Bee-You-Tee-Ful Antonina

19.03.2016

I arrived at Franciele's house at about 1:30 a.m. There was a complicated security process involving cameras and a man yelling at me in Portuguese through a PA system. He eventually opened the two metal doors via some sort of robot, and I went inside. Franciele lived on the 14th floor and she wasn't home, she left the door open for me while she went to a concert. Such a nice lady! Even though she wasn't home, her small dog was. And he begged me to jump in bed with me, so I let him, and I snuggled with him all night. My alarm went off at 6 a.m. and I left Franciele, still sleeping in her bed. The bus was supposed to leave at 7 am, but it was full so I had to leave at 10. I was too chicken to go back to the super secure apartment complex, so I got some breakfast for 8 reals (some sort of mashed up beef deep fried) with a cafe com leite. I killed time looking up fancy restaurants in Antonina and downloading the maps. The bus finally left and I slept the whole way there. I was pretty sure a real gaucho was sitting beside me, cowboy hat and all. I arrived in Antonina at around noon in stifling heat. I was thirsty and hungry, but the restaurants probably weren't open yet so I went up to the old church and walked back to town along the waterfront. It's such a quiet peaceful place, even the drunks sitting under the shade singing at the top of their lungs add to the charm. I found the restaurant Cantina Casa Verde very easily, and immediately ordered the barreado. It was a little expensive and when he brought out some tasteless mush and beef stew to eat with three bananas and rice, I was quite disappointed. I wasn't disappointed with the amazing locally brewed beer, but I was shocked at what they were selling for 80 reals. When I got the bill I was surprised they had knocked 20 reals off the price. So, maybe the original price was for two people, I'm not sure. My first taste of barreado was not very impressive. I went back to the port with another German beer from the supermarket and just hung out there until it was time to go. I tried to get the bus back at 4:15, but it was sold out so I had to wait for 7:50. Not such a problem because the waterfront was so relaxing, but I missed going out with Franciele and her friends. I got back to her house at almost 11 and Pagu, the dog, was not there. The window was open but there was no dog, I had a twinge of concern... I took a shower, then Franciele showed up with her dog in tow and I was relieved he didn't jump out the window after all. We talked for a while and then went to bed. In the morning Adriel from last week invited us to his place for breakfast so we brought the dog and he made us tapioca pancakes with cheese. We sang some songs and then went for a picnic with Francieles friends in tangua park.

Breakfast, deep fried something