Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Beach sports
are very popular. Besides soccer and volleyball,
people play
frescobol
(a kind of tennis). Some beaches also
offer paragliding and delta-wings during holidays.
Umbrellas
in
bright colors are
lent for free by
the food stalls
to their patrons.
Watersports
, such as surfing,
windsurfing, kayaking, scuba
diving, and snorkeling, are
popular through the year due
to the warm water. All
equipment can be easily
hired at the beach.
The
canga
, a
Brazilian sarong,
is worn to and
from the beach,
and also used
as a towel to
lie on.
Beach safety
is
monitored by life-
guards on buggies
during holidays
and at weekends.
Flags offer advice
on currents and
deep water. Asking
locals may be
useful if there
is no patrol.
LOCALS ON THE BEACH
Relaxed and spontaneous by nature, Brazilians
carry only the bare essentials with them to be
free to walk, swim, play, or just lie on a
canga
to tan and watch the world go by.
Beach fashion
for women
popularly
features tiny
bikinis that
ensure the
smallest tan
line. The men,
on the other
hand, can be
seen wearing
swimming
trunks under
informal
shorts.
Beach parties
, or
luaus
(moon parties), are kept
alive all night by typical Brazilian dance music
such as
forró (see p236)
or
axé
. Electronic music
and live concerts are also played at these parties.
