Sitios

Despite the fact that Florianopolis is dominated by beaches and beach life, there is an interior to the island which is very rural. This is very beautiful in a completely different sort of way.

Some Brazilians, rather than buy a beach house, have instead moved into the interior and bought land on which to establish small farms (sitios) - although this is not common. We saw a sitio with ostriches today!

Of course, there are local people who have always lived in the interior and worked the land. I have not experienced life in the interior, but I should imagine that in the summer it is unbearably hot and that all the year round it is mosquito ridden. I only have to go for a short walk in the interior and even at this time of year I get bitten to death.