Our pousada in Cumbuco.  

 On the beach

Cumbuco is the Kite Surfing capital on the World

Jangada fishing boat are a typical sight

 Our favorite activity so far as a family has definitely been going dune buggy riding…Sawyer was convinced we were calling this "doom" buggy riding :)  

 They took us to a large dune and we have opportunities to ride a waxed board down the dune…it was so much fun!

So far this our family excursion has been very fulfilling.  We have gotten to experience multiple aspects of Brazil.  In Rio we were in lush rain forests and we all loved the solitude of our small community in Vargem Grande.  When we landed in Fortaleza we were prepared for the large amount of traffic…which was crazy!  Fortaleza is a very arid area.  We have been told they have not received large amounts of rain since 2010.  When in rains heavily it will fill the dunes with water but right now after several years without they are dry.  Also it seems that infrastructure is not as proficient in this area.  Trash is everywhere along the roads.  People are highly congested along the roads and motorcycles dart in and out not obeying any traffic laws.  Fortaleza and Cumbuco for me remind me more of what I saw in India when it comes to sanitation, traffic and infrastructure.   The beaches look pristine in our pictures, but trust me they are anything but that.  While the kids we playing we kept having to tell them not to pick up the light bulb, coke bottles, etc. that would wash up beside them.  It is certainly sad to see such a beautiful place littered with trash.  Some folks we have learned blame the population for this…saying they are uneducated and poor and this is why they litter.  Others blame the government saying that the corruption and elitism has led them to not provide adequate sanitation help to lower economic areas.  

Cumbuco is about 40 minutes outside Fortaleza.  It is small and filled with lots of Europeans who come here to kite surf.  The village center is close by our pousada and we can lay out in the hammock at night and hear the music from the local restaurants for hours.  The food and local restaurants have been delightful.  It cracks me up how much Brazilians seem to love their pizza…everywhere I turn there seems to be a pizzeria :)  And they are good too!

The kids have been good to try just about anything we have given them to eat and they like most of the stuff they have tried.  Georgia desperately wants to see a sloth but I am not sure that will happen at this point.

This afternoon we are heading to meet some of Steve's old friends he grew up with, tour a local market that resides where an old prison used to be, try to pay his military fine so he can come back into the country :), and eat at a local churrascaria.  

I'm finding it hard to not count the hours we have left…and I wish we had more time.  This has been great to experience with my family and the kids have been fabulous as they have rolled with the punches and been adventurous with us!