Back to Braziuuu !!!

Return to Brazil

After seventeen long years, I finally stepped back onto Brazilian soil. My stomach had been in knots the whole flight—would they slap me with a $300 fine for leaving the country as an undocumented immigrant all those years ago? But when I reached customs, the officer barely glanced at my passport before waving me through. Just another gringo arriving for the first time. I nearly laughed out loud with relief. My wallet, already stretched thin from travel expenses, silently thanked the universe.

A Warm Welcome

The moment I stepped outside the airport, Brazil wrapped me in its familiar embrace. The air hummed with laughter, chatter, and the easy rhythm of life. Brazilians moved with a warmth and ease I’d almost forgotten—no rushed shoulders, no tense glances. Even in Foz do Iguaçu, a city teeming with tourists, the vibe was unmistakably Brazilian. Bossa nova melodies drifted from mall speakers, softening the edges of the day. It was like slipping into a favorite old song, one that still knew all the right notes.

Surprises in the South

I hadn’t expected the south to feel so… modern. The architecture, the streets, even the way people dressed—it all carried a faint European elegance, a stark contrast to the rawer, wilder north I remembered. It was a Brazil I hadn’t fully known before, one that balanced tradition with a quiet sophistication.

The Price of Comfort

But the real gift? The prices. After months in Argentina, where a simple meal cost a small fortune and fresh produce felt like a luxury reserved for the wealthy, Brazil was a revelation. Here, I could sit at a café and order a proper meal without wincing at the bill. No more surviving on sad, greasy sandwiches. For the first time in ages, I bit into a ripe mango from a street vendor and grinned. This was the Latin America I’d missed—alive, vibrant, and mercifully kind to my wallet.