Crumbs of South America
The good Crumbs, and the bad Crumbs. My design and food-forward picks from Uruguay and Brazil!
Every word hitting my screen is being written in real time from the nicest hotel I think I’ve ever stayed in. I’m here, right now, right in the heart of Sao Paulo, Brazil. The things that I know about the present moment are: I have goosebumps from the cold leather couch I just sat on, my eardrums cling to a bird’s chirp that somehow snuck into The Rosewood lobby, I’m chewing mango that I can’t believe isn’t candy, and no part of my itinerary on this trip included a visit to Sao Paulo, Brazil.
But today is my very last day of this 10 (that has become an 11) day adventure, so let me fast forward and take you all the way back to day 1.
For some initial context, (and I don’t mean to say this in a snotty way), but I’ve honestly had really great travel luck. I guess two years ago I was stuck in an earthquake in Morocco, that happened to be the first (and very seismic) earthquake that they had in the last 10,000 years, plus a few stomach bugs and lost bags here and there. But never anything that’s ever made me look back on a trip and feel like it just ~wasn’t the best trip ever. I always leave thinking my trip was the best trip ever. Usually can’t shut up about it for months to come. And this trip still was the best trip ever. But I’ve probably learned more on this trip than any other I’ve embarked on in my adult life.
I also have never been to South America, and Brazil and Uruguay had been both highly recommended places at the tippy-top of my bucket list for years now. Almost everyone who had been to Rio said it was their favorite place they had ever been. And if you know me at all, I’m incapable of going on a trip without visiting like 3 different places in a very short timespan, so it was decided that we were going to do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil’s Iguazu Falls in the rainforest, and then the coastal towns of Uruguay. It was already the Best Trip Ever before we even stepped foot on the plane.
Our first day in Rio was strong, despite the clouds in the sky and the redeye hangover. A little bit of anticipated bickering here and there over the itinerary with my boyfriend due to the two hours of sleep that we got and rain we weren’t expecting, but we went to bed that night, full bellied from a decadent meal of buttery Brazilian steak from michelin-starred Sult nestled in the vibrant Botagofo neighborhood.
Day two felt different. I almost didn’t write this article because I don’t like sharing negative experiences. And then I decided to write this article without sharing any negative experiences, just my positive recommendations, but then it felt disingenuous. The exact reason people don’t trust influencers nowadays because they feel like the truth is never written in the highlight reels. So I’m deciding to share because Substack is both my diary and a community of intentional readers who read for the true, genuine recommendations and feelings…
…So alas, we started day two with a hike that went wrong from the start. We made it all the way up to the top and indulged in the man-made lookouts over the sparkling waves folding like ice cream in the sun, Sugarloaf mountain in the distance, and tropical creatures talking to us in the trees as we turned each corner.
With smiles on our faces and postcard snaps in our camera rolls, we finally made it up to the official trailhead. It was chained off by a rusty gate with a huge do-not-enter symbol that could be understood by a person of any lingual background.
After checking the map and the signs over and over, we finally accepted our fate that we weren’t doing the hike, started our descent down into the Leblon neighborhood, and turned our frowns upside down with one of the best Acai bowls at I’ve ever had in my life at Big Polis thanks to Bella Darden impeccable recommendations.
We grabbed a coffee at So_lo, the sun was out, and we waited to cross the street to proceed onward to the open-air market that was next on our itinerary. We didn’t end up going to the market, however. Not because it was closed or because it started raining this time.
It was the perfect seize the day energy that quite literally got seized right from me. All because we waited for the light to turn red, calmly crossed the street in the walkway, and a man on a motorcycle ran the red light into the crosswalk at full force, and ripped my phone right out of my hand.
My initial thoughts were: How can I turn back time and completely reverse that interaction and not cross that street? Ok, at least he didn’t completely run me over and have me in the hospital. What the fuck is my apple password and how can I lock every single thing on this device as fast as possible?
The short answer to all of my initial thoughts were that: turning back time in a state of shock isn’t possible and it’s still funny to me that I thought this WAS a viable possibility, I WAS able to lock all of my credit cards and accounts so all he really stole was glass and metal in the shape of a square, and the sunny day at the market turned into a cloudy one reconciling everything in our hotel room.
Like the hesitation to share places and spaces that I didn’t have a positive experience at, sharing this moment is hard for me as well. Way more traumatic things could have happened, and friends warned us about phone theft there, but I didn’t want this experience to influence anyone’s decision not to go. Brazil is a beautiful place and we do have positive memories regardless of this situation. It also does open the dumb blonde can of worms of allowing people to perceive me in a way of: of course HER phone would get stolen.
No, I was not on my phone in the middle of the street, if the phone was unlocked it would have been a different story, but I probably shouldn’t have ever had it to begin with or had it fully secure in a fanny pack (which ironically I was using all day the first day and all hike right before- I almost felt like it was overkill, but the second I had it in my hand instead of there, things went south). I think I THOUGHT in my head if it were to get stolen it would have been like out of my pocket in a crowded bar, but having it ripped out of my gripping hand is certainly plausible and especially even (more?) common?
I would just advise people to be careful with the valuables that don’t get left behind in the hotel room. All the more reason to truly disconnect from technology and rely on an old phone or just a camera. I’m just glad he didn’t actually decide to run me over with the bike, that…probably would have put a bit more of a damper on the day.
But now that we’ve gotten that out of the way, I can’t wait to tell you all of the incredible things we did that I couldn’t have loved more. I also can’t wait to tell you what my brain felt like having pretty much no access to a phone or social media for the nine days to follow.
There’s always a silver lining, so here are my best and brightest Crumbs of South America.
3.5 Days in Uruguay
Aka, the place I have never been more obsessed with going back to:
Locations: 1 night in Montevideo, 3 beach days in Jose Ignacio
Where I Stayed-
Posada Ayana (Jose Ignacio)- Two years ago I would have never picked a destination solely on a hotel- I would have convinced myself that I would never be in the room so it would be a silly waste of money, but going to a property like Posada Ayana redefines the ways in which a hotel can mold an experience. We flew into Montevideo from Buenos Aires and rented a car to drive two hours down the coast to Jose Ignacio, which the kids on Tiktok are now calling the “Hamptons of South America”.
Were there crossovers? Maybe- it is a magical coastal town that feels high end, but also…extremely laid back and barefoot. It has color and flavor that East Hampton doesn’t see as often (I hate that I’m even doing this cross reference here), both of which come alive with properties like Posada Ayana where the flat foundations of glass and wood are embellished with paintbrushes, geometry, and eclectic tiling.
Peak moments were all about sipping a white negroni at sunset by the emerald marble pool overlooking the crashing waves of Uruguay’s beaches, savoring every detail from the warm chocolate chip cookie we were greeted with, to the private tour of James Turell’s Skyspace that is on the property for stargazing.
Hotel Montevideo (Montevideo)- A stunning selection in the heart of Montevideo for maximalist interior lovers! Velvets, horses, and blue and white china and palettes that celebrate the Uruguayan flag decorate the lobby and restaurants at the hotel. We also loved our room with a balcony overlooking the urban clay tennis courts and the best water pressure I’ve ever had in a hot shower after a long travel day. Breakfast had strong coffee (randomly hard to find on this entire trip) and golden, locally sourced eggs made to order. Could not recommend more for a night or two in Montevideo.
What I did-
Night one- Montevideo
We flew into Montevideo (capital) the afternoon before we drove to the coast, so we decided to explore and have dinner in the area and instantly fell in love with the breezy and modern living that we observed around us on our stroll. Every building and moment felt clean, intentional, and private. Modern and glassy, yet also preservative of cultural roots. Corners were quiet, but not lacking in lively bistros or grills with a few sidewalk tables occupied with bottles of wine and bread until the late hours of the evening. We wished we got to explore more and tour the Andes museum and relax in one of the incredible libraries like Babilonia Libros, but had to hit the road early for our trip down the coast.
Jose Ignacio/Punte Del Este
Waking up to drive down the coast to Punta Del Este from Montevideo felt like Christmas. I also forgot how much fun it was to be a passenger princess in a rental car that my boyfriend was willing to deal with the entire trip. With caffeine in our veins and the smell of clean leather seats in our noses, we took off to the coast with a few stops along the way to Jose Ignacio.
We took a pit stop at the iconic Casapueblo in Punta Del Este, about an hour from our hotel constructed by the Uruguayan artist Carlos Páez Vilaró. I had seen Vilaró’s art before, not even realizing it was him, and knew I needed to buy some and tour his home. Rainbow abstract paintings cover the white plaster walls inside and out, while large ceramics with funky, abstract faces stare up at you pull out your phone to take their photos. It felt like a home fit for a mermaid, and cats are running around the inside just as they would if he still lived there. I was in heaven. We walked away with some new canvas art and randomly the best museum jamón and cheese sandwich one could have?
Jose Ignació
We spent the majority of our stay in the breezy beach town of Jose Ignacio (where our hotel, Posada Ayana was perfectly perched). One thing about my boyfriend and I is that we struggle to relax. We always feel like we do need to be doing something productive, even on vacation, and this town sucked every last drop of that feeling out of us. I wish (but I also don’t) that I had a bunch of links of different specific spots to check out, but the truth is, you should be doing nothing other than strolling down to the beach after a dip in the pool or toweling off to enjoy grilled octopus, barefoot, at an open aire restaurant in the sand.
The biggest ‘activity’ that we did (other than eat which I will share deets on below), was take a pair of beach bikes around town and pop into the little boutiques like El Canuto and Sentido before coasting downhill to the iconic lighthouse that overlooks a rocky beach that sometimes has seals that bake in the sun (which sadly did not come out to say hello when we were there)! We had the best time just enjoying the sand, our hotel, and window shopping the coolest beach houses I’ve ever seen.
Where I ate-
If I came back (and when I DO come back) to Jose Ignacio, I would literally eat at La Huella everyday for lunch if I had the option. On vacation, I’m big on lunch. When I’m home, lunch is irrelevant. But lunch is somehow the most special meal of the day in a beach town because it’s perfectly acceptable to enjoy the sunshine and have the same amount of cocktails that you would have at dinner….just at lunch.
Their famous parilla (grill) style menu, which is the most popular style and flavor in Uruguay, has charred octopus that was so tender I barely chewed it, and their version of sushi, (which happens to have caviar and an egg yolk) with a local white fish. We also had the mussels and the caramelized onion tart, which sort of tastes like french onion soup, but dry and more decadent. Everyone here gives barefoot energy, but also has a Birkin, if you can visualize. People watching was just as delectable as our meal- the people here, plainly put, are just beautiful. I was in a sundress with a bikini underneath (wrong), while every other girl my age was in white linen pants, fingers filled with rings, and suede jackets to make the slight chill of the wind by the coast roll off their perfect shoulders. Effortless energy everywhere.
Another vacation rule that I usually set (unless the hotel is the vacation) is that I usually don’t eat at the hotel. Posada Ayana was different. The eggs I had for breakfast paired with a fresh baked croissant (that rivaled 4f by the way) told me everything I needed to know about how delicious dinner in their Uruguayan-Japanese restaurant could be. The vermouthy negroni immediatley warmed my insides like the fiery grill that made our short rib impeccable, which was a completely different texture of short rib that I’ve never had- Uruguay is indeed known for its extremely high quality beef.
A fantastic restaurant that is a 10 minute drive further up the coast to Punta del Este, El Abrazo is a candle-lit, late dinner by the fire paradise when the sun has gone down, your nose is a little bit sunburnt, and you want to cozy up with a blanket, a glass of wine, and sit by the fireplace. Another spot that has delicious Uruguayan ojo de bief (ribeye) grilled to perfection, and one of our favorite dishes of the trip which was a poached and grilled squid in olive oil.
If you do hit Montevideo, going to a classic, open air Uruguayan grill should be on your list. La Pulperia was on a quiet corner with a line out the door of people waiting to be seated, because everyone, including us, knew it was worth the wait. The interior is smoky and lively from beer drinkers and soccer on TV as locals enjoy their steaks, house salad, and freshly baked bread that lands on each table. We scored a spot outside and enjoyed one of the best steaks of my life right on the sidewalk.
2.5 days in Iguazu Falls- Brazilian Rainforest
Where I stayed-
We got to spend two nights nestled in the rainforest within a pink palace that is the Belmond Hotel Das Cataratas, right in the heart of the Brazilian side of the Iguazu Falls. The most interesting part about this hotel and location is that it practically straddles the border of three different countries- Brazil, Paraguay, and Argentina, which all have their own “side” of the rainforest’s national park and the falls.
The hotel itself is a damn spectacle. The walls are washed pink, the chairs are upholstered in leopard print, and every plate, vase, painting, or tile has a parrot or a toucan in different art forms. Breakfast is a sprawling buffet with enough fresh and local fruit to actually turn you into a parrot, and the pool, stocked with Möet based cocktails, welcomes you with a spritz or complementary acai smoothie after a day of exploring nature in the park.
Sunsets are for complimentary champagne and watching the orange and pink skies melt into the massive waterfalls of Iguazu, all of which we got to enjoy in the company of only hotel guests as the entire park closes to the public right at 5pm. And we were sure to arrive back to our hotel room with a new gift of the day neatly placed on our nightstands. One day it was custom Havanias, another it was a charm with real water from the falls, and always a brigaderio on our pillows, which is fudgiest Brazilian chocolate bon bon.
Because you are in the middle of the rainforest, we ate all meals at our hotel. They do have a michelin starred restaurant, Restaurant Y, which has classic Brazilian staples that are presented in the small plate, tasting menu format. Everything was delicious, but this was probably the only thing about our hotel that we didn’t fall in love with. It felt a little stuffy, it was very pricey, and I wanted a big steak grilled Brazilian style instead of a nibble of one. The breakfast spread, classic lunch by the pool, and more casual restaurant the second night all did the trick, though!
This hotel, simply put, is not cheap. But god damn did we get our moneys worth. The pure kindness of the staff. The park. The private access to nature. The attention to every single corner of interior detail.
I felt like a real ADULT here. Like- this was what I dreamed of being able to do when I had ‘adult money’ and could save up for months to come to a place like this. Worth every single penny.
What I did-
I explored the rainforest!
Because we were right IN the falls, which is literally one of the seven wonders of the world, we wanted to see all corners of the park, including from a raft boat which grazed the feet of the powerful gushing water melting over the vine tangled cliffs. Our hotel booked us Gran Aventura which is a tour that takes you by foot through the rainforest, and then down on the raft that chops up the waves of the streams beneath the falls, literally leaving you covered head to toe in pure waterfall magic. As I mentioned in my way-too-long intro, I didn’t have a phone so naturally I didn’t really get any pictures, and we decided to leave my boyfriend’s in the room as well. If I DID have a phone, I feel like I would have been trying to figure out a way to use it and not get it drenched in the waterfall, and it was a micro-moment that just felt really beautifully disconnected and present.
This part of the world just has a sky that we just do not have here in the big city. The moonlight is the street lamp and the stars are nightlights that are all bright enough to illuminate the paths of the jungle all the way down to the waterfalls.
We did get so lucky to have a full moon during our stay here, so our hotel swiftly arranged this tour (in house) to make sure we didn’t miss it and that we got to experience the falls completely lit up at 10pm with a rainbow dipping its way out of the sky and into the water. I’ve never seen the northern lights before, but I imagine it’s a similar feeling to this one. Pure, unmanufactured nature that shows you something beyond your wildest dreams.
And…it felt great to walk off dinner late at night and climb about 1,000 stairs back up from the falls. Redefining the luxury of a summer night walk (just without the frozen yogurt).
You should also totally just walk the trails of the park during the day, as well. We didn’t make the trek to the Argentina side because we didn’t feel like waiting in the customs line, but if we had another day, we totally would have.
Parque das Aves (bird sanctuary)
I need you to seriously take my word for this one. I do not like a typical zoo or any place in the world that takes animals from their home. But- I promise you I am a trusted contact here because my dad happens to be one of the only exotic veterinarians in the world that specializes specifically in birds, and if you want to see the native birds of the rainforest, this is the best way to do it.
Do I wish I got to see a toucan or a blue-fronted amazon in the fully wild? Yes of course. We still got to see some incredible lizards, coatis, and other parrot species, but toucans, for example, stay far far away from places that humans could be gracing, so your best bet is to see them at this sanctuary!
You are able to exist with the birds, some more calm than others, and observe every little mannerism they have. We saw snuggling parrots and sleepy owls and got the most wholesome dose of serotonin being reminded what incredible species exist in this world among us far away from home.
3.5 days in Rio de Janeiro
Alllll right so we’re coming full circle back to Rio, which actually started my trip, but I didn’t want to bore you guys with my continued, very long intro, so I thought I would save the most interesting for last.
Where I stayed-
We had a few recommendations to stay at the Fasano because of its prime location on Ipanema beach and gorgeous pool deck, but I’m not entirely sure I’d recommend it to a friend, myself.
What we liked:
The location was indeed gorgeous. It was a treat to be able to walk out the front door and be right on the beach. The pool deck also did feel quite luxe- we loved being able to use the sauna (especially after a long flight) and then dip right into the infinity pool that felt like it connected with the two brothers mountains in the sky. The cocktails and sunset here were irreplaceable, and the staff up at the pool deck was really sweet and always make sure I had a warm robe as I got out of the pool. I’m personally more into a maximalist type interior, but the wood finishes and mirrors in the rooms and on the roof were stunning.
{but if you must know} What we didn’t love:
For over $850 a night, we felt like attention to detail and experience could have been a little bit different. I….literally sound like I’m writing a google review or talking to a customer support bot? But the front desk staff wasn’t super warm or helpful- we asked them for help booking tours, which we could have done ourselves, but we wanted their opinion on the best companies or hikes (just as an example) to do especially after my phone was stolen and we wasted a day dealing with that and wanted to make sure we were spending our (now) limited time left correctly. On that note, obviously there was nothing they could have done to help the phone situation, but we asked them about advice on sim cards and they just wrote down the name of the biggest mall in the city instead of helping us get a bit more specific on the store or where we might be able to get one with an American passport because the process is a bit more complex. (We ended up completely ditching the sim card idea)
I also consider myself extremely self sufficient and easy to please- it would be rare for me to even rely on the front desk for a question or help about the location I’m in, but we felt like we were paying so much money for a very impersonal experience. The lobby also felt like it was under construction, maybe? There was barely any place to lounge or sit because a portion of it was curtained off, and the “beach service” ran out of umbrellas and chairs for the day after like 2 families requested them.
I don’t mean to rant because we still had a very lovely and comfortable time here, but I want to get really serious about giving my extremely honest opinion about things that I spend a lot of money on, and the other two hotels we stayed in in Uruguay and Iguazu (which were less $) made us feel so incredibly special and welcome.
What I did-
Copacabana and Ipanema
We came to Rio mainly to relax and enjoy the beach, and of course made ourselves feel really bad when we didn’t tour as much as we thought we should have, but we did absolutely love both Ipanema and Copacabana beaches. You really are meant to make a day out of the beach here- the energy starts picking up around 11am with the first peaks of the UV rays, and local vendors have anything and everything you need.
You could have Acai and Mate for breakfast, right on the beach, then get corn, skewers, prawns, and Caipirinhas (the best sugarcane and lime alcoholic bev omg) for lunch and dinner into sunset and never leave your towel.
I shouldn’t have even used the word towel, because here they use Cangas, which are a much more lightweight fabric that dry so quickly and can literally go around your shoulders or tied around your waste like a little cover up. We also immediatley went to Havaianas and bought flip flops and did not wear any other shoe while we were there. I even wore them to the nicest restaurant we went to and no one even batted an eye. I wanted to bottle the laid back energy up with me and pour it on the entire city of New York.
Santa Teresa
I absolutely fell in love with the Santa Teresa neighborhood and all of the sidewalks and walls that were tattooed with local art and color. It quite literally felt like we were going up a rollercoaster on our taxi ride up- everything was so steep and hilly, but once we made it to the top, the views of the city below showed the detailed depth of all of the neighborhoods stacked like a layered cake. It sort of reminded me on the Montmartre neighborhood of Paris, and naturally some parts of Lisbon, but if you’re looking for vintage and art shopping, Santa Teresa is your place.
If I return to Rio, I would love to stay in Santa Teresa! It’s a bit further from the beach, but feels like you’re in a lush treehouse. We also visited the ever so classic Escadaria Selarón yellow stairs which lead you down to Lapa, which is the center of the city. I would recommend going earlier in the morning, because it was admittedly swarmed with people in the afternoon when we went.
We ate at Bar do Mineiro to try feijoada, which is a classic pork and bean stew with a side of oranges, rice, and crispy pork. It had a classic watering hole feel and we stayed and sipped negronis while we ate. I would have been shouting from the rooftops about how much I loved this place if we didn’t get slightly scammed at the end- our waiter brought over a massive plate of fried cheese that we didn’t order, asked if we liked cheese, we (confusingly) said yes, he insisted we try it, and then charged us for it? Maybe this is a tactic I don’t know about, but the dish was already made so we didn’t really know how to politely turn him away.
The Sugarloaf Cable Car is also a good midway point between Copacabana and Santa Teresa which we bought tickets for and really wanted to do, but there was a problem with their ticketing system so we sadly had to leave but would be one of the first things I’d attempt again if I went back- it’s touristy but the views are incredible.
We did a mild hike in the national park that sits at the foot of one of the Dois Irmaos mountains! This is the park I mentioned in the beginning that had the first section of the trail open, but closed off the second portion of the trail to the public. We’re not sure the reason for the closure- it was raining on and off that morning and looked a bit muddy, but maybe the park was working on some maintenance or there are seasonal limits that we didn’t know about! Alas, the overlooks onto the beach and the Leblon neighborhood were breathtaking and we got to see some adorable lemurs so we didn’t feel like it was a total fail!
Where I ate-
Yes…I had the best lasagna of my entire existence in Brazil, and it was at Sult. Better than I Sodi or Don Angie’s wildest dreams, and paired with a buttery Brazilian steak, tartare, salad, and their version of a dirty martini with lime. I also loved how I felt like I was dining right in someones living room- the type where the windows are cracked and the breeze is coming in during a late dinner on a summer night. We also loved the Botafogo neighborhood in general and wish we explored the bar scene more here as the bars spilled out onto the sidewalks into the streets with lively crowds and live music.
My favorite meal of the trip was undoubtably at Satyrincon, which specializes in both raw and Brazilian style grilled seafood. We basically let our waiter order for us because his warm and hospitable welcome instantly gained our trust that it seemed like he had been at the restaurant for years and knew everything like the back of his hand. He brought us rainbow cuts of buttery local crudo over ice and a platter of grilled langoustine, prawns, and lobster that had a special, off menu garlic sauce that he insisted we dip every bite into. It was decadent and washed down perfectly with a dirty martini, and somewhere I insist you go.
Lots of bars in Rio have vermouth on tap, which is a recent addiction of mine because it’s (of course delicious) but also slightly lower in alcohol content so you can enjoy a few and not be absolutely plastered. Bar Tero had multiple different types of vermouth made in house, on tap, including a white vermouth which was my absolute favorite. If I had to sketch an image of a dreamy sidewalk table, it would be the one we sat at at Bar Tero, with an antique lamp in the center of all, only illuminating everyones best features and the gorgous cocktails being sipped. We had a later dinner reservation so we didn’t order too much food, but we wish we got more. The cheesy, Brazilian style mussels were fantastic.
This Santa Teresa restaurant captured fairy rainforest magic with lanterns and twinkling lights over every table that looked like cores of a 100 year old oak trees. I’m such a sucker for theatrical secret garden decor like this that it definitely made the food taste better than it was, but we still thoroughly enjoyed our fresh fish and coconut rice with a bottle of Sancerre. I would maybe recommend coming here at sunset for a cocktail and a snack to take in the views and the funk, but you probably don’t need to spend on a full dinner.
Acai
I could have eaten Acai for breakfast, lunch, and dinner here and had been fully content. The Acai here is different. It almost tastes more like chocolate than tropical fruit? Extremely variant from the classic Playa Bowls banana-y flavor we’re used to in the US. We tried both Bibi Sucos and Big Polis and I could not get enough. Get a side of berries and condensed milk (trust me) and put a tiny spoonful on a few bites.
I was craving a long and late lunch as I mentioned earlier that I tend to crave on vacation, and this spot was highly rated on Beli and I wanted to perch near the beach with a spritz and grilled shellfish. I would absolutely come back here for the onion tart and the prawns. I wouldn’t order the octopus again, it was a bit chewy, but I think this is a good, casual neighborhood lunch spot for a solid afternoon cocktail that then fades into watching the sunset nearby on the Leblon end of the beach.
In conclusion…
I know this one was ridiculously long, but I hope it is a true, meaty reference point for anyone who is planning to go to any of these places. I also wanted to clarify the reason we even ended up in Sao Paulo to begin with was because we missed the connection on our flight home and had to stay an additional 24 hours in Brazil before another one took off. I did feel like we had more bad luck than usual, but also real, raw learnings.
I also know I haven’t written in awhile, and I also know that I planned to go on this trip and disconnect to re-grow my creative cells, and had no idea I would actually be disconnecting without a phone, but it is crazy how much clean space you make in your brain when you aren’t scrolling. To wake up and not immediately check socials or respond to 50 texts (which was scary because I had no idea who was texting me because I had zero access to my phone number) was a feeling that I can only compare to a feeling I had in the summer as a child before I had a phone.
I’ve never been addicted to nicotine, but I imagine the anxiety and withdrawal that I was feeling on the first day of having no phone to the last day of having no phone was decently similar. I want to write more about this specifically, but for now, thank you for reading Crumbs of South America! If you have been, I would love to hear what I missed and should do on my next adventure there, because I will undoubtedly be back.
This is insane
she’s so back