This morning I chose to have breakfast somewhere different. My decision was Lagoinha da ponta das canas, the northernmost beach in the island. It is a nice location with 760 metres extension, reasonable wide and fine sand strip, calm sea and a nearby lagoon (the reason of its name ).
During summer the beach is popular with tourists, fact proven by the number of hotels and pousadas in the area. The number of seafront constructions has increased rapidly but at least it seems that the height restriction law is avoiding buildings.
Walking with my wife along the beach I found very few people although the weather was good and warm. Reaching the end, further in the rocks, I found a great place to set our picnic and enjoy the beautiful view. Drinking coffe, listening to the waves striking the rocks, is certainly a good way to start the day. Indeed simple things can make you happy.

Gravatá headland, on the right side of Praia Mole, is in danger. Also known as the dragon’s head, it is a protect area where you find a beautiful small beach, archeological sites and also a good takeoff for paragliding. It came to my atention through the website SOS gravata that the place is under threat due to real state speculation. There are plans to build in the area, maybe a resort, destroying what is one of the most beautiful parts in the island.
The trail, commonly used by fisherman and hikers, over the last years has been paved in the entrance as an attempt to make it a public road.
The SOS Gravatá moviment is organizing an event in Praia Mole this Sunday to call attention to the problem. Surf contest, musical concert and ecological hiking are some highlights of it.
I have enjoyed Gravatá for some time, either flying over or hiking to the rocks. It is a magical place that transmits a good feeling. It makes me sad that the greed of man want to take bulldozers to destroy it.
What is going on with those real state people ? It is not a matter of being materialist but looking at the planet conditions and reflect that we are putting fire on our own house.
My message on this post is to save not only the Gravatá but all places that are in danger in Santa Catarina island. Corruption is taking our right to enjoy public spaces.

This weekend the weather has been quite unusual: Cold mornings and hot afternoons. Friday the temperature reached 29º C | 84º F , the hottest aftenoon of this season, and today the thermometers apparently had the same measuring.
Of course, many people went to the beaches to enjoy this hot winter day. Some even entered the sea that wasn’t too cold.
I didn’t hesitate and went for a beach walk up to Praia do Forte, stoping at one of the local restaurants. I took a table in the sand and spent this lovely afternoon sipping a cold beer, and also having some seafood snacks.
What could explain such conditions is the presence of a dry air mass parked over the region that blocks any attempt of cold fronts from entering. But surely we could guess that it could be a global warming side effect. We enjoy without thinking that maybe winter will never be the same.

Nature hiking during winter has advantages compared to summer time. The most obvious one is the low temperature that makes easy long and steep walks. The downside is that you might not be able to enter the cold sea, unless you are a surfer wearing a thick wetsuit.

I took this beautiful Sunday to go walking with my wife and her family in one of the nicest trails, Matadeiro beach to Lagoinha do leste and then crossing the hill to Pântano do Sul, a hike of aproximately 7 km long.

Today was quite warm and there was a moderate northern wind. The first part from Matadeiro to Lagoinha do Leste beach took 2 hours. On the beach there were very few people and after a short rest we went for the second part to Pântano do Sul, a steep climb followed by a sheer descent which took about 1 hour. At the end I was a bit tired but with a feeling of accomplishment.

Very close to the trail entrance, in a large area in Pântano do Sul, I saw a large condominium being built. Few years ago and I feared that it would be occupied by real state speculators. It is happening not only here but all over flat land that is possible to build. Condominiums take citizens space creating islands of isolation. If we consider the pace of real state, soon the protected areas on the hills will be ocuppied just like favelas in Rio. Money rule their lifes, nothing else.

Winter begins today, 21st June, Saturday. It’s winter solstice, the shortest day of the year on the southern hemisphere and the longest on the other part. I have also lived in the Northern hemiphere and experienced the local solstice. When I pay attention to the sky, I see the low angles the sun makes with earth, and try to image my position in the globle.
Some local archeologists have a teory that many stones found in archealogical sites in the island were placed by ancient people to allow astronomical verification including summer and winter solstice.

This year the cold season started anouncing a cold forecast, considering the last week events, when temperatures suddenly dropped close to 0 C on Monday and in the mountain region, towns like Urubici and São Joaquim had -5 oC. But at least this weekend the weather is good and the sun is warm enough to allow outdoor activities.