On Sunday, Nina invited us to, ‘Zimbauê Celebration & Trançando Idéias’. Uh huh. Yeah. Again, no idea what to expect. So when her and her friend Jane picked us up outside of our condo I asked, ‘where are we going?’, to which she responded, ‘the party, of course!’ How’s that for clarification! Forty five minutes later we rolled down on something magnificent. There was the intoxicating aroma of homemade Feijoada in the air, and people were dancing, playing cards, singing, laughing, eating… there was beer flowing and little kids running around cutting up… I’d say it was like a family reunion, but no body was flippin’ over the spades table. Although pretty much no one in the bunch spoke English (save for Nina) we immediately felt welcomed. We were not guests, we were family, no side eyes from anyone, just lots of hugs and love from everyone. Check out the view–
Cool pic, that’s Jane in the foreground and me in the backseat taking in the views of the neighborhood
I also concluded that just like Black folk in the States, they need no reason to party… it was clear that it was going down, anniversary or not!
MONDAY, May 21
time to revisit the wash & go, adopting their model of ‘
simplistic beauty’. With the humidity rising and our frequent beach
visits, it was a good idea in theory but the thought of the tangles,
knots and dry ends had me sweating bullets. I hopped in the shower,
rinsed, applied Redken’s Smooth Down Butter Treat, rinsed again and then,
while still in the shower I applied AG Fastfood in a raking motion,
gathering clumps of hair between my fingers to encourage a curl pattern.
I got out of the shower, blotted my ends with a scarf, got dressed and
rolled out. We headed straight for the beach and I was rocking a full
on ‘ramen noodle’. I hate the feeling of wet hair on my neck and dripping
down my shoulders about as much as I hate soggy socks, but I embraced
the feeling and resisted the urge to fluff or manipulate the curls as
they dried. Once my hair was 80% dry and shrinking, I fluffed a bit to
rid myself of the soulglo situation and was pleasantly surprised at the
results. It only got cuter as the day went on and I think I may even
get second day hair!
of them spoke English and we only know 4 Portuguese phrases between
the 3 of us, so it was cool how we connected and had a full conversation
for like an hour!
the end of the meal, the waiter brought out the desert.
My response?
A
hearty, ‘gracias!’
He did a double take, laughed and said, ‘that’s
Spanish not Portuguese dear! Maybe after one more Caipirinha she’ll be
speaking Russian!’ #ShitsReal
Wondering who that handsome couple is? Why that’s Hubby’s good friend and Kappa brother Brandon and his gorgeous wife Tammy. #YoGotDamn #Nupes
So I was thinking… when you travel to a new land, you have to make a friend to truly
experience the culture. Otherwise you’ll never get past the barriers,
and be trapped in tourist purgatory. We made a friend in Greece (our
host, that we still FB frequently!) and I’m proud to say we now have
friends in Brazil. They welcomed us with open arms and I truly feel
blessed for the experience.
YES @ LaShelle, they'll take you there quick!
thanks everyone for your comments and participation! Love y'all!!!xx
Just left Maputo, Mozambique 2 days ago. Saying thank you in Portuguese is too complicated! I had some Caipirinhas as well. Those drinks were nice; they will take you there! Glad you're having fun!
OMG! This was beautiful! Thanks Nikki!
OMG! This was beautiful! Thanks Nikki!
Rio!!!!!! It's so refreshing to see again!! The people are so beautiful and I miss the beach and the monkeys in the trees!!!! Nikki Bravo!!!
Seja bem vinda ao Brasil!
AMO O MEU PAÍS!
=)
Your wash and gos are my dream hair.
Great post. You have me excited to travel the world!!!!
Your hair is hot in this post!!!
Your hair looks amazing!
Oopss..that was gorgeous on the wash n go
I love your hair in wash and go….goooooogeous!
Re the questions i think they did not have the bottom on the glass made when the put in the kiwi and apples and when they put them in then the sealed the "glass" bottom. No I would not let my 2 year old baby girl go naked on the beach…too many "strange"characters and it is setting a president at an early age. Next vaca in Guyana, Georgetown..not far from your current location…why FAMILY REUNION!!! can't wait
Madam CurlyNikki,
I had to write a comment thanking you for showing the true beautiful face of Brazil. I just saw the new ads for Macy's about Brazil. There are no shades of brown Naturals in the bunch. I have so much respect for you doing this. I have just booked my tickets to Florence, Italy & London, England. I will be on the search for all the Brown Natural Beauties (male & female) that I can find. From one curly to another, I salute you.
Peace/Blessing I love your blog, I wore locs for 12 years, and a 1 year ago, i cut my hair. I had a hard time at first. but my good friend told me about your blog, and I have been having a ball, reading about health, diet, and all the things I need to keep me going when it comes to my hair. My blessings to you and your family, keep the photo coming. well done….
LOVE the pics and commentary. Had to laugh at the NUPE reference (my hubby's a Kappa too)!
Thanks for sharing
lol @ lin, yep 🙂
Thanks ladies!!!
"violate the curls"…lol, is that a J Cole reference?? I too LOVE the WnG! La vida loca…
Love the pics.
I like the W&G better than the T&C on you. I know I've read posts where u explained why u don't do W&G, but for someone who likes big hair, that's some BIG HAIR! I guess I'm biased b/c W&G is my staple style from transition period til now–2yrs natural.
Whoever suggested an international meet-up was on point! That would be something totally awesome. I too, like to find local friends when I go on vacation. My trip to Jamaica was so un-touristy and I had a BALL!
^^^ will do! in the meantime, email me 🙂
nikki@curlynikki.com. Let's chat!
Love your wash & go, Nikki!!!!!! Please, do it more times!
have you ever considered doing a travel post Nikki?? you seem to travel a lot and are always staying in places that are NOT hotels and i am very interested in doing the same and curious as to how you find/found these places…I plan to start travelling and have been doing research but i DONT want to stay in hotels. I believe you can get more from the experience or travel and really immerse yourself in the locaties staying in condos and such as you do. any tips (from anyone) or a post would be great.
Whoa, such beautiful commentary ladies. Thank you so much for following me along on this trip. Every AM I rise and think about the posts, the messages, imagery, etc. and how to best bring Brazil to you. I hope you all make it down this way, it's even more beautiful in person. More pics tomorrow! Thanks again!
xx
nik
OMG Nikki… this has been the best travel post thus far! I really absorbed it all like I was living it along with y'all lol. Awesome pics!
Love that tidbit about making friends in other places… I have always worried about language barriers holding me back in my thirst for travel but you just gave me a boost with that, so thank you.
Keep them coming!
P.S. That WNG? FAB.
OMG! You are too too funny! Thanks for sharing your life with us.
Love your wash-n-go!!
Girl I am enjoying this vacay thru your eyes! Looks like so much fun…so where are we going next?? 🙂 Beautiful women and gorgeous hair! Your WNG is fabulous! Do you think you'll do them once you get back via the 'brazilian way'?
Omg! The beaches look so beautiful and so do the natural hair styles. I can't to be able to go on a vacation like this but I have to wait for my kids to get a lot bigger and a lot more mature in order to go out the U.S. lol.
Nina is fierce, and that head wrap is everything…you go girl!!!
@Nadia 4:38pm
I know right lol…..Curlynikki will be telling us about another baby soon. All of that partying and a another blessing will arise from it lol….
Your daughter is gonna be like my parents were kick ass!
Doing the damn thing at work and play, I wouldn't be surprised with all that great , hair, food, friends, and festivities that there won't be a little sibling joining Boogie soon! Have fun for all the parents who can't party right now .
Honey your WNG is BOSS!!!!
Fantastic post as usual. Nina is dope!! And you are rocking that wash-n-go. Very nice!!
Nikki, I absolutely enjoyed reading this article 🙂 First off, Nina is GORGEOUS and exudes confidence even in her photos. Secondly, you look like you're having a blast…work hard, party hard. Thirdly, thank you so much for making the connection with the lovely Brazilian ladies. I LOVE to travel and making new friends and exploring the culture is what it's all about.
I understand that Brazil has it's own set of setbacks…racism, high crime, poverty but what place doesn't? These people look so happy because despite it all it is THEIR home. Safe travels lady…
Bravo! You always look gorgeous, and the women out there are beautiful as well. Looks like you are having a blast!
Looks like you are having a blast! Thanks for posting all the pictures. I think Brazil has moved further up on my bucket list lol. BTW, your hair looks great in the beach pics. So voluminous. Hope you wear it that way more often!
I must say those pictures are gorgeous, and everyone definitely was having fun :). Now onto the hair style, so loving that Wash n Go you must definitely do more of that style. Your hair styles that you've done is great as well, but that wash n go was just perfection. I just wanted to reach through the computer, and put my hand in it real quick j/k lol…lol…
^^ Well said anon 1:03; I completely agree. Thanks for this Nikki!
Wow…thanks for these pictures. I watch the Zimmern travel show and I love his shows. His point, the same as yours, is that the people are what is important. You learn about the food and its connection to culture and its people. And that certainly seems what is happening with you on this vacation. I've learned more and you've really captured the essence of the experiences there. This was your best travelogue yet. I was sharing this with my husband and he said we will really need more shows showing our folks interacting with the folks of different diaspora countries and continents. I agree. This would have made a wonderful tv show. I like what I see. I've learned about hair, food and how it all connects with the people and their culture. Thank you so much CN.
The head wrap on the queen…someone please show me how to do my wraps like that. So BEAUTIFUL!!
Nicol C.
Didn't know you weren't a fan of wash and gos. I guess its always good to revisit things we've deemed "not for us" haha!! Loving the travel diary!!
Looks like you should be doing more wash n go's. Your hair and curls were so gorgeously delicious!!!! Love!!!
Your hair looks amazing! But I have to say Jose sneaking pics of hisself…hilarious!!
Lmaooooo #noshirt#noshoes#noservice I love you for that Nikki
I love, love, love these pictures! Brazil looks amazing as does your hair. I have been growing my hair for almost two years and can't wait for it to be longer.
I am so jealous of you right now. I would love to go to Brazil the culture and the history is stunning and interesting. Black people are so diverse in every country.
i'm living vicariously through you with these posts about brazil. you look like you are having an amazing time!!
Nina is gorg! Love the wash n go on you, look forward to seeing how it turns out on day 2. It's been a blast seeing Brazil through your eyes!
I really appreciated your post Nikki. Brazil is my favorite South American country and seeing your photos brought me back. I am happy that you felt the natural warmth of the people. I studied abroad there in '96 and went for my honeymoon in 2011. In any case, you mixed in well and can pass for being Brazilian. Hopefully, you got a chance to pick up "Raca" magazine – it's the Brazilian version of Essence. Thanks for sharing! Blessings!
i'm living vicariously through you with these posts about brazil. you look like you are having an amazing time!!
Nikki! Love the pictures. You made me feel as if I was there. You go girl!!!!!!
Loving the mustard colored skirt! where did you get it?
Once again I looooooove these pics! Hell I almost felt like i was there lol Keep em coming!!!!!
your hair…..#Gorgeous!!!!!!!
LOVE IT:)
Great pics!
The Brazilian ladies really look extremely fit! Nice to see that these ladies are taking care of hair in a simple fashion and definitely taking care of their bodies. I see now why they have the reputation they have! They look lovely and very positive/friendly!
Enjoy the rest of your trip.
NIKKI! Omg, your wash & go, I HEART it! Looks like you guys are had the time of you life, how amazing!
I also LUV the wrap on the Queen of afro zumbue!!want to learn how to do that.
that Wash n Go is EVERYTHING on you my friend! Work it!
I love traveling through your eyes! I love how you do it!
WOW it look so beautiful.. and you hair looks good.. the Brazilians seems so friendly!!enjoy!!
Thank you for sharing your wonderful photos of your trip to Brazil. You are a great ambassador for the natural sisters.
Loving your hair!
Really enjoying these pix. Keep'em coming. Your wash-n-go looks great! 🙂
Hey Nikki – How about organizing an International U.S.A./Brazilian Natural hair meet-up? That would be fun.
nikki you are rocking that wash n' go how did you get your hair not to shrink up so much?!
I LOVE YOUR HAIR LIKE THAT!
Nikki, it looks like ur having soooo much fun!!! God is really blessing you and your family! Your hair looks amazinggggg hun! (:
PS your hair looks AMAAAAZING in that pic "curly beauties"
Wow! You are making me want to take a trip to Brazil…..yay!!!
Oh it all looks so wonderful. I agree that you need to find an "insider" buddy when you travel to new places. DH is so social, we always seem to make a few local friends…once they stop thinking he's FBI or a cop LOL
Love this post! That's exactly how I feel when I visit another country, the tourist-y spots are okay, but it's THE BEST when you truly get to experience the culture!!
Nik, love the pics! It is cool that you get to truly immerse yourself in the culture sans tourist purgatory. Your wash and go is ridic!! Love it! In my next life I will be able to achieve such a fierce wash and go. 🙂
Nikki-
You seem to be having a blast on your vacation! And, your hair in each picture is always on point! Thanks for sharing your vacation with your readers! 🙂
Nik,
The best post ever! I have traveled to Brazil before visiting three cities several years ago, but looking at your photos and realize that I was in "tourist purgatory" *lol*. Maybe time for another visit?
PS. I love the hair in the beach scenes! #keeper