A "radical" weekend...

Preface: This weekend I traveled to Brotas for a weekend of adventure sports. Unfortunately, I didn't consider that the sports require guidance and safety precautions that would be spoken in Portuguese. I guess that made it all the more adventure.




Rafting

I have always wanted to go white water rafting. When I was younger I remember convincing my sister and her boyfriend at the time (now husband) to drive my friend Sarah and I to White Water Willies. After a four hour ride to Delaware, we learned that in reality White Water Willies did not have white water rafting. So, we took it upon ourselves to carry the raft to the top of a waterfall and create our own white water adventure.

When I saw the option to go rafting in Brotas, I jumped at the opportunity. Although the rafting was not as exhilerating as I would have liked there was a small moment when I thought I had lost my life. Let me explain. Halfway through the rafting adventure, there came a point where everyone stepped out of the raft. Confused, Rachel and I stared as the instructor stated some instructions. He explained that we would be going down a natural rock water slide. One by one the people in my raft lied in the water, arms spread and legs crossed. And one by one they gently glided away with the current. Until it was my turn. I took my place in the water, positioned as shown, held my breath and was off with the current. At first the ride was slow, but just as I was about to take in some air, my body was tossed under water and pushed ahead. I gasped for air as I was plummeted forward. My first ever underwater waterslide experience. And hopefully my last...

The remainder of the rafting trip consisted of the instructor yelling things such as "pare" (stop), "piso" (get down and hold on) and "frente" (forward). After completing each waterfall our team would put our oars together and yell a chant that to me sounded something like "blah blah blah blah blah BROTASSSS!" but I later learned was "Nos capota mas nao breca," meaning we roll, but we don't stop.

Canyoning

I have been at the top of the waterfall looking down. I have been surrounded by waterfalls on all four sides. I have been able to observe waterfalls from afar. I have been swimming underneath waterfalls, and jumping off of waterfalls. And after this weekend I have even canyoned right alongside a waterfall. Canyoning is the sport of propelling yourself down a waterfall, with a rope tied to both the top and the bottom. The sport in itself could be dangerous if you were to go at it alone, but with support in every direction I wasn't too afraid. On the way down it was amazing to pause and look at the beautiful rainbow just inches from my head.

Tirolesa (Zip-lining)

Not much to describe here. Imagine flying high above the trees of the forest attached by just a harness to a tight rope. And then imagine walking through the jungle to a secluded waterfall with butterflies soaring around your head.

Our last day was spent exploring Brotas and hanging out with teenage boys and jumping over waterfalls. It was amusing to see the shocked expressions on the young Brazilians' faces upon seeing two blonde haired white girls join them on the top of the waterfall cliff.