I should be rushing to São Paulo to take yet another mandatory COVID test and catch my flight back to Canada.

I guess I’m not, not yet at least. Feng, Mark and the Polícia Federal are okay to let me stay a bit longer. This year I’m not involuntarily stuck in Brazil, I’m just … not ready to leave the southern hemisphere and my life on the road.

Oh, give me a minute please—I’m just checking to see if my laundry is dry. I put it in front of the fan … great, almost ready. It’s late and I’m leaving early tomorrow.

Two weeks, one Carnival, three Airbnbs and a few decisions made later, I’m finally packing again and saying goodbye to Cabo Frio.

I liked it there.

The first week was a loud, boozie and festive version of Cabo Frio with informal Carnival parties. Every house, every block was playing Zé Felipe’s Malvada, this year’s summer hit. Beaches, streets, pousadas and bars were jam-packed, nobody was actually working except if the job description included “selling alcohol.”

The city went back to normal last Monday. I finally got to see the white sand and beaches without thousands of people on it. Even Arraial do Cabo was slighter quieter.

Time to take care of business. I was realizing I didn’t exactly feel like coming back yet. It’s hard to tell when you’re tired of travelling, but clearly I’m not.

“Can you change your ticket easily? How about the 90-day rule?” Feng asked.

Changing my ticket would be the easy part. I also had to apply for a visa extension because Canadians (and most travellers) are “only” allowed to stay for up to 90 days. I went through the process last year when my flight was cancelled so I decided to give it a shot. I sacrificed a lovely, sunny day to print out documents, filling out a form, pay the 110 reais fee ($20) and travel to the police station inconveniently located at Cabo Frio’s tiny airport. And of course, I had to go back and forth three times because the first day the police station was closed (Carnival hangover?) and the next morning I was missing a form. But hey, third time’s a charm, my 90-day stay was extended and police officers were super friendly.

Then I changed my flight, picking a random date early April. I miss the guys, I don’t want to stay in Brazil too long, I just want to take the long way back to São Paulo.

I’m going to miss Cabo Frio. It was a beautiful, relaxing, safe and friendly place.

I’m packing for Rio de Janeiro.

It’s not going to be relaxing, safe or friendly but hey, it’s beautiful … and it’s on the way.

Praia das Dunas, Cabo Frio, Rio de Janeiro State
Praia das Dunas, Cabo Frio, Rio de Janeiro State
Praia das Dunas, Cabo Frio, Rio de Janeiro State
Praia das Dunas, Cabo Frio, Rio de Janeiro State
Praia das Dunas, Cabo Frio, Rio de Janeiro State
Praia das Dunas, Cabo Frio, Rio de Janeiro State
Praia das Dunas, Cabo Frio, Rio de Janeiro State
Praia das Dunas, Cabo Frio, Rio de Janeiro State
Praia das Dunas, Cabo Frio, Rio de Janeiro State
Praia das Dunas, Cabo Frio, Rio de Janeiro State
Praia das Dunas, Cabo Frio, Rio de Janeiro State
Praia das Dunas, Cabo Frio, Rio de Janeiro State
Praia das Dunas, Cabo Frio, Rio de Janeiro State
Praia das Dunas, Cabo Frio, Rio de Janeiro State
Praia das Dunas, Cabo Frio, Rio de Janeiro State
Praia das Dunas, Cabo Frio, Rio de Janeiro State
Praia das Dunas, Cabo Frio, Rio de Janeiro State
Praia das Dunas, Cabo Frio, Rio de Janeiro State
Praia das Dunas, Cabo Frio, Rio de Janeiro State
Praia das Dunas, Cabo Frio, Rio de Janeiro State
Praia do Foguete, Cabo Frio, Rio de Janeiro State
Praia do Foguete, Cabo Frio, Rio de Janeiro State
Praia do Foguete, Cabo Frio, Rio de Janeiro State
Praia do Foguete, Cabo Frio, Rio de Janeiro State
Praia do Foguete, Cabo Frio, Rio de Janeiro State
Praia do Foguete, Cabo Frio, Rio de Janeiro State
Praia do Foguete, Cabo Frio, Rio de Janeiro State
Praia do Foguete, Cabo Frio, Rio de Janeiro State
Praia do Foguete, Cabo Frio, Rio de Janeiro State
Praia do Foguete, Cabo Frio, Rio de Janeiro State
Praia do Forte, Cabo Frio, Rio de Janeiro State
Praia do Forte, Cabo Frio, Rio de Janeiro State
When Brazilians teach you how to pose Brazilian style, Praia do Forte, Cabo Frio, Rio de Janeiro State
When Brazilians teach you how to pose Brazilian style, Praia do Forte, Cabo Frio, Rio de Janeiro State
When Brazilians teach you how to pose Brazilian style, Praia do Forte, Cabo Frio, Rio de Janeiro State
When Brazilians teach you how to pose Brazilian style, Praia do Forte, Cabo Frio, Rio de Janeiro State
When Brazilians teach you how to pose Brazilian style, Praia do Forte, Cabo Frio, Rio de Janeiro State
When Brazilians teach you how to pose Brazilian style, Praia do Forte, Cabo Frio, Rio de Janeiro State
When Brazilians teach you how to pose Brazilian style, Praia do Forte, Cabo Frio, Rio de Janeiro State
When Brazilians teach you how to pose Brazilian style, Praia do Forte, Cabo Frio, Rio de Janeiro State
Lago de Araruama, Passagem, Cabo Frio, RJ
Lago de Araruama, Passagem, Cabo Frio, RJ
Lago de Araruama, Passagem, Cabo Frio, RJ
Lago de Araruama, Passagem, Cabo Frio, RJ
Largo de São Benedito - Passagem, Cabo Frio - RJ
Largo de São Benedito – Passagem, Cabo Frio – RJ
Largo de São Benedito - Passagem, Cabo Frio - RJ
Largo de São Benedito – Passagem, Cabo Frio – RJ
Largo de São Benedito - Passagem, Cabo Frio - RJ
Largo de São Benedito – Passagem, Cabo Frio – RJ
Passagem, Cabo Frio - RJ
Passagem, Cabo Frio – RJ
Passagem, Cabo Frio - RJ
Passagem, Cabo Frio – RJ
Passagem, Cabo Frio - RJ
Passagem, Cabo Frio – RJ
Passagem, Cabo Frio - RJ
Passagem, Cabo Frio – RJ
Passagem, Cabo Frio - RJ
Passagem, Cabo Frio – RJ
Passagem, Cabo Frio - RJ
Passagem, Cabo Frio – RJ
Bus 150 Arraial do Cabo to Cabo Frio
Bus 150 Arraial do Cabo to Cabo Frio
Lago de Araruama, Passagem, Cabo Frio, RJ
Lago de Araruama, Cabo Frio, RJ
Capela de São Benedito, Largo de São Benedito - Passagem, Cabo Frio - RJ
Capela de São Benedito, Largo de São Benedito – Passagem, Cabo Frio – RJ
Passagem, Cabo Frio - RJ
Passagem, Cabo Frio – RJ
Passagem, Cabo Frio - RJ
Passagem, Cabo Frio – RJ
Passagem, Cabo Frio - RJ
Passagem, Cabo Frio – RJ
Passagem, Cabo Frio - RJ
Passagem, Cabo Frio – RJ

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11 Comments

  1. Lexie March 12, 2022 at 12:41 am

    Love you adventurous spirit! When I see you going, I realize that I’m definitely a penguin. I won’t like to be by myself, I need to mate lol. I have a question though… Feng is never resentful having to deal with Mark by himself all these weeks ? It would probably be unfair to my husband but I would be pissed haha!

    Reply
    1. Zhu March 15, 2022 at 3:25 am

      Je crois qu’on y trouve tous les deux notre compte, et ça serait compliqué à expliquer! Par d’être séparés, je voyagerai volontiers avec les gars, je ne pars pas seule pour être seule, mais par défaut. Mark est plus grand maintenant aussi. Je ne partais pas longtemps les premières fois… c’est un équilibre qu’on essaie de trouver, sans avoir de solution idéale.

      Reply
  2. Martin Penwald March 12, 2022 at 6:08 pm

    Rentre pas ! les regressifs-conservateurs veulent mettre Jean ”Charbonneau” Charest à leur tête.

    Reply
    1. Zhu March 15, 2022 at 3:25 am

      C’est correct, je suis en Ontario, I’m safe, we have…

      oh, wait, Ford. Never mind. 😆

      Reply
      1. Martin Penwald March 15, 2022 at 4:49 am

        Ah, mais non, j’ai pas bien précisé : c’est à la tête du parti FÉDÉRAL que Jeannot pourrait être nommé. Donc à moins de rester en dehors du Canada, tu n’y échapperas pas. D’où le conseil de rester au Brésil. Avec Bolsonaro … Ah, merde ….

        Reply
        1. Zhu March 16, 2022 at 3:45 am

          Ah, merde. Ce léger détail m’avait échappé. Bon, euh… seuls les bons politiciens sont élus, on risque rien (*rire sardonique*)

          Reply
          1. Martin Penwald March 16, 2022 at 10:42 am

            Cela dit, il y a bientôt des élections et Lula semble en mesure de l’emporter. Tu as une photo avec ”Lula” inscrit sur une barque plus haut, il me semble.

          2. Zhu March 18, 2022 at 1:11 am

            The WiFi network in my Airbnb two days ago was “fora Bolsonaro”, “out Bolsonaro”. That said, I met many Bolso fans… politics are complicated here, I wouldn’t be so sure about Lula.

  3. Melanie March 16, 2022 at 9:21 am

    What a beautiful spot!!

    Reply
    1. Zhu March 18, 2022 at 1:12 am

      Lucky pick, and I loved it 😉

      Reply
  4. Pingback: Rio to Cabo Frio — Same State and Awesomeness, Different Vibe

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