Back to Sao Luis after 17 years !!!

What an overwhelming rush of emotions—I had finally returned to São Luís do Maranhão, the city where I spent two of the most intense years of my life. Every cobblestone, every melody, every familiar face carried memories that hit me like a tidal wave.

Walking those streets again was like stepping into a time capsule. I traced the same paths I once hiked daily, back when I sold crepes in the bustling city center. The air hummed with reggae rhythms drifting from open windows, and the taste of a fresh Guaraná Traditional brought back a flood of nostalgia. But nothing compared to the vibrant pulse of Bumba Meu Boi, its colors and energy so alive it felt like the city itself was breathing.

Then there was Carla—an old friend from Tambor da Crioula—who swept me back into the heart of it all. She took me under her wing, and together, we surrendered to Carnival for eight straight days. We danced until dawn at the Bumba Meu Boi de Maracanã, losing ourselves in the songs of life and the electric buzz of the crowd. Those sunrises, painted in sweat and laughter, are moments I’ll carry with me forever.

Now, as I sit here, the question lingers: Should I come back every year, even if just for a few months? This place isn’t just a city—it’s a piece of me. And leaving again feels like tearing away a part of my soul.