Curitiba, Paraná

Curitiba wasn't on my itinerary. After I spoke to some people, they all encouraged me to go check it out, it's on the way! 

I contacted Mima, a friend I made in Rio, who stayed at our place there, that lives in Curitiba. I wanted the scope on the best place to stay and things to do. Without hesitation, she welcomed me into her home!  

From the pick up, which has to be done at a specific location at the bus station, I noticed right off the bat that Curitiba really is different!

Curitiba is modern. As Seamus from São Paulo said; it doesn't feel like Brazil...

It's clean, it's organized, it's the safest place I've ever been to in the past 1.5 years and I give them the award of nicest people in Brazil. If you ask someone for directions, they practically walk you to your destination! They're super polite and friendly! 

They have "tubes" for buses.

The first day, it took me a bit to get going, but when I did I went to the Botanical Gardens, which is known for the glass greenhouse.

The park is gorgeous, clean and easy to get around.

After reading and watching couples pose for either engagement pictures or baby photos, I took a bus to downtown to check out their main pedestrian street: 15November ou Rota das Flores.

I strolled, had some juice and eventually headed home around 7pm.

Thanks to my iPhone, I got home!

I met Mima's mom and then we went to Cris' apartment 2 buildings over. We ordered pizza and a chocolate pizza! 

(Yes, I'm serious!)

We chatted and laughed and went to bed, because everyone wakes up at 6am.

Day two in Curitiba. I woke up late and began making reservations for Foz do Iguacu. Their maid made me lunch, we ate together and I left to go find Oscar Niemeyer's Eye Museum!

The museum is awesome. Once again, it had 5 awesome exposés.

The most interesting one was on Frida's collection of photos that tell her life.