At the Rua das Pedras she sits watching the sea...

Dressed in everyday comfy (but as always, classy) clothes, she sits facing the sea at the port of Buzios, a little Brazilian town a lá Saint Tropez, which she had 'discovered' some years before (in the 1960s, as may be the case). A seemingly modest but proud bronze statue of Brigitte Bardot, who must have fallen in love with the place, as many others have done after her. What's not to love? Great climate, beautiful scenery, washed by the warm waves of the sea, gorgeous houses and holidays mansions of the rich... and sometimes famous.

We were lucky enough to stay at such a beautiful mansion, just five minutes walking from the beach, where we explored the shore, the water and the rocks, watching the waves crash against them, taking a million photos of ourselves and the startlingly beautiful environs on that clear-blue day. (And to think that the day before we arrived at the afore-mentioned mansion among thunderous tropical rains, and entertained ourselves with painting each other's nails... until the rain cleared that night and we could get ahead into town, to show ourselves off walking down the fancy streets of Buzios, and to take photos with Brigitte).


Just a bit further from Brigitte resides the former president of Brazil, Juscelino Kubitschek, who half a century ago had the idea of building the new capital of the country in the middle of practically nowhere - now it is called Brasilia. He sits relaxed in his chair, waving at... well, supposedly, the crowd. It was around his chair that we did our little happy dance and took pretty poses. Fernanda taught us a little song then made up by someone once to celebrate his eagerness to build Brasilia - but all I remember now is 'Jusca tá na pila...'

We walked around, taking photos with statues of animals and trying to learn the correct basic steps to dance samba, and even ran into a small but cozy street samba party... but there was more waiting in the centre, as we now got into somewhat more deserted areas. So we returned to Brigitte, who sits gazing out at the sea at the start of Rua das Pedras, now the main street in town, adorned at every corner and on both sides with countless beautiful (and unaffordable) clothes shops and restaurants. I don't know if it has something to do with the French spirit present around there, but the place we came to love and where we came to love to eat was Chez Michou, which serves mainly beer and... crépes. And has a television screen, always showing a music DVD from a famous Brazilian artist. I say always because we returned there a couple of times afterwards and they kept up the tradition, at least in my time there. This is where Fé taught me to sing 'O amor... é um calor... que aquece a alma... O amor... é um sabor... pra quem bebe sua agua'. Timeless! And those crépes and Brahmas at Chez Michou (three times over) will certainly be in my memory for many years to come, let's hope always.

Back at our new house, we settled to sleep in our beautiful beds, with dreams of a blue sky and softly crashing sea waves, which became reality the next morning. And who can forget in this story the little boy who with such soul performed 'Thriller' and 'Billie Jean' for us? Intrigued?

Stay tuned.