MUSIC FIND...

EMICIDA (Brasil)

Video Produced and Directed by Thiago DaCosta

Hostel of the Week...

MISTI CHILL HOSTEL in Paraty, Brazil, is everything backpackers need from a beach front hostel. Located right in the center of town, the Misti Chill hostel boasts a great atmosphere, cool staff, meals and bars every night, and all the amenities that backpackers rely on to have a great stay. Misti Chill is known throughout the South American backpacker world, which is why it will come as no surprise that the hostel was awarded the “Best Atmosphere” in 2009. The hostel is the ideal place to unwind. Hammocks with ocean views are the best way to spend a lazy day in Paraty. The rooms at Misti Chill hostel are all en-suite, with TV and DVD’s. There are plenty of places to stay in Paraty, but why waist your money. Whether you want to chill out or party on Paraty, Misti Chill is the place to be.

www.mistichill.com

THREE REASONS TO STAY AT MISTI CHILL HOSTEL:

1. Awarded Best Atmosphere and gets a rating of 80% or higher from hostel booking websites at all times

2. Great Vibe. Misti Chill is what you imagine a beach getaway in Brazil to be.

3. Ideal Location. The hostel is in the center of it all!

Photo of the Day...

Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. Photo by: Kelly Diego

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Photo of the Day...

Paraty, Brazil. Photo by: Barbara Da Costa

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Rio de Janiero, Brazil. Photo by: Kelly Ledger

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Destination of the Week...

For today’s Destination of the Week, I felt it was time to share one of my favorite non-secret secrets from the road. Morro do São Paulo, Brazil is one of my favorite places on earth. Known also as simply “Morro”, this former pirate haven can be found 169 miles (272km) off the coast from Salvador, Bahia. This tropical paradise has not just one perfect beach, but four distinctly different ones, from First Beach to Fourth Beach, and several around the other side of the island. Cheap prices, warm locals, great food, snorkeling, a zipline, and an island-wide party in a new location every single night, will certainly keep you busy. During the perfect days, most people relax and play beach games on Second Beach, where many of the food stands and bars can be found, but no matter which beach you’re on, you’re never more than a short walk to the others. Once the sunbathing crowds (which begin to double in December) head inside to clean up for a night out, the locals transform the soft sand; nearly every ten feet you will find a Caipirinha (a Brazilian drink made from cachaça) stand, each with an exotic fruit display trying to outdo the next. Accommodation on Morro ranges from a campsite in the main town, to luxury resorts along Fourth Beach. In my opinion, the most backpacker-friendly place to call home is the Black & White Hostel on Third Beach. You’ll be able to spot it by the black and white checkered floor out front. Regardless of where you stay, don’t bring too much luggage because the only taxis you’ll find on Morro will be wheel barrels, pushed by strong Brazilian men who make it look easy. Cars are not allowed on the island. In fact, the only motorized transportation you’ll spot will be the occasional tractor. If you don’t feel like walking, get on a horse as the locals do. Internet is also hard to come by on the island but it doesn’t matter because you won’t want to spend your time anywhere but in the warm blue water.

There is a local airstrip on the island, for small planes that leave from Salvador, but the best way to get there is by boat. Even the ferry ride to Morro is magical. The three hour cruise is a perfect way to work on your tan, count the jumping fish, and if you’re lucky, watch the dolphins doing corkscrew flips straight out of the sea! When buying your boat ticket to Morro you will be offered a discount to purchase your return ticket, but the catch is that you must return within a week. Be careful with this because even if you think a week will be enough, you may find yourself depressed that your time is up already. Many people visit Morro do São Paulo and never leave. You’ll be tempted to do the same!

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Photo of the Day...

Ilha Grande, Brazil. Photo by: Jamie Meecham

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Photo of the Day...

Cococacabana, Rio de Janeiro. Photo by: Natalie Park

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Photo of the Day...

Buzios, Brazil. Photo by:Eric Fieland

Dirty Little Secrets...

FOOD FIND

Brazilian Churros might be the most delicious things I have ever tasted. Just thinking of this warm, sweet, crunchy, gooey dessert has me drooling already. Yes, churros are originally from Spain, but countries all over the globe have come up with their own version, and believe me, you have not tasted a churro unless you have tasted a fresh one in Brazil. Churro vendors are all over the streets of Brazil with their carts, and often make churros fresh to order, lighting up the gas cooker right in front of you. The raw dough is piped through a syringe with a star shaped nozzle, turning it into a hollow, sort of stick doughnut. It is then deep fried until crispy golden brown, and rolled in cinnamon and sugar. The fried dough has a rigid texture, allowing the sugary coating to really get into the grooves and stick there until the very last bite. If that weren’t enough to entice you, the hot churro is then held upright and stuffed with, most commonly, a thick helping of dulce de leche, or sometimes chocolate. They are served in a paper wrapping and intended to be eaten immediately, while still warm. The good thing is that these chewy sticks of heaven usually cost just R$1.50, so you can enjoy as many as you want. The bad thing… these chewy sticks of heaven cost just R$1.50, so you can enjoy as many as you want! While in Brazil, I devoured so many of these, one would think that just hearing “churro” would make me sick but, quite the contrary. I crave them all of the time! Fresh off the street cart is by far the best way to experience the churro, but if you want to get an idea of what I’m talking about, try out the recipe below!

Ingredients:

1 cup water

2 Tbs brown sugar

1/2 tsp. salt

1/3 cup butter

1 cup white flour

2 eggs

1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

1/4 cup sugar

1/2 to 1 tsp. ground cinnamon, depending on taste

Directions:

Preheat 1 1/2 to 2 inches of vegetable oil in a 10 to 12 inch frying pan to 375 degrees F. In a separate dish mix the 1/4 cup sugar and cinnamon and set aside.

In a 3 qt. sauce pan add the water, brown sugar, salt, and butter and heat to a good boil. Remove from the heat and add the flour. Stirring in the flour will take some muscle. Mix it in until well blended. In a separate bowl, mix the eggs and vanilla together and then add this mixture to the flour mixture. Stir until well blended and all the egg is completely mixed in.

Fill your decorating tool with the churro recipe dough and attach the largest star tip you have.

Test your oil by placing a small amount of dough in it. The dough should bubble up right away or that means the oil is not hot enough and a soggy churro is on the way. Once the oil is hot enough, squeeze some dough (with decorator) into the oil about 4 inches long. I used my finger to release the dough from the decorator. Careful not to burn yourself.

You should be able to cook 4 or 5 churros at a time. Cook them about 1 minute and turn them over with a slotted spoon. Cook an additional minute or two. You're looking for that nice golden brown color. Remove the churros with the slotted spoon and place them on a paper towel-covered plate to absorb excess grease. While still warm, roll each churro into the dish with the sugar and cinnamon until coated.

To stuff the Churros hold one end upwright while they are still hot and with a second pastry bag or a large marinade syringe with a long narrow nozzle, inject the filler making sure the filler has a consistency that is easy to flow but still holds the shape of a drop for several seconds. Warm fillers tend to do better at that!

*Photo from farm4.static.flickr.com

*Recipe from domelt.blogspot.com

Photo of the Day...

Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. Photo by: Eric Fieland

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Hostel of the week…

POUSADA DO ATOBA is a family-owned hostel, located steps away from the lush beachside community of Santinho, on the lovely island of Florianopolis, Brazil. The hostel has comfortable, hotel-style rooms, complete with air conditioning, television, and full size bathrooms. The amenities include free Wi-Fi and Internet access, newly renovated pool, and a spacious lounge with a flat screen television. The complementary homemade breakfast is worth the price of accommodation in itself. Fresh fruit, coffee, breads, and juices surround a table with eggs, pastries, and an assortment of other delicious Brazilian foods. Additionally, POUSADA DO ATOBA has a prime location. The hostel is a short walk to beautiful Santinho Beach, where you will find yourself spending the days having fun in the sun. As night falls, the center of town is just minutes away, where you will find a lively atmosphere, with a bevy of shops and restaurants to satisfy your every need. Back at the hostel, you will find evenings a quite place where guests from all over the world are engaged in conversation. When it’s finally time to check-out, you will understand why the Ribeiro family motto for the pousada is, “Come as a guest, leave as a friend.”

THREE REASONS TO STAY AT POUSADA DO ATOBA:

1. The Ribeiro family. Enough said. Stay here and see for yourself.

2. We arrived in the early morning, before check-in, and immediately the Ribeiros made us comfortable. They offered us the complementary breakfast, even though technically we were not guests yet. At other hostels they make you wait until the following morning to receive your free breakfast.

3. We were late in checking out and the family went down to the local bus stop to hold the bus while we finished packing!

www.pousadadoatoba.com.br

Photo of the Day...

Amazonia, Brazil. Photo by: Thiago Da Costa

Dirty Hippies is pleased to have travel writer and photographer THIAGO DA COSTA as a special correspondent. Keep a look out for more of Thiago's photos, as well as an expose he did for the travel website Globorati on the seldom visited country of Greenland.

Photo of the Day...

Santa Teresa. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Photo by: Eric Fieland

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Dirty Little Secrets...

MUSIC FROM THE ROAD

O Rappa mixes samba with dub, drum and bass, and super funk. The lyrics are powerful and strong, with messages of social criticism, racial equality, and attacks against police violence. O Rappa started to gain notoriety in the working class streets of Rio de Janeiro, but soon grew to be one of Brazil's biggest acts.

We discovered O Rappa purely by accident while backpacking in Brazil. O Rappa's music became the soundtrack to our trip. We hope you enjoy. Check out the video clip below.

Photo of the Day...

Igauzu Falls, Argentina. Photo by: Eric Fieland

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Photo of the Day...

Buzios, Brazil. Photo by: Eric Fieland

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Photo of the Day...

Brazilian Graffiti. Photo by: Heather Abel

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Photo of the Day...

Iguazu Falls, Argentina. Photo by: Eric Fieland

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Photo of the Day...

Tamar Project, Praia do Forte, Brazil. Photo by: Eric Fieland

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