty much no moving of anything, anywhere. Not even the air is moving these days. Keep your fingers crossed for some better luck this upcoming weekend, second last chance before swapping Brazilian winter for Scandinavian summer.