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StoriesTravel

A Night in Brazil

written by Brenna Holeman June 21, 2013

Night in Brazil

Ilha Grande, Brazil

I’d replay the evening if I could. It was one of those muggy nights in South America, when the stars hung low and the moon cast its magic across the boats in the bay. The kind of night when you can wear a bathing suit and a sarong to the bar, when your hair smells like salt and your skin still radiates with the day’s heat. You feel beautiful and young on those nights, you smile easily.

Dinner was with a group of travellers from the around the world – some starting a long journey, some coming to the end of one. I was one of the latter, ending an adventure that had seen me from Belize to Brazil by bus and boat. I still had ten days left, a holiday unto itself, but in the eyes of a seasoned traveller, I was in the home stretch. My bag was full of sand and souvenirs, my heart laden with nine months of memories – I wasn’t ready to leave.

We laughed and shared travel notes over a mundane meal of rice and chicken, cold cans of Brahma perspiring on the table. We were a vision of blonde: two German girls, an Australian man, a Swedish woman, and me, Canadian. A group of suntanned tourists wanting the most out of our island experience, the Brazilian pulse already drumming in our veins and in our feet.

We broke off one by one, set to meet other friends as night fell, spreading out across the beach to different parties and bars. I had agreed to meet a group that I met in Rio at the other end of the bay, so I set off, away from the small cluster of restaurants and hotels that could be called a town. I wasn’t wearing shoes, and my sarong dragged through the water as I walked; my way was lit by beach bonfires and that effulgent moon.

When I finally got to the bar, a wooden patio stretching over the ocean, most of my friends had already gone to bed, exhausted from a day in the sun and the water. A few stayed, though, and we drank more cheap beer as the music thudded behind us, a mix of local favourites and international hits. And then there were two, just me and another traveller. We were already drunk and talking too quickly, surrounded by dancing waves and dancing backpackers and an air heavy with impulse and freedom. I watched him talk, his accent so different but his stories so similar.

We talked through the night, eventually walking back down the beach to a bar filled with Brazilian people. I chattered away in Spanish, a mutual language, with the kind of confidence only inebriation can bring; we drank strong caipirinhas while the teenagers set off fireworks in the alley. We swayed down the beach again, our steps matching the boats, our hands locked. I could have fallen in love with him, then, or maybe I did – for just a moment, in that time and that place, I did. But then, that night, I could have fallen in love with anyone.

Just before sunrise we took off all our clothes and went in the sea, our bodies trying to find each other in the movement of the waves. We kissed and laughed, and watched the sun rise, the sky turning silver and pink and blue. I could have stayed there forever, I was so happy in this foreign land, in this foreign experience.

And then, the night was over, the spell broken. But I can still let my mind go back to that time, when my heart was ready to explode, when my tongue tasted of beer and brine and him.

BeachesBrazilSouth America
17 comments
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Brenna Holeman

Brenna Holeman has travelled to over 100 countries in the past 15 years, many of them solo. She's a big fan of whisky and window seats.

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17 comments

Briana C. June 21, 2013 - 9:32 am

That was absolutely gorgeous Brenna! Your writing is absolutely lovely! You have such a way of conveying emotion in the most beautiful, poignant ways.
Briana

Reply
This Battered Suitcase June 22, 2013 - 5:44 am

Thank you, Briana! That’s so nice of you to say.

Reply
Adrienne June 21, 2013 - 5:47 pm

That first paragraph was so true to life. Love that feeling! great post

Reply
This Battered Suitcase June 22, 2013 - 5:44 am

I miss that feeling!!

Reply
traslacionestacionaria June 22, 2013 - 12:01 am

Hi Brenna!

I had to comment on this post. First off, the setting is Ilha Grande, where I spent a whole month, what an amazing island! I guess we have that in common, right? Unconditional adoration for islands (Utila, anyone?).

I don’t need to point out the prose on this one is particularly enchanting – it feels so real, so I’m sure it happened.

Is your Spanish actually good now? If so, I’ll insist on you reading my long narration of a 3 day walk about the island (https://traslacionestacionaria.wordpress.com/2013/05/08/el-secreto-de-ilha-grande-parte-i/).

Anyways, great post Brenna!

Greetings from Portland, for now.

Nico

Reply
This Battered Suitcase June 22, 2013 - 5:45 am

Hey Nico! Good to hear from you! I’ve been thinking about Utila a lot as I want to go back and do my divemaster. I miss it there, just as I miss Ilha Grande! I didn’t know you spent a whole month there…

My Spanish is still beginner level, but my reading is better than my speaking, so I will go to the post right now! Keep in touch xo

Reply
liveletlive June 22, 2013 - 11:34 pm

that was so beautiful…

thank you for sharing!

Reply
This Battered Suitcase June 23, 2013 - 7:43 am

Thank you!

Reply
Katie @ Domestiphobia.net June 23, 2013 - 1:53 pm

Yes! Your blog is dotted with these narratives. They’re my favorite and the absolute best. This is the kind of travel writing I love. Just beautiful, Brenna. 🙂

Reply
This Battered Suitcase June 23, 2013 - 11:00 pm

Aw, thanks Katie! I’m trying to create more narratives and spend more time, you know, WRITING. I’m glad that you enjoy them.

Reply
kay July 2, 2013 - 9:50 am

Felt like i was reading a page from a book that’s hard to put down.Seriously,you can write a book. This was another great post!:-)

Reply
This Battered Suitcase July 2, 2013 - 10:18 pm

Aw, thank you! I’m glad you liked the story.

Reply
kay July 2, 2013 - 9:51 am

This comment has been removed by the author.

Reply
Cara-Mia July 2, 2013 - 10:33 pm

Love this post. Your writing is beautiful. You so need to write a book some day. 🙂

Reply
This Battered Suitcase July 4, 2013 - 5:49 pm

Aw, thank you! I’m so glad you like my writing.

Reply
Finding Footing in Paraty - This Battered Suitcase February 28, 2014 - 5:23 pm

[…] journey out to Trinidade for some time on the beach. The day after that I’d be on a boat to Ilha Grande. Today, then, was for taking photos of the colourful streets of this […]

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The Benefits of Travelling While Single - This Battered Suitcase September 24, 2015 - 12:34 am

[…] met (mostly) extremely kind, interesting, and inspiring people to share a week or two with, or even just a fun night of making out, or even just a few moments that made my heart skip a beat. Just remember, if you decide to sleep […]

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About Me

About Me

Hi, I'm Brenna

My name is Brenna Holeman and I drink a lot of whisky. No, wait. That’s not how I want to start. After travelling to more than 100 countries over the past 15 years, many of them solo, I tend to write about travel a lot, but I write about other things, too: getting dumped, buying way too much jewellery, and yeah, OK, whisky (none of those things are related, I swear). You’ll find a mix of advice, opinion pieces, and stories on this blog, but either way, I hope to make you want to read more. And up next? I'm about to become a single mom to a beautiful baby boy, the biggest solo adventure I've ever been on. For more about me and what you'll find on This Battered Suitcase, click here .

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INSPIRATION

Our battered suitcases were piled on the sidewalk again; we had longer ways to go. But no matter, the road is life." - Jack Kerouac

About Brenna

This Battered Suitcase is not only about the where and the how of travel, it's about the who and the why.

Originally from Canada, all I've ever wanted to do is travel. After eleven years of solo travel and over 90 countries, I'm currently living in London and fulfilling my other dream of becoming a writer. If I'm not travelling, I'm writing about it, either for my blog, my job, or my book. I firmly believe there is adventure everywhere, so long as you keep your eyes (and your mind, and your heart) open. Join me as I continue to look for these adventures. Hopefully you'll find your own, too.

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Last stops: Manitoba, Canada

Currently: Manitoba, Canada

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"Our battered suitcases were piled on the sidewalk again; we had longer ways to go. But no matter, the road is life." - Jack Kerouac

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