Curitiba: Where the Clouds Meet the Concrete
i just landed in curitiba after what felt like the longest flight of my life, but let me tell you, this city has some serious energy. i've been bouncing between cities for the past few months, and curitiba feels like a breath of fresh air, literally.
the air here? it's like someone wrapped the city in a warm, damp blanket. i just checked and it's...balmy and sticky, hope you like that kind of thing. 22.81°C with humidity that could water plants for you. the locals say it's perfect for their parks, which are everywhere. speaking of which...
"you gotta hit barigui park on a weekend, but not before grabbing a cup of chimarrão from one of the vendors. it's the real deal here, not that tourist stuff you get elsewhere." - some dude at the hostel
i've got this little routine down: wake up, find a co-working spot, work for a few hours, then explore. today, i stumbled upon the wire opera house - total mind-blower. the architecture here is something else. someone told me that the city is built on a foundation of recycled materials, which explains why everything feels so sustainable yet still modern.
if you get bored, são josé dos pinhais and pinhais are just a short bus ride away, each with their own vibe. pinhais has this amazing forest that feels like a different planet.
"avoid the bus number 3458449 on tuesdays. trust me, it's a tourist trap that doesn't actually go where it says. took me two hours to get back to where i started." - a grumpy local who looked like he'd seen it all
the food scene here is wild. i've been hitting up these little spots that aren't on any tourist maps. found this place called "1076723241" - no, really, that's what the sign says. serves the best coxinha i've had since i arrived. it's this deep-fried dough ball with shredded chicken inside. absolute heaven.
i've been trying to connect with other digital nomads here, but everyone seems to be in their own bubble. met this photographer yesterday who told me the best spots for sunrise photos are around the botanical gardens. he said something about the light being different here because of all the green spaces.
"the real curitiba is in the back alleys and the street art. everyone goes to the main attractions, but the city's soul is in the places where tourists don't wander." - a street artist who was painting a mural
the co-working spaces are decent, but pricey. i've been mostly working from cafes. my favorite so far is this place called "café com livro" - you get free books with your coffee. how cool is that?
i'm trying to decide if i should stay another week or move on. there's something about this city that keeps pulling me back in. maybe it's the parks, maybe it's the food, or maybe it's just the energy of a city that's trying to balance growth with sustainability.
if you're thinking of coming here, i'd recommend downloading the "Curitiba Bus" app. the public transport system is amazing, but can be confusing if you don't know the routes. also, bring an umbrella - the weather can change in a heartbeat.
that's all for now. gonna go explore some more and maybe find some hidden gems. until next time!
Check out Barigui Park on TripAdvisor
Yelp reviews for Curitiba's best coxinha spots
Curitiba Bus App on Google Play
Street art tours in Curitiba
You might also be interested in:
- https://topiclo.com/post/tiranas-heat-hormones-a-street-artists-unfiltered-walk-through-chaos
- https://topiclo.com/post/the-nightlife-scene-in-shubr-al-khaymah-best-bars-and-safe-zones
- https://topiclo.com/post/the-best-coworking-spaces-and-wifi-cafs-in-ciudad-apodaca-a-budget-students-raw-take
- https://topiclo.com/post/a-messy-messy-severomorsk-shithole-guide-survive-the-snow-the-succs-and-the-soviet-ghosts-maybe
- https://topiclo.com/post/the-nightlife-scene-in-a-if-best-bars-and-safe-zones