Sin Titulo.

Im really running out of names for my blogs, so excuse this one.
Im writing from Curitiba, in the Brazilian state of Parana. Im here at this Internet place near a street called Rua 24 Horas, the name of which insinuates that everything on the street is open 24 hours, but its been dead around here. What do you get for a Monday, right?
Enjoyed a weekend in Florianopolis, on the island side of the city called Ilha da Santa Catarina (Jeff, jealous?), where all the Brazilians go for holiday. It is a beautiful place, with dozens of beaches all around the perimeter of the island, with sections dedicated to colorful fisherman villages and restaurants and tons of apartomentos and houses to rent. The water is the Atlantic, which means its still somewhat cold, but it is perfect for snorkeling in some places. At the south end, they hold country surfer competitions since the waves are so good, kind of like the Huntington Beach of Brazil. I was feeling a bit hesitant when I took the bus here from Foz da Iguacu because I didn~t see any backpackers on the same bus, which meant that I had no one to which to pose the question of renting a house with for the weekend. So I got to the bus station, was told some bullshit by one of the ladies trying to rent me an apartment on the busy side of this vacation beach town, and realized I was in the wrong tourist office. I ran into a couple from the UK in the office as well, who I had originally thought were Brazilians, and we headed to a backpacker hostel in the area of the island we wanted to be nearby. What a joke. The place was the filthiest place I~ve ever set foot in. They found a dead rat on one of the beds the previous day. I would have been sharing a room of 12 beds with all surfer dudes. Next. The couple, Aisha and Reese, and I eventually found a house (!) for way less than what it would have cost us to stay at the hostel... only $25 a night for a 2 bedroom. Score. I spent the day trying to catch rays inbetween the clouds, eating fish and beans with toasted manioc flour called farofa, walking around the area we were staying in, Barra da Lagoa, and generally doing nada. OK, yea, I checked out the Brazilian girls too... you can~t help it. They~re gorgeous. Really nice bodies, no cellulite whatsoever. Makes me want to put the brakes on the daily cake and candy intake. I will try.
The next day it was more of the same, except we headed to Praia Mole, one of the surfer beaches. Still too crowded for my preference but the sand was powder. Ended the day on a high note -- ice cream buffet while cars passing by honked in celebration of the Sao Paulo soccer team win. I am loving the land of buffets and am quickly finding out that there are buffets here for everything, from shrimp to ice cream.
Ive got a little bit of a medical problem. A mosquito bit me on my leg the first night in Florianopolis and its gotten infected already. I woke up this morning to an image of Mary on my leg, and Mary was crying and crying and crying with clear pus. The pharmacist put me on antibiotics so that I don~t get a staph infection, but since Im going into the jungle in a few days and plan to do a bunch of activities, Im worried it will get even more infected, which means I have to wait till it heals up somewhat. And with the limited time I have, this sucks! Agh. So frustrating. I am not having luck with the mosquitoes here, they love me...
Tomorrow, we are taking the train ride from here to Paranagua, supposedly the most beautiful scenery in Brazil. Then I will be on an island called Ilha do Mel, listening to reggae and not missing the sound of cars...