Kite-parinhas in Cumbuco

Wow. I have now survived two days of kiteboarding in Cumbuco with my Portuguese speaking Brazilian instructor Marcelo. I've got to say I was a bit hesitant at first about going with a portuguese speaking instructor, but the boys at the kite shops assured me I understood enough Portuguese that it would be ok. And it has been. Good news though, Marceloa does speak a little bit of english, like red, black, 11 o'clock and dude. so awesome. It has been such a cool way to learn Portuguese by also learning how to kite. I feel like everyone should go to a foreign country and try to learn something in another language, it is awesome. 

We started off the first day, with 2 hours in the afternoon on the beach. Marcelo showed me how to set up the kite, we talked about some of the safety aspects, which involved much rolling around in the sand, not quite so comfortable let me add, and then we finally flew the kite (at least together) on the first day. Now I'm sure you can imagine as an outside not knowing alot about kiting or a bystander on the beach must have though it was fairly hilarious, that I was wrestling around in the sand with the kite, I'm sure it looked a bit like wrestling an elephant seal, minus the wild animal, but still lots of squirming and rolling around on the ground. 

Day 2 of kiting began once again on the beach. The morning was filled mostly with me flying the kite on my own and learning how to land and launch the kite. Mid-morning the police came down because there were some kite-boarders out on the water who were jumping over people who were swimming. As you can imagine this was a safety factor, the police both on their horses and in their truck drove over to the area on the beach. Marcelo explained what was going on and why this is bad kite-boarding etiquette. We took a break for lunch before heading out to the lagoon for my first water session, a little south of Cumbuco. This lagoon was a salt water lagoon right behind the ocean. It was awesome, imagine waves breaking at a beach on one side, then look on the other side of the sand and there is a flat calm saltwater lagoon. Even though it was sheltered from the waves (read good for beginners) the wind was still strong and good for pushing the kite. (FYI There were a few really good people at the lagoon, locals and foreigners alike doing jumps and spins and other crazy things I am nowhere near trying to do). 

I liked the water stuff alot more. First thing we did was body dragging, basically practicing moving the kite and being in control of the kite as it drags you along in the water. Kiteboarding for those unfamiliar is a kite, flying overhead which moves you in a specific direction, and a board on your feet, helping to propel you through the water. No board for me today. I practiced with the kite minus the board in the water, to work on control of the kite, and then I practice some safety moves up wind. A great day all in all but I'm a touch sunburned in a few places where the sunscreen forgot to be applied. Oops : ) 

Tomorrow holds fun filled adventure at a different lagoon, which should 

be less crowded and even more beautiful. Marcelo and I are taking a dune buggy to get there so more adventures to come! The moon is also rising as I'm sitting here writing this blog, and it's big and full and orange. Nice! 

Ok so I'm off to have a few Caiparinhas and some delicious dinner in town. The big slogan in town is that Cumbuco is the place for Kite-parinhas. ha ha. It's all over the t-shirts; it secretly should be the motto of the town. I'm off to go live like a local kite-parinhas and all!