The Brazilian Guy

Dear reader,      The first signs of daylight appeared in the sky and the sun started to rise. So, I left the bus station and started walking through the quiet streets. I had no idea if I was going in the right direction; I just knew that I was aiming to see the historic center of Paraty . I had only seen Paraty's colonial architecture in photos, and those images were already coming to life in my mind.      I kept walking, and the first streets, paved with cobblestones laid in a rectangular pattern, came into view. They were dry because the tide was low and it hadn't rained in the last few days. Those types of streets are called pé-de-moleque and are flooded by seawater when the tide is high. The facades of the houses have a captivating beauty that evokes a strong sense of the past. The symmetry and vibrant colors of the windows and doors, contrasting with the white walls make them really elegant. While observing those walls, I saw a sign telling me that I ...

Praia do Sono, Paraty, Brazil. Photo by the author. Dear reader, I was consumed by an overwhelming desire to feel my knees in the sand, the seawater on my skin, and the salty air on a sunny day. At the same time, I was looking for opportunities to gain field experience and work in contact with nature. Then, something amazing happened: I was selected for a volunteer position at the Paraty Management Nucleus of the Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation (ICMBio), located in the state of Rio de Janeiro (RJ), Brazil. Besides that, my experience as a volunteer will be a story for another time. I want to tell you about one of the most enchanting destinations in the state of Rio de Janeiro: a beach called  Praia do Sono . I had always wanted to visit that slice of paradise, so, since I was already going to Paraty, I decided to spend two days camping at Praia do Sono , which is located in the municipality of Paraty. I bought a ticket on the FlixBus app from  Campinas Bus...