First Lodging and Night in Curitiba

FuFu Life in Curitiba - Brazil
23rd July 2010 | Part Three

** You may want to read Part One and Part Two **

You guys must have been curious and wondering why i would know my host, Oldy. Well, it's a long story actually but i will keep it short here. Before i flew to Curitiba, Erla, my coursemate told me about Couchsurfing.com, an international social-networking platform for a free couch (literally free lodging). And i sent numerous of request to the hosts living in Curitiba. Luckily i got several positive feedback. After a quick selection according to the descriptions of the condition of the houses, and comments left to the hosts, i selected Oldy who is currently living in the heart of the city centre.

Oldy, 37 years old, a parttime lecturer of Physiology, is one kind, friendly and easy going person! I actually, was awed by his adventures at first. Also enjoyed reading his adventures with his bike, his friends and brother, Fabio. He loves travelling, just like FuFu but with his own unique way. Being an active cyclist and with his passion, he successfully did all his travels by his mountain bike, from Central America to Latin America.

After couples of private messages via Couchsurfing.com, i finally decided to stay with him. And he allowed me to stay at his apartment until i had found a nice room here in Curitiba. As time passed, finally i landed Curitiba safely. I called him and informed him when roughly i would hop on the airport shuttle bus heading to city centre once i had purchased a public phone card, BRA$8 (RM14.70 = US$4.70) as what he told me to do in the message. I got off in front of Biblioteca Pública (Public Library). There, i saw Oldy walking to my direction with a smile on his face.

Probably i was carrying my 20kg luggage, the several minutes of journey to the apartment from the point where we hugged was a nightmare, though Oldy carried my backpack bag. What a great relief i sighed once i had arrived the apartment. Only from that moment, i felt like i was in Latin America, finally! It was nearly 1pm, so we decided to have a buffet-styled lunch at Lotus Restaurante (a Chinese restaurant).

I found out later that buffet lunch is quite popular among the local here in Curitiba as there's plenty of this kind (be it Italian, Chinese, Mexican or Brazilian) of restaurants around the city. I expected to have Brazilian food but my host like Chinese food and we were very hungry so ended up eating a lot of dumplings.

Oldy was showing me around the city centre after we had paid BRA$7.50 (RM13.80 = US$4.40) each. Well actually, it was his treat. It was supposed to rain according to the forecast i had check the day before. Fortunately, it only started raining after Fabio, Oldy's brother had come back at around 8pm. Then, Oldy called his girlfriend and others over for a simple welcoming with me. After some chatting accompanied with glass of wine and beer each, i headed to the reading room and called it a long journey to Brazil from Germany.

p.s. : I kept my camera aside with other belongings, so the pictures below are all taken the day after. Due to the privacy reason, i won't upload the pictures of the rooms here. Both my host and his brother are camera shy, and i only stayed with them for a week, i would definitely take few pictures with them before i leave Brazil!


Home sweet home.


After this staircase, everything would be fine!


Lovely neighbourhood FuFu was staying, taken from the balcony.


Simply like the colourful buildings and well-tender pots of flowers.


Small but a neat kitchen.






The living room is also very spacious.


Oh mg god! This caught FuFu's attention once he entered the house.


What a comfy living room ever.


First FuFu thought he would be sleeping on that couch.


This pink building is a souvenir shop. Very expensive.


Seen from the left side of the balcony.


The right side. With no car parking. Very quiet after 8pm.