As Anorexicas 2 - gravura made by Rafa...

Great isn't it? Made by Rafael, the guy from Couch surfing that is hosting me here in Curitiba, Brasil. First drawn on a board of wood, then engraved so that when inkt is put on it, you can sort of "stamp" the image on paper...
And I made a bit of the bed....!

Do Curitiba: best CouchSurfing Experience Ever!

Have spent a week now in Curitiba, which is 8h to the south of Sao Paulo, one of the rare capitals not to be on the coast of Brasil. It is the most European of all Brasilian cities (which shows in the fact that it is raining most of the time ;-).

I am staying with a host family from Couch Surfing.com and they have been great: from basic needs like house, food and washing the clothes (and internet!), to treats and pleasure like visiting waterfalls, spending the weekend at their countryhouse, just amazing! It is so nice to get the family feeling after having spent a couple of weeks by myself and hanging out with other random people.


Rafael, myself and sister (James Bond girl sihouette) Carolina
We're just shadows of our former selves...


First time in my life I touched and held a kolibri (humming bird?)... It was still tiny, and learning how to fly. Dried it because of the rain before it flew off again...

Beautiful sunset....

So, now for further plans: am leaving out THE tourist attraction of South America, Foz da Iguaco, the Niagara falls of the south, cause, well, it's raining, bus ride pretty expensive and I would prefer doing it with some special company...
So, off to the south soon in a short time: Florianopolis - Porto Alegre (where I want to check out this NGO where I could volunteer startting March) and then through Urugay to Buenes Aires (Argentina) and a quick stop in Santiago (Chili) before flying to Salvador de Bahia (back in the center of Brasil) to spend Carnaval there in the best of companies...

a vida no brasil - tempo parecido a Belgica...

Allright, it's been nearly a week back here in Brasil...
The guy from couch surfing who was supposed to host me bailed out last minute, so went back to the Alpha hostel that I stayed in in July 06, nice to see familair and less familair faces.
I had a great time in Rio, mostly partying and sitting ont beach. First two days, couldn't have been more belgian as weather, but then it turned great so got sunburned at Copacabana. Carnaval is in full preparation gear and we went out to a sort of festival in Lapa that units the different groups that usually play in specific streets of Rio, so great to see them one after the other. Went with the woman that was sitting next to me on the plane to a concert of Rita Lhee, the Tina Turner of Brasil, and met her husband and fantastic 4 year old daughter, Gulia (who is soon to have a little brother). We first saw it from an appartment overlooking the beach of Copacaban, and then went down to join the plebs in the crowd. I danced a little bit too wild with her on my shoulders so she finished stating her disapproval by throwing up on me. Not so bad for me, was heading to the hostel anyway but the parents felt embarrased.
Left Rio, heading south, the more european part of Brasil (why did I leave again?), and am now 5h south of Rio, beautiful Costa Verde, one of the most beautiful scenic routes of the world dixit rough guide, but since the weather turned belgian on me again, ain't fell like enjoying it too much.
Thinking of skipping on Sao Paulo (more sort of a financial center and 35 murders a day...) and head further to Porto Alegre and Floranopolis by the coast.
Am already back in modus travelandi, to my dieet of 3 minut noodles, hitch hiking, and getting invited by strangers to spend nights if the hammoc needs to be avoided. No news from UN Ecuador position, and I think in this case no news = not good news... So, enjoying myself in South of South America till carnaval and then volunteering seems the best option.
Also bought a local phone number, so should you need me: +55 21 8295-4187.

Time zones

time in brussels :


in rio:

arrive a Rio

eh oui, apres deux heures d'attente a Madrid avec un avion en retard et que la compagnie d'un slof cigarettes menthol (eh oui, les adieux difficiles comme ca compliquent les bonnes resolutions...), puis une nuit a Lisboa fetant les retrouvailles avec mon cher Paulo que j'avais plus vu depuis mon depart en Rep Dom, aujourd'hui 9h de vol de Lisbonne pour arriver a Rio, assis a cote d'une gentille carioca enceinte. Le mec de Couch Surfing qui devait m'accueillir m'a lachement laissé tombé, donc je me suis retrouvé au meme hotel qu'en juillet, the alpha hostel, mais d'un coté mieux que je ne devais pas faire du small talk apres ce voyage epuisant.

Future encore incertain, le Haut Commissariat pour les Refugies m'a contacté pour un eventuel poste comme UN volunteers en Equateur, journée stressante demain car entretien d'embauche virtuel... Si ca n'aboutit pas, mes périples continuent, encore 4 ou 5 jours a Rio et les environs, puis descente vers le sud, Sao Paulo, Porto Alegre, si possible Buenos Aires et le Chili pendant un mois, retour pour le 16 fevrier pour le carnaval a Rio (life time experience,no)... Eventuellement, mon petitThomas pourrait venir le partager!!!

skiing in Switserland - Crans - Montana

Sunny weather, nice snow, breakfast in shorts, and only a couple of falls (with only temporary consequences...). It had been five years since my last skiing attempts, and though the Caribbean is charming, I was missing it and so glad I had a chance to fly down some hills again.

Appartement de la grande mère de Thomas, grand (énorme plutot, style avec trois salles de bains) et tranquille, juste ce qu'il nous fallait.

Going back to Brasil 16th of January

So, tough decisions to be made, but am going to use the plane ticket back to Brasil before it expires, though I still haven't found anything serious (read: "paying") there yet. So, will keep looking for jobs and dedicate a day a week to apply for positions interesting, in Brasil, Latin America or else where, and either

• do some volunteer work there, looking for bunk and bread
• make some money teaching languages
• or just enjoy myself and go and explore the continent, Argentina, Chili and such, having some friends spread over different countries, which is the most fun option but also the more expensive one (why do these usually tend to be the same ;-)

So, leaving on a real ski holiday this weekend 6th of Jan. to Switserland, with precious Thomas (see pix!!) coming back on the Sunday 14th, while my plane leaves to Portugal (spending one night there again, can't get enough of Lisboa) and then Brasil for indetermined period of time...

Wish me luck!!

Happy New Year 2007!!