Guaruja

So we made it to the beach for the weekend. Guaruja. It's a decent-sized city just north of the more decent-sized Santos - old club home of Brazilian soccer hero Pele. Anyway, after searching all week for a nice pousada to spend the weekend - a pretty unsuccessful endeavor - Abby came across the not-so-pousada-sounding Strand Hotel. Ended up being perfect - right on the beach with a balcony suite. We only stayed one night, but that made for two beach days.

Anyway, the kids love the beach. It's always been obvious, but this particular beach is probably the most kid-friendly one we've ever been to. Sure, it helps that when you stroll onto a Brazilian beach, you're immediately met by an accommodating beach umbrella vendor...and waiter (we ordered shrimp, calamari and drinks while we were there). But the actual beach was great. We could walk out literally 200 feet and Noah could still stand on his own. Well, when the waves weren't knocking him down anyway. It's just such a long, gradual descent that it's so easy for the kids to play in the ocean. Sure, there are real waves. In fact, I saw a lot more surfers here than in Rio or anywhere else we've been on the Brazilian coast. This is definitely a beach that we'll come back to.

So now, a few sunburns later, we're relaxed and ready for another week.