Hola! Any insights on visiting Curitiba, Porto Alegre, Florianopolis, Londrina, Caxias do Sul, Joinville, and surrounding other cities and towns would be much appreciated. Were these destinations worthwhile? Why/why not? Your greatest likes/dislikes? The best must see/do things? Places to stay on a budget? Thanks!
1
anonymous
Er, that would be Ola wouldnt it? Anyway...
I was in Curitiba not long ago. It is interesting, in an academic sort of way, mostly along the lines of "am I still in Brazil?".... 'Yes Jim, but not as we know it'. It's all those things that people say it is, safe, clean well organised etc etc. Unless your interests run to urban planning or transport infrastructure it doesn't have a great deal going for it. There is however an excellent little museum in honour of the FEB, the Brazilian Expeditionary Force in WW2. If you are intersted in that sort of thing it's worth a visit. Luckily for me I am, my father in law served in Italy. Apart from that the vaguely famous Rua 24 hours is mostly empty and Rua das Flores is a pedestrian mall, seen one you've seen 'em all. Other highlights include the bizarre little park with the rather sad little zoo that seems also to be the haunt of the world's oldest prostitutes. Maybe where they go to semi retire. Night life on the whole was dull. I understand the train trip to Paraguana is amazing and I regret not going but then again the weather was so bad crossing the hills, I wouldn't have seen much anyway.
You can find a range of cheap accomodation by searching the Hoteis em Curitiba website, they have great discounts for online bookings.
Joinville, actually beat out Goiania as my least favourite place in Brazil and I must say that took some doing. The weather was shitty the day I went but really there is bugger all to see or do. Giggle at how silly the Tannenhof hotel looks, 10 storeys of Disneyland mock -Bavarian, nazi kitsch. Marvel out how remarkably drab looking the locals are or just gaze dumbstruck at the Catedral, certainly the ugliest public building I have seen in Brazil, part Nissan hut, part public toilet all in ferro concrete and squished between a pedestrian walkway and some other rather drab structures. I suspect if you want a more Disney representation of German influence there's always Blumeneau.
Still all in all I appreciated the trip, it made me Salvador so much more for al it's little faults and failings. If you are familar with other parts of Brazil, then you might find it an interesting contrast.
Pro tip
Lonely Planet
trusted partner
trusted partner