I still have a bunch of photos that I took on this trip, so this is more of a miscellaneous post to share more pictures. Lets treat this post like tumblr back in the day when we appreciated pretty pictures. And Florianapolis serves a beautiful backdrop. So guys here is more of what I saw and what I got up to in Brazil.
Shots from my walk
Some Floripa beach shots
Samba nights
Oh yeah we also went out for some karaoke
Yeah I know you’re all like “Geez Louise Ofentse how many more Florianapolis posts are there?”. Well I was there for a month and you all know how trigger happy I get with the shutter button on my camera, so I’ve got a bunch of pictures and where else can I share them if not here 🤷🏾♀️.
This post is about what I consider to be the highlights of the trip.
Favela da Mariquinha Street Art Tour:
This was a tour of the favelas and the artwork in and around the Favela da Mariquinha which could be considered one of the largest outdoor galleries.
A ARTE SALVA VIDAS which means ART SAVES LIVES
Our tour guide Alex was born and raised in Favela de Mariquinha and is a community leader and all round Mr Congeniality (He knew everybody in the neighbourhood and they all showed love) . He is involved in various projects aimed at increasing visibility and making a positive impact on his community through teaching kids about art, soccer, surfing & jujitsu . Alex knows the stories behind all the paintings and is passionate about sharing them. Here are a few of my favourite paintings:
And the view of the city from the favelas was absolutely gorgeous
* Check out Favela de Mariquinha on instagram @roledamariquinha
The next highlight was our visit to the Olodum Sul which is like a centre for the kids from the favelas. They have all types activities and programmes for the kids to learn skills from dance, to music, art and general life skills. It really is a great place they even have psychologists at the school. My favourite part is how they instilling a sense of black pride in the sense they teach the kids about black history and black pride which is very important as the region they’re in Santa Catrina is a predominately white area (80% white population). Being black is a struggle worldwide so having a space like this really is amazing.
We did a mini tour of the centre, did some dancing and we did capoeira with the kids it was so much fun.
Below are images of historic black people all over the walls as well as their new podcast studio, it really is so cool how they are teaching the kids all of this.
20 November is Black Consciousness Day in Brazil.
An honourable mention to the list of highlights for me in Florianapolis was without a doubt sugarcane juice (I miss it so).
My destination selection this time around was hella random. I saw a video on YouTube about a girl taking a gap year to travel, and she did it through a group called RemoteYear. I looked them up and looked into the countries they covered and I selected the option that didn’t need a visa because it was such short notice. So I choose Brazil.
Once again I had trouble at the airport (I’ve let the universe know that I refuse to be the airport drama girl, so that was the last time.)
Anyway….. I flew from Joburg to Sao Paulo where I was scheduled to have a 2hour layover before heading to my final destination which was Florianapolis aka Floripa. It took me like 40min to get through passport control which I didn’t mind too much because I still had an hour to find my gate right? WRONG!!! Turns out I had to go to baggage claim get my luggage and recheck it in. Navigating that airport was a nightmare plus no one spoke English MODIMO. So the clock is ticking I’m running around like a headless chicken, I finally find people from the airline I’m flying with, the women tells me to check in my luggage downstairs they send me back to her (which is where my luggage is SUPPOSED to be checked in to begin with). The clock is still ticking (and my flight is boarding). I check my luggage and search for my gate at this point they’re flashing final call for my flight 😭. I reach my gate and check with the other passengers that they’re also going to Floripa which they are 😮💨, but its a different airline 😭😭😭 my boarding gate had changed and I missed my flight.
*Sidebar Google Translate has been my best friend on this trip so far.
I found an airport worker willing to help me for a tip of course, anyway we get to the LATAM (the airline I flew) information desk. They informed me that there would be no more flights to Floripa that night (it was 11pm). The next available flight would be 13h00 the next day, they gave me a taxi and hotel voucher and sent me on my way. I asked about my luggage, homey’s like ” no your luggage is still here at belt 214″ spoiler alert it wasn’t and the baggage claim lady was not interested in my drama she’s like 🤷🏾♀️. A security guard guy helped me by calling someone (I dunno who) and he’s like “Your luggage is in Floripa you’ll get it when you land”. At this point its midnight I’m tired so I leave and everything else is tomorrow’s problem.
Stay tuned for the next episode of Ofentse’s Adventures Abroad.
I’m back with another dope black girl feature for my Travel Spotlight. I started this feature to shine a light on black women who travel, I’m big on representation. And for the most part when we’re exposed to travel content creators they are flashy and promote luxury travel which makes travel as a whole seem unattainable. So with this feature I hope to do my part to show that travel is attainable. And that there is a sweet spot between slumming it and luxury travel.
And with that being said allow me to introduce the star of this edition of travel spotlight , ladies and gentlemen Malebo Fox.
Introduce yourself.
Hi there, I’m Malebo Fox, a 33-year-old adventurer who finds solace in the vibrant atmosphere of hostels. Born in Hillbrow and having lived in Soweto before settling in The Vaal. I worked as a fashion buyer until I decided to make the move to Canada. Before my relocation, I was living in the vibrant city of Cape Town. I’m an only child, which has shaped my sense of independence and curiosity. Currently, I’m pursuing a degree in public relations, a field that I’m deeply passionate about. And I’m fortunate to be married to my best friend, who shares in my love for travel and life’s adventures.
Tell us where you’ve been around the world and where you’re based now
I was born in South Africa, and I currently call Ottawa, the capital of Canada, my home. I’ve been fortunate to explore diverse corners of the world. My travels have taken me to six continents.
Africa- Mozambique, eSwatini, Lesotho
Asia- Japan, South Korea, Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia
Europe- France, Netherlands, Belgium and Greece
North America- Mexico, Usa, Cuba, Jamaica, Costa Rica, Panama and Antigua and Barbuda
South America-Brazil Oceania_ Fiii, Vanuatu and New Zealand
What was your favourite destination?
Japan hands down. I loved everything from the food to the landscape and the people.
Do you prefer using travel apps or travel agents?
Apps hands down. I will spend hours on google. I prefer making my own bookings, it’s part of the thrill.
What are your favourite travel apps?
Hostel world for accommodation and community. Airalo for digital simcards, talk 360for making international calls. And the trusted google maps to navigate.
When did the travel bug bite?
The travel bug bit me the moment I landed in Cape Town for the first time. It happened when I was in my early twenties, making me a bit of a late bloomer in the world of travel. Up until that point, I had explored my home country, South Africa, but international travel was an entirely new frontier for me. Cape Town served as a catalyst, igniting my passion for exploration and broadening my horizons.
What is your take on solo travel?
Solo travel is a remarkable experience, and I absolutely love it. It offers a unique opportunity to embark on a personal journey of self-discovery while exploring the world. One of the most appealing aspects of solo travel, for me, is the freedom it provides. You get to set the pace of your adventure, deciding when to move on or linger a little longer in a place that captures your heart. There’s no need to compromise or adjust your plans based on someone else’s preferences, which allows for a more spontaneous and flexible. Another incredible aspect of solo travel is the people you meet along the way. When you’re on your own, you become more open to connecting with fellow travelers, locals, and fellow adventurers.
Do you have any tips for people considering doing solo trips?
Opt for minimal packing, maintain flexibility in your itineraries, conduct thorough research in advance, and embrace an open-minded approach to your travels.
What do you never travel without?
My phone and power bank
Do you have a favourite travel buddy? And why?
My husband. He is my best friend, and he gets me. He always looks up restaurants ahead of time and he is always down for a good time.
What is your dream destination?
Ibiza. I dream of partying to the best house music at a beach bar while sipping on cocktails, surrounded by gorgeous people.
This year my birthday was celebrated solo in the South of France, and I think I may have found one of my favourite holiday destinations. I visited the gorgeous Nice and it felt like walking into a postcard. It was unreal, so picturesque.
No exaggeration, as we were landing you could see the bluest water ever from the aeroplane and I had a window seat. What a beautiful landing.
I don’t really do any planning activity-wise when it comes to holidays I’m more of a go with the flow type of traveler. In my defense there really isn’t any activity planning required when you’re in a beach destination right. Besides lazing around is what being on holiday is about.
My first full day was spent at one of the beach clubs along the Promenade Des Anglais. I opted for the beach club as they supplied beach beds, umbrellas and food because those pebble beaches are uncomfortable to sit or lie on all day (I’m a sand beach type of gal). I mean you obviously pay to get in but its worth it for the comfort and convenience.
A lot of walking was done on this trip, my step counter must’ve thought it had been stolen by a very active person. Listen I walked up to the top of of Castel Hill to check out the panoramic view of Nice. The walk all the way to the top was not planned the elevator was closed when I got there (it closes at 17h00 and I got there after 18h00)
I did book an activity off of AirBnB experiences though, it was a photoshoot for my birthday. Antoine the photographer was very patient with me bless his heart, because I’m hella awkward when someone else is taking my picture (I’m absolutely fine with selfies as you can tell). But yeah the shoot was also like a walking tour of Nice so it was fun. Here are some of the shots he took 😉
Nice is so beautiful and the people were really nice too, I mean the cab driver from the airport to the hotel was a leo for crying out loud, it don’t get no better.
I took this from a moving vehicle (the leo driven taxi). I repeat picture perfect!!!!!
Here are more touristy snaps:
We only had a few days in Barcelona and no real plan. The only things on my Barcelona to-do list were Moco Museum and riding the cable cars to get a view of the city. The rest of the time could be spent at the beach and would have been if it wasn’t for the rain. Which got us exploring the city more. Yeah I’m one of those “go with flow, anywhere the wind blows” type of traveler.
DAY 2:
We took a walk around the port on a cloudy day and we saw some really cool boats and enjoyed the city views. The good news is the sun came out to play half way through our exploration walk.
DAY 3
We took the scenic route to the cable cars. Our search included an uphill walk, some stairs and we braved a little drizzle but it was worth it for the views, all this is before we actually got on the cable car. Quick sidenote when we reached our destination we figured out what the guy at our hotel reception was trying to tell us : there was literally a train from the metro station right outside our hotel directly to the cable cars *insert eyeroll here*. But if we had taken that option we would have missed a bunch of photo ops and what I’m counting as exercise.
That evening we went for supper at Cremat Lounge where the staff was super friendly and the gave a list of parties to check at the gothic quarter. We ended up at a place called Jamboree where they had a hip hop open mic session downstairs and a dj whose playlist was on shuffle upstairs. Yep we danced to Ace of base and Beyonce in one night. Fun was had.
DAY 4
We finally made it to the beach on our last full day in Barcelona and boy did I soak up the sun. A lot of interesting things to be seen at Barceloneta beach:
The day ended with another touristy activity, we went to go check out the Sagrada Familia. Because we got there so late (21h00), we didn’t get to go inside but the outside is so beautiful.
Also can we take a moment to appreciate the late European sunsets in the summer, love love love them.
So I’m the type of person who takes a bunch of pictures and videos which I do nothing with, my friend has nagged me into sharing more of it so here we go. Lets call this a continuation my last post.
After a three year hiatus my passport finally left its corner of the drawer to get some sun and fresh air and I tagged along. All roads lead my passport, my friend Nomsa and me to Barcelona and Paris. We luckily escaped the cold front that hit SA and enjoyed a European summer for a little bit.
Travel has gone back to normal covid regulations-wise, just as long as you have your vaccination certificate and in Spain’s case you have to fill in a DCC form if your vaccination was done outside of Europe.
Anyway, the first leg of our trip was Barcelona, I had no real expectations of the place I just selected it because it gave me a beach and city holiday in one. Turns out I really like the place. Day one we took a walk around the neighbourhood where we were staying to get the lay of the land, then we took the bus to Barceloneta beach.
We had tickets booked to an art exhibition at Moco Museum which featured a few of my favourite artists. After the exhibit we went to dinner at a restaurant called Morelia where we scored a free dessert thanks to the friendly owner 🙂
We had so much fun here, day one definitely set the tone for the stay in Barcelona, 10/10 I highly recommend.
One thing that the lockdown travel restrictions brought about by Covid19 is we have been given the opportunity to explore our country and find some gems. We found one such gem in the Western Cape in the form of a fishing town called Paternoster 2 hours outside of Cape Town. A town made up of gorgeous beaches and white houses.
We stayed at Gonana Guest House in a sea facing room where we could walk from our bed right onto the beach. They serve breakfast and have the friendliest most helpful staff, big shoutout to Sis Thandi for taking such great care of us and all your recommendations.
For 2 overworked girls from the city this beach holiday was just what the doctor order 🙂 . There are quite a few activities offered at Paternoster but to be honest with you the beach was the only thing on our itinerary. The water is cold but you can go in, here’s a quick tip if you prefer a private beach vibe visit Paternoster during the week because we had the beach to ourselves. When the weekend comes the whole town hits the beach, which makes sense because the weather called for it, it was nice and hot.
Our guesthouse house had the best view of the sunset and on a good day you can see dolphins in the water, I caught a sneak peek of the dolphins when we checked in and on our beach buggy tour, but nothing caught on camera.
We took a beach buggy tour on Saturday morning with Deon a longtime resident of Paternoster who legit knows everyone in town.
Here is a shot of me staking out the dolphins after breakfast and a few balcony shots.
We have finally made it to the end of 2020 and so I rewarded myself with a little getaway but not too far from home I’m still quite cautious about Covid 19 and all. So I checked in to the the Cradle Boutique hotel which is about 40 minutes from Sandton. I enjoyed the fresh air, the animals (excluding the monkeys and baboons that pop up anywhere) and feeling like I was far away from home.
We went on safari in the morning, we didn’t see any predators but we saw a bunch of other animals and birds, sidenote I didn’t photograph the monkeys and baboons because those things freak me out so I just sat still and waited for the vehicle to keep moving.
I enjoyed the peace and quiet I would highly recommend the Cradle Boutique for a quick weekend away. A quick tip though the deck/balcony is the best place to chill the pool area is legit directly under the sun your feet will burn taking a few steps to get into the pool. Our balcony was my favourite place to just chill, if for nothing else but the view (we saw Zebras from our deck when we arrived). Bring a book and plenty of snacks and take it all all in.
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