Morretes

More artesanal popsicles and historical towns, crazy trees and pretty bridges abound.

Reuniting in Curitiba Once Again

Reuniting once again with my Japaneze Brazilian sister in Curitiba at her amazing real-life tree house and eating artesanal popsicles at Paleteria. Along with treks to nearby cities such as Antonina with mountainous views along the way. In Antonina, we ate regional food--fish dishes and the locally famous barreado. Similar to pulled pork, it comes in a ceramic pot and is served with farinha de mandioca and rice and is eaten along with a banana.

Manifestação Parte II - Londrina

The third in a series of protests in Londrina and the second one I was able to attend. More than 20,000 people flooded the streets in support.

Manifestação - Londrina

The first of a series of protests in Londrina in solidarity with the protests happening in the rest of Brazil. While these protests sparked because of the recent attempt to raise bus fares in the city of São Paulo, one of the biggest issues during these protests is the amount of money being spent on the soccer stadiums for the 2014 World Cup while public health and education remains in deplorable conditions. That being said, I obviously support the Brazilian people in their fight.

Marcha das Vadias Londrina

"Who did machismo kill today?"

"We want the right to dress how we want, choose the hour in which to go out, to desire and love who we want"

"My body is a party but only those are invited can enter"

"Free"

"An intelligent man is a feminist man!"

"I love who I want"

Londrinenses and other local supporters coming together for a peaceful protest for the rights of those subjugated by socially inscribed norms that favor machismo and other alienating practices. This protest left me speechless by the amount of emotion and passionate support by the participants. After marching through the city the protest ended up at the Concha Acústica where participants shared their stories of abuse, judgment, mistreatment, etc., men and women alike. One of the most powerful performances came from a man begging for the crowd's forgiveness after coming to the realization of his past ignorance as an abusive significant other along with a young woman speaking out on the abuse she experienced by her apartment building doorman at just eight years old. While many may not agree with the idea behind the march, which originated in Canada, there is much to be said about the organization of this particular march and the emotion exuded by its participants.