Swimming in the world's best gene pool
After another 6h bus ride I arrived late at the Curitiba rodoferroviario late at night, where I was greeted by Stefanie, my charming local CS host and her family. The next morning, Stefanie joined me on a "tourist bus" tour in the city and its surroundings. While waiting for the tourist bus, I snapped this picture of the typical tube-like bus stops. The Curitiba public transport system is the best in Brazil, and the envy of many other Brazilian cities. Not only this, but also Curitiba's good urban planning, little traffic congestion and well-preserved historic buildings make it to one of Brazil's success stories.
Stef
First stop on our tour was the botanical garden... one of the places you´re most likely to find on a postcard from Curitiba.
We continued our ride on the tourist bus and visited a bunch of other places...
Oscar Niemeyer Museum
After the visit to the tower we got off the tourist bus near the center and walked around downtown. I tried some caldo de cana, juice squized from sugar cane, cooled and mixed with some lime. Good stuff. Afterwards we went for a beer in the Rua 24 horas, a street with shops and bars that stay open 24/7.
Rua 24 horas
The next day I got up early to catch the Serra Verde Express, Brazi´'s most scenic trainride, which runs from Curitiba to the town of Morretes. All tickets were sold out though, but some Dutchmen and I were taken to Morretes in a van, where we'd catch the train ride back into Curitiba. Same train ride, half the price.
The trainride back wasn't until 3.30PM, so I had a few hours to kill in Morretes.
Luckily the van we came in was doing a tour to a costal town, so I joined them for the ride.
Back in Morretes I walked around some more, bought banana chips and banana-flavored cachaça (good stuff, by the way), and then finally climbed abord the Serra Verde Express for a 3h train ride through the Serra Verde valley.
After getting back to Curitiba, I was picked up by Stefanie and her family and treated to yet another lovely dinner, consisting of fried shrip and seafood pasta. Mmm.
Still gleefully rubbing my belly after the exquisite meal, I had to get ready for a night on the town. Debra, one of Stef's friends, was celebrating her birthday in a bar downtown. I got to meet Stef´s friends and hung out all night, talking, drinking beer...
all of which happened in extremely good company. :)
Check out my gleeful "I have never been on a picture with this many hot women" face.
Sabryna, moi, Stefanie, Debra and Tissy
In the wee hours we played what must have been the worst game of pool in modern and not so modern times. Drinking and pool, not the best of combinations.
On my last day in Curitiba, Stefanie's boyfriend Gabriel invited me to join him to a churras (BBQ get-together) at his university.
More delicious food, beer and good company.
Stef and Gabriel
Also, they have an interesting custom where you chuck down alcohol and then people rock your head back and forth as hard as they can.
When everyone had consumed more than their fair share of alcohol, the karaoke machine was plugged in.
notice Russell Crowe in the background
interesting lyrics
These lovely ladies invited me to join them to a party later that night, but when I told them I had to leave and catch a bus bound for Foz do Iguaçu later that night, they decided to kiss me goodbye.
Simultaniously.