The Brazilian recipe for a perfect New Year’s Eve doesn’t require many ingredients—white clothes, booze, music, a spot somewhere outside, and perfect strangers happy to passar a virada do ano with other perfect strangers. The magic seasoning is often the beach. In Florianópolis, there’s the bridge too. The Ponte Hercílio Luz is the local landmark and obsession.
December 31, Campeche and Matadeiro
After Ingleses and Centro, we moved to Campeche, south of the island. The town (neighbourhood? District of Florianópolis?) used to have an airport, inaugurated in 1927 by the French Compagnie générale aéropostale. Antoine de Saint-Exupéry may have landed in Campeche a few times, so the main street and many businesses are named after The Little Prince.
I bought my New Year’s Eve fish from the tiny “Pequeno Príncipe” fish shop and we got ready for the last day of 2024. We spent it at Matadeiro Beach, Feng’s favourite spot on the island. It’s tiny but lively, and it’s very scenic with lush hills all around. The bonus is the short hike to get there—and yes, it includes crossing the river (or just taking the bridge a bit further… but crossing the river is more fun).
Campeche, Ilha de Santa Catarina, December 31, 2024Campeche, Ilha de Santa Catarina, December 31, 2024Campeche, Ilha de Santa Catarina, December 31, 2024Campeche, Ilha de Santa Catarina, December 31, 2024Praia do Matadeiro, Ilha de Santa Catarina, December 31, 2024Praia do Matadeiro, Ilha de Santa Catarina, December 31, 2024Praia do Matadeiro, Ilha de Santa Catarina, December 31, 2024Praia do Matadeiro, Ilha de Santa Catarina, December 31, 2024Praia do Matadeiro, Ilha de Santa Catarina, December 31, 2024Praia do Matadeiro, Ilha de Santa Catarina, December 31, 2024Praia do Matadeiro, Ilha de Santa Catarina, December 31, 2024Praia do Matadeiro, Ilha de Santa Catarina, December 31, 2024Praia do Matadeiro, Ilha de Santa Catarina, December 31, 2024Praia do Matadeiro, Ilha de Santa Catarina, December 31, 2024Praia do Matadeiro, Ilha de Santa Catarina, December 31, 2024Praia do Matadeiro, Ilha de Santa Catarina, December 31, 2024Praia do Matadeiro, Ilha de Santa Catarina, December 31, 2024Praia do Matadeiro, Ilha de Santa Catarina, December 31, 2024Praia do Matadeiro, Ilha de Santa Catarina, December 31, 2024Praia do Matadeiro, Ilha de Santa Catarina, December 31, 2024
New Year’s Eve at the bridge
I kind of wanted to spend New Year’s Eve in Campeche, on the beach, since it was only a 20-minute walk from our lovely Airbnb (modern house, terrible plumbing, great kitchen, tiny ants everywhere). Feng and Mark wanted to drive to Centro to watch the fireworks at the bridge.
Feng and I walked to the beach to look at the upcoming informal party around 8 p.m. The crowd was very young and very drunk already.
“Okay, the bridge it is, then,” I sighed. “We’re too old for this party. I should ask them where their parents are going for the réveillon!”
So we drove to Centro and crossed the downtown core to join the huge crowd—everybody wearing white, of course—in front of the bridge that links the island to the mainland. Somehow, we ended up in a great spot we didn’t even know existed, right below the bridge.
And just like that, 2025 started with the loud bang of fireworks. The show was on our right. It got smoky very, very fast.
Ten minutes later, the bridge right above us lit up and another fireworks display started. This one took me by surprise and this time, we had front-row tickets. It was just stunning, with the bridge covered in dazzling colours and bright sparks. It ended with a firework curtain falling into the water.
Réveillon 2025 de Florianópolis, Ponte Hercílio LuzRéveillon 2025 de Florianópolis, Ponte Hercílio LuzRéveillon 2025 de Florianópolis, Ponte Hercílio LuzRéveillon 2025 de Florianópolis, Ponte Hercílio LuzRéveillon 2025 de Florianópolis, Ponte Hercílio LuzRéveillon 2025 de Florianópolis, Ponte Hercílio LuzRéveillon 2025 de Florianópolis, Ponte Hercílio LuzRéveillon 2025 de Florianópolis, Ponte Hercílio LuzRéveillon 2025 de Florianópolis, Ponte Hercílio LuzRéveillon 2025 de Florianópolis, Ponte Hercílio LuzRéveillon 2025 de Florianópolis, Ponte Hercílio LuzRéveillon 2025 de Florianópolis, Ponte Hercílio LuzRéveillon 2025 de Florianópolis, Ponte Hercílio LuzRéveillon 2025 de Florianópolis, Ponte Hercílio LuzRéveillon 2025 de Florianópolis, Ponte Hercílio LuzRéveillon 2025 de Florianópolis, Ponte Hercílio LuzRéveillon 2025 de Florianópolis, Ponte Hercílio LuzRéveillon 2025 de Florianópolis, Ponte Hercílio LuzRéveillon 2025 de Florianópolis, Ponte Hercílio LuzRéveillon 2025 de Florianópolis, Ponte Hercílio LuzRéveillon 2025 de Florianópolis, Ponte Hercílio LuzRéveillon 2025 de Florianópolis, Ponte Hercílio LuzRéveillon 2025 de Florianópolis, Ponte Hercílio LuzRéveillon 2025 de Florianópolis, Ponte Hercílio LuzRéveillon 2025 de Florianópolis, Ponte Hercílio LuzRéveillon 2025 de Florianópolis, Ponte Hercílio LuzRéveillon 2025 de Florianópolis, Ponte Hercílio LuzRéveillon 2025 de Florianópolis, Ponte Hercílio LuzRéveillon 2025 de Florianópolis, Ponte Hercílio LuzRéveillon 2025 de Florianópolis, Ponte Hercílio LuzRéveillon 2025 de Florianópolis, Ponte Hercílio LuzRéveillon 2025 de Florianópolis, Ponte Hercílio LuzRéveillon 2025 de Florianópolis, Ponte Hercílio LuzRéveillon 2025 de Florianópolis, Ponte Hercílio LuzRéveillon 2025 de Florianópolis, Ponte Hercílio LuzRéveillon 2025 de Florianópolis, Ponte Hercílio LuzRéveillon 2025 de Florianópolis, Ponte Hercílio Luz
January 1 at Pântano do Sul
After a short night, we spent the first day of the year at Praia do Pântano do Sul.
And now it’s time to travel again… we’re back on the road in just a few hours. Yes, I should sleep.
Praia do Pântano do Sul, Ilha de Santa Catarina, December 31, 2024Praia do Pântano do Sul, Ilha de Santa Catarina, December 31, 2024Praia do Pântano do Sul, Ilha de Santa Catarina, December 31, 2024Praia do Pântano do Sul, Ilha de Santa Catarina, December 31, 2024Praia do Pântano do Sul, Ilha de Santa Catarina, December 31, 2024
Chère Juliette
Magnifique feu d’artifice, merci pour ces photos !
Je vous souhaite à toi et ta famille une très belle année 2025, qu’elle vous apporte de beaux moments de partage et de belles rencontres.
Question : Mark a l’air immense ! Est-ce qu’il est grand ou juste dans la moyenne des jeunes de son âge ?
Mark a pas mal grandi, effectivement! Il n’est pas si grand en fait, par rapport à ses amis. Les Canadiens sont immenses… ou j’ai oublié la taille des ados, qui sait. En tout cas, il change beaucoup en ce moemnt 🙂
Merci pour tes voeux! Je te souhaite de très belles choses, ainsi qu’à tes proches. Que cette année t’apporte de jolis surprises et des moments tendres!
Mais c’est nul.
Quand on parle de traverser la rivière à pied, c’est qu’elle est gelée et qu’on marche sur la glace. :p
Ouais, moi je tente plutôt à la Jésus, sur du liquide…
Alléluia !
Love the photos!
It was an amazing display, really.
Chère Juliette
Magnifique feu d’artifice, merci pour ces photos !
Je vous souhaite à toi et ta famille une très belle année 2025, qu’elle vous apporte de beaux moments de partage et de belles rencontres.
Question : Mark a l’air immense ! Est-ce qu’il est grand ou juste dans la moyenne des jeunes de son âge ?
Mark a pas mal grandi, effectivement! Il n’est pas si grand en fait, par rapport à ses amis. Les Canadiens sont immenses… ou j’ai oublié la taille des ados, qui sait. En tout cas, il change beaucoup en ce moemnt 🙂
Merci pour tes voeux! Je te souhaite de très belles choses, ainsi qu’à tes proches. Que cette année t’apporte de jolis surprises et des moments tendres!