Jaguar cubs in Curitiba!

COUNTRY: Brazil
PROGRAM: GapBreak
PROJECT: Wildlife & Youth Centre projects
WRITTEN BY: Sim Bahia

Hello everyone! First and foremost apologies for the lack of updates! Since I last wrote I, along with Bella, Nick and Maddie.B we're still in Floripa. On our last week all together we went down to Campeche, to where Jordie, Josie and Marie are staying for a BBQ and one last slumber party.

On the Friday we all said our sad goodbyes at the Kids Centre and by early Saturday morning (unfortunately for Maddie.B and I, who had been taken out by Lari our host sister the night before...we got home only in time to grab our bags and leave to the bus terminal) we were off to Curitiba.

We were met by the lovely Rafaela at the bus terminal and were taken out for lunch. Personally my time here in the city of Curitiba (keeping in mind the animal sanctuary is 40mins out of the city itself) I have come to realise this is one of the most indie places i have ever been. Rafaela is catching on with the indie scene and recommending places for us to go!

The animal sanctuary is literally one of the most amazing places ever. On the Sunday, we were lucky enough to be taken out for a bush walk around the sanctuary by the founders, Cris and Luciano. Despite the wake ups at 6am to rain (on a couple days) our week so far has been absolutely great. We all spend time with one of the fantastic workers there, cleaning animal cages, preparing food and just general banter in the kitchen with the staff (classic because of our lack of Portuguese and their slight understanding of English). On the first day we were even allowed to play with the baby Jaguars and as a reminder of that glorious moment we have all have a few scratches, bite marks and holes in clothes....still worth it though!

On our first weekend in the city we spent a day with our new friends met through Rafaela, and spent the day at a Uni BBQ, followed by a night out in the city. The next day we were lucky enough for Rafaela to take us around to some of the famous sites here the city has a lot of European influence and is so beautiful.

Other than that our nights in our awesome house within the sanctuary have been spent just relaxing and watching movies. Nick and Bella are now designated cooks an been cooking pretty gourmet meals and Maddie.B and I clean up the many dishes we somehow manage to go through in a day.

Our time here has already gone to quickly. We only have one weekend left here, which we plan to go to Iguazu Falls. After that we sadly depart on the Thursday................to Rio De Janeiro(!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) with the rest of the Brazil gang (shout out to Maddie.T for organising everything!) for 4 nights, then once again we split up, with Nick, Bella, Maddie.B and I back to Floripa where we hope the weather is better (as I write this Nick tells me its raining outside) and Josie, Jordie, Marie and Maddie.T go to Curitiba and the animal sanctuary.

So for now I say Boa Tarde once again...hopefully I will write more often (but at the sanctuary Internet connection is limited...I will persist though!). Stay Golden!
Love Sim and the Brasil Gang xxxx