João Pessoa was a miserable-looking town. The traffic was horrendous and the roads^117
narrow, and I feared for Amanda as she nervously dodged trucks and busses. Biking
into a busy city in peak hour traffic can be unnerving. Nevertheless, there was little
one could do but push on until reaching the centre or accommodation. Finding a bike
shop was a priority, and that was exactly what we did. Unfortunately, the first place
we inquired turned out to be a house of ill-repute and the second full. The third one
was out of our budget, but we took it anyway.
Once settled in, I trundled to the supermercado as Amanda was fed up with the whole
affair. Not wanting to walk, cycle or talk, she flopped onto the bed and I didn’t hear a
word from her the entire evening.
On closer inspection, João Pessoa wasn’t all bad. Known for its baroque and art
nouveau architecture, a few beautiful old buildings were scattered around.
João Pessoa – Cabo Branco Beach - 9 km
After discussing our situation, we concluded that we had to take a break. A short
amble led to the beach, where the plan was to stay the following two days. My sister
needed a break, and luckily we found a lovely guesthouse to do that.
Brazil’s beach volleyball circuit is a big affair, and they arrived in town at the same
time as us. Large trucks brought scaffolding, and stands and courts were erected in
record time. Food traders lined the streets, and the music was going ten to a dozen.
We got caught up in all the festivities and loved it. People didn’t only cheer on their
favourite players but danced to the music, flew kites and enjoyed the beach—just one
more brilliant day in Brazil. Our stay was enjoyable and it was great to stroll along the
coast or relax at our abode, watching the action.