After two days of inclement weather we finally saw the sun. I was fed up of being indoors and took off and spent a day on the road.

I drove to Matinhos where my cousins live, had a coffee and a chat with them and then went to Guaratuba.

Guaratuba is a city in the state of Paraná some 40 km south of Pontal do Sul where my family live. Founded in 1765 by order of the then king of Portugal D. José I, it is considered to be one of the most beautiful beaches of Paraná.

The Guaratuba name means "many guarás". This name was given by the natives who inhabited this region when Brazil was discovered by the Portuguese in 1500. Guará is the name of a bird of red plumage that existed in abundance in this area and even though protected by the authorities, they became extinct. Tuba means extreme amount in the indian language.

It was a beautiful day and I spent the time “pretending” to be a tourist without the shopping component – Filomena was doing that for me in São Paulo.

Guaratuba Promenade

Statue of Jesus watching over the bay