Buzios is a little spot with a big reputation. It is the least Brazilian part of Brazil, they say, mostly because everyone who lives there is well off. Supposedly it was made famous by Brigitte Bardot and her Brazilian boyfriend at the time, and indeed you can find a statue of the leggy bombshell on a bench by the water. Now Buzios hails tourists from all over the world, especially ol’ Argentina. There are lots of tiny beaches with clear water and boats with pastel paint chipping off the sides. The streets are all macadamized and cobbled, and shrubbery finds it way into small crevices. The center is accessible by a white van for 2 reais, and is full of pretty boutiques and posh restaurants.
A lot of people take excursions to surrounding towns, and I dished out R$60 to do the same. (If you get a good one, it will include free caipirinhas all day long.) Arraial do Cabo was recommended to me by the most reliable source, a drunken Argentine girl, and indeed the beaches have sand so white it looks like snow. Cabo Frio was the second stop on the tour, and it seemed more real than Buzios. They have an entire shopping center full of bikinis, if that means anything to you.
Yes, a nice change of scenery for a few days.
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