Day 74: Curitiba, Brazil

In a city that trades recycling for fresh garden vegetables, it`s difficult to see where exactly those vegetables go. Restaurant fare is mostly fried foods and vegetable markets are few and far between to the eyes of a newcomer unfamiliar with the secrets of the city. Despite its progressive recycling programs and current and green initiatives, Curitiba isn`t exactly the greatest place for fresh, healthy food. After having come in from a long night bus through Sao Paulo, we were ready for a nice big meal, hopefully void of pastels (fried pastries with cheese or meat inside) or cheeseburgers. It took a while but we found something meeting our requirements.

Lindsey and the meat-cake-pizza-things

Tasty but heavy. We`re not even sure what ethnicity this food hails from with its cartoon of a man in a robe and headress of some sort with a cartoon camel.

Curitiba is one of the most diverse, progressive cities in Brazil with a complex metro bus and separate public bus system, both having free range of special center lanes splitting regular citizen traffic on either side; its upcoming subway project to help reduce traffic congestion; the suburban trade recyclables for fresh vegetables program; and plenty of beautiful free city parks, one even with a zoo!

Peacock at the Curitiba public zoo

And of course, let`s not forget the most exquisite gourmet ice cream shop on the planet! Inside the major shopping mall where the old train station was, there lies a place so wonderful we both forgot to take a picture, having been so thoroughly engrossed in the whole experience of eating their ice cream. There were 15-20 flavors ranging from Blueberry to Chocolate Turtle to Bailey`s Irish Cream to Vanilla with Nutella…too many magnificent creations to name. What splendid genius created such splendid flavors?! Of course, such excess comes with a price, an outrageous $3.60 for a small cone (seriously, that`s expensive here). We savored each bite knowing we wouldn`t be able to treat ourselves to such luxury in this place again.