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Text about the city

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Major Cities in the USA play pause mute unmute / Update Required To play the media you will need to either update your browser to a recent version or update your Flash plugin. Major Cities in the USAThe five major cities in the USA are: New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston and Philadelphia.

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A news about Brazil

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Jericoacoara. It's hard to spell, it's even harder to pronounce and it's not easy to find.

This little pocket of paradise located on the northern tip of Brazil has remained a well-kept secret for decades and only since the late 1980s has it emerged as a tourist hotspot.

Jericoacoara is the kind of place you'd happily maroon yourself for days (or weeks) on end, floating between activities, delicious meals and plenty of caipirinhas.

The enchanting beachside town, known affectionately as "Jeri", started off as a sleepy fishing village attracting hippies, dreamers and wanderers. It still entices the same crowd today... but now die-hard kite and wind surfers (Jericoacoara is known for having strong gusty winds ideal for wind sports) and in-the-know travellers come here too.

Still, it's not overrun with tourists (yet)... but you'd better book a visit fast if you're going to be the first of your friends to make it here.

Located about 300 kilometres north-west of Fortaleza in the Brazilian state of Ceara, the only way to get to Jeri is by four-wheel-drive, boat or helicopter. Most visitors opt for the 4WD.

It's about six hours drive from Fortaleza (Pinto Martins Airport in Fortaleza is the closest international airport), the last hour of which is over sand dunes that plunge down and skyrocket up, forming the unique landscape that makes Jericoacoara so special.

Not one person in my Intrepid Travel group knows the first thing about Jeri and our guide Pedro's eyes light up at the confession. "It's heaven on earth, it's like no other place in the world. Just wait and see," he exclaims.

The area around Jericoacoara is magnificently beautiful, although even 40-odd years ago barely anyone knew about it. It was declared an Environmental Protection Area in 1984 and soon after drifts of tourists began moseying their way in.

The Washington Post covered Jericoacoara in 1987, various other media outlets began sending writers here and subsequently more tourists arrived.

Then in 1998 electricity was installed, in 2002 the region was declared a national park, and in 2004 Lonely Planet voted Jericoacoara the best beach in the world. Fast forward 11 years and the sleepy undiscovered fishing village is no longer. However, remarkably Jericoacoara is not ruined yet. The roads are still sand thoroughfares, there are still no streetlights, and although people talk of an airport, most are hoping it won't happen for a while.

Perhaps the fact it's so hard to get here deters some... and probably encourages others.

Our group of 11 is divided across three 4WDs, all driven by dexterous drivers who know how to tactically manoeuvre their way around and over the hilly dunes. We leave Fortaleza early morning, but it's this last hour that has us all sitting up in our seats. We traverse kilometres of undulating sand dunes, skirting past herds of wild donkeys and occasionally almost toppling over. Our driver thinks it's funny. I don't.

And for a long time we see nothing but this beautiful and peculiar vastness out of our windows. It's hard to believe there's a village amidst this dune-covered enormity. Our driver assures us there is and about 50 minutes into the drive we see a patch of sand loosely crosshatched with small buildings from afar. "Welcome to Jericoacoara," he says grinning like a mad man. "This is my home."

He doesn't need to say more... it's obvious that he's one of the lucky ones.

Series of laneways lined with brightly coloured eateries, surf shops managed by laid-back wide-smiling residents, acai smoothie bars and real bars (of course) make up the cityscape.

After checking into our hotel we stop for lunch at Don Amelia, a charming restaurant that's chock full even though it's well past lunchtime. Here we eat creamy curry served in fresh pineapples and indulge in too many caipirinhas while listening to Jack Johnson's Brazilian cousin in the corner.

Come dusk I throw on my active wear and decide to run as far as I can. Jeri beach stretches on for what seems like forever and I figure this way I can soak up more of this heaven on earth before joining the crowd at Por do Sol (Sunset) Dune.

Every day travellers gather at Por do Sol to watch the sun flicker its last rays for the day. The towering sand peak is legendary for its epic sunsets and is believed to be one of the few spots in the world where you can often witness the marvel known as Emerald Sunset - best described as a flash of green light that lasts for a fraction of a second before the sun sinks into the horizon. Although this phenomenon can technically be seen almost anywhere, a clear sky and an ocean horizon are two factors that significantly increase the odds.

I head to the top to see what all the fuss is about and find myself among people chatting away and ordering cocktails from the strategically placed mobile drinks cart. Clusters of laughing youngsters pose for photos and plenty of cameras snap as the afternoon sun does its daily dance.

Although a place like Jeri incites most people to slow down, I want to take it all in and get back to my run. I jog past a couple trotting on their horses alongside the frothy breaking waves; I follow a lone cyclist pedaling through paradise until he fades into the distance; I spot the occasional dune buggy roaring down the sand; I watch a group of youngsters practising capoeira. The beach is an eclectic buzz of activity where anything goes.

I stop regularly to soak it all up - I greedily inhale the smell of the ocean air; I try to seize the sensation of the salty wind; I listen to the slosh of the sea. As the sun nears the horizon neon pinks and fiery oranges salsa over the sky and it becomes difficult to decipher where the sand ends and the sea begins. Or is it the other way around? It's the most beautiful unification of the bizarre and beautiful.

My run sets the scene for exploring Jericoacoara - everything is spectacular. The next day we jump in our 4WDs and head to Pedra Furada, a rock arch that has become the symbol of Jericoacoara. As we trek along the sand to the arch heavy rain starts bucketing down and within minutes our group is soaked to the bone. We take a group photo because we all look incredibly silly and want to capture this carefree memory of too much laughter for no good reason.

The rain doesn't last long and by the time we arrive at Lagoa do Paraiso (Paradise Lagoon), a large freshwater lake, the sun re-emerges to dry us off. The lagoon is the sort of place you'd never leave if that were an option. Ludicrously turquoise water surrounded by sand as fine as talcum powder, an onsite restaurant and bar, sun lounges aplenty... and hammocks in the water!

Doing like the locals do we leisurely order nibbles, sit back and relax. Crisp-fried cassava chips, a vibrant salad showered with olives and flame-grilled juicy chicken chunks turn up with a side order of Brahma beers and coconut water straight out of the coconut.

Between snacks I devote my time to doing as many versions of nothing as I can. I sit and lazily flick through a magazine, I sprawl myself out across two sun lounges, and my favourite activity, by far, is relaxing in a hammock that's ingeniously positioned in the lagoon.

Sipping fresh coconut water as I loll in a hammock partially submerged in water that gently laps against my body... now that's real paradise.

MORE INFORMATION visitbrasil.com

TOURING THERE Intrepid Travel's 14-day Northern Brazil tour starts in Rio de Janeiro and ends in Fortaleza.The trip includes an expert local guide, accommodation, transportation and some meals and activities. See intrepidtravel.com

GETTING THERE LATAM Airlines operates flights to Santiago, Chile, with onward connections to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. See latam.com

SLEEPING THERE All the charming suites overlook the pool at Pousada Carcara, a charming hotel that's only a few minutes walk from both the central square and the beach. See pousadacarcara.com.br
TIPS ABOUT TRAVELLING TO JERICOACOARA
CASH There are no ATMs in Jericoacoara and you'll want dosh to eat, drink and sightsee. The closest bank is in Jijoca (located about 20 kilometres from Jeri), however, it takes time to get there by 4WD and the bank doesn't open until midday.

POWER ADAPTORS The type N socket is the official standard in Brazil and even if you're a seasoned traveller you may not have this socket as it's used almost exclusively in Brazil. Brazil is also one of the few countries that doesn't have a standard voltage. Although most other places in Brazil use 110V electricity, Jericoacoara has a voltage of 220V.

MOTION SICKNESS MEDICATIONS Most people arrive by 4WD. It gets bumpy so pack the pills/bands to minimise the damage if you think you might get sick.

TIPPING Although not obligatory, if you're happy with the services provided a tip is fitting, especially for guides and drivers that spend a chunk of their time making sure you're having a good time.
Tatyana Leonov was a guest of Intrepid Travel Traveller.com.au

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Jericoacoara, Brazil: It's paradise by the sea

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Jericoacoara. It's hard to spell, it's even harder to pronounce and it's not easy to find. This little pocket of paradise located on the northern tip of Brazil has remained a well-kept secret for decades and only since the late 1980s has it emerged as a tourist hotspot.

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a music of city

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Mattafix - Big City Life EMI France 2005 Beegood Limited t/a Buddhist Punk under exclusive license to Virgin a division of Emi Music France

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A day in New York

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I've decided to take this a step further, and document every day in my life like this: Check out my Facebook page: www.facebook.com/nasdaily My attempt at documenting everything in one single day living in New York City. Music: My Friends Never Die by ODESZA

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Text based on life in the countryside

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A music contry

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Rolling Stones "Honky Tonk Women" 1969 (Reelin' In The Years Archives)

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Reelin' In The Years Productions has available for licensing over 20,000 hours of music footage spanning 90 years. Additionally, we have more than 5,000 of hours of in-depth interviews with the 20th century's icons of Film and Television, Politics, Comedy, Literature, Art, Science, Fashion and Sports. Please visit ‪http://reelinintheyears.com‬ to search our online database.

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A news related to life in the countryside

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For more than five years, the fire-gutted Countryside ice cream restaurant sat idle at the Route 100-Route 29 split, atop South Mountain.

To Nadine Schmoyer, it was a disturbing sight.

"Every time I drove by, it made me sad," said Schmoyer, who owned the restaurant in the 1980s. "I said we've got to do something. And now we have."

Schmoyer and her husband, Jim, who once ran Ice Cream World in South Whitehall, teamed up last year with another couple, Joel and Nancy Leh, to buy the ruins of the landmark ice cream shop.

In December, the Countryside partnership's work crews started ripping out the charred walls and bringing in the materials for a whole new building.

Then the honking began.

"People were driving by, blowing their horns and giving us the thumbs up," Schmoyer said. "They were yelling, 'We can't wait!'"

The project even had Kris Kringle's approval. On the morning of Christmas Eve, as the early work progressed, a stranger dropped in with gifts of doughnuts and coffee.

"I never saw him before. He said I'm Santa Claus today, and he was on his way," remembers Joel Leh, who was leading the work crew that day.

The occasional honking has continued. There's been some impatience, too.

When the Countryside parking lot filled up with the cars on May 1, a passer-by mistakenly thought the restaurant was doing business. The man walked in with his two children before he noticed no one was serving ice cream.

The four partners explained to the man that the crowd was there to apply and interview for the 25 jobs the restaurant plans to offer.

They said last week they're awaiting a few government approvals, but will soon have a firm opening date. They're confident the ice cream and steak sandwich shop will open this month as the J&N Countryside Restaurant.

The "J&N" in the name is for Jim and Nadine, and Joel and Nancy, the four partners.

The restaurant will offer a menu similar to the one Leo Kressley set out when he opened the shop in 1957 as Kressley Cree-Mee Freez near Upper Milford Township's highest point.

Those who remember the old restaurant will notice at least one thing dramatically different. The new windows are bigger than ever and, instead of facing south to the fork in the road, they now face north, to the Lehigh Valley.

"On a clear day, you can see all the way to Blue Mountain from here," Nadine Schmoyer said. Several tall poplar and ash trees are part of the view, but the big valley is visible.

The restaurant has changed hands several times since 1957. Nadine Schmoyer owned it from 1982 to 1989.

On May 21, 2011, when a fire burned out the Countryside building, the structure was owned by Jim Hilston, a Harleysville chiropractor, and the ice cream shop was operated by Bill Kao.

Police said the fire appeared to be the work of teenage arsonists. No one was ever charged with the crime.

Three years later, Michael J. McHugh of Lower Macungie Township bought the damaged property at auction, but he made no repairs.

To Nadine Schmoyer, the closed restaurant represented boarded-up memories, a lost way of life. South Mountain was no fun without ice cream on top.

She suggested to her husband that they buy the building and reopen the ice cream shop, but he didn't want to jump into a new long-term business commitment. Then she came up with a shorter-term business plan, and he was in.

Next the Lehs joined the Schmoyers, who already knew one another well. Nadine Schmoyer is Joel Leh's first cousin, and both couples are from Lower Macungie.

Joel Leh, who has owned and run Diversified Masonry for 24 years, was looking for a new business that might not be so hard on his back. Nancy Leh, a medical clerical worker, also was eager for something new.

The Countryside business plan has come together: The Schmoyers and Lehs will bring back the restaurant together and, after two or three years, the Lehs will be there to take over the whole enterprise.

"This was the original plan, buy it, run it for two years and then sell it to someone who would love it," Nadine Schmoyer said. The Lehs are just the people to carry on the business, she said.

The Lehs confirmed that they are fully behind the plan. Nancy Leh said the partners have the expertise and motivation, and they have another big factor in their favor: "Everybody loves ice cream."

In September, the partners bought the property from McHugh. The building itself was nearly useless. And except for the community's goodwill for Countryside, the partners had little to start with.

"When we came here, there were four charred walls and a hole in the roof," Joel Leh said. "There was nothing in here." It was Joel, as an expert builder, who led the reconstruction.

Once Upper Milford Township approved the plans, the partners began removing the damaged building. A second round of approvals opened the way to building anew.

They brought in a new freezer, a new cooler, a new grill, new stainless steel tables, new sinks, new everything. The soft ice cream machines and the machine for hard ice cream were among the last items installed.

The partners didn't have to research the Lehigh Valley market to come up with a menu. The Schmoyers already had decades of experience.

Jim Schmoyer owned and operated Ice Cream World from 1973 to 2008. Today, the Schmoyers' daughter Kim MacIver owns and operates that business on her own.

Nadine Schmoyer revealed a few ice cream shop secrets: first, frozen bananas are a huge seller; and second, mint chocolate chip ice cream is more popular than either chocolate or vanilla. All those items will be on the menu.

As the horns kept honking for Countryside, Upper Milford Township Supervisor Rob Sentner recently added his personal stamp of approval for bringing back the old restaurant.

"I think it's great," he said. "It's an icon that's been here for 60 years. It should be here. I'm glad to see it's going to continue on."

The next-door neighbors also endorse the restaurant's rise from the ashes.

"It's something everybody is happy about," said Ryan Doney, who has lived across Route 100 from Countryside since 2010, a year before the fire. "It's been just sitting there so long."

Doney said his Countryside memories date to 1980s family outings when he was growing up in Emmaus. He said he'll be back when the doors reopen, but he won't be eating everything on the menu.

"I'm vegetarian, so I won't be going for a cheesesteak," he said. "I'll go for the ice cream."
610-820-6508
COUNTRYSIDE FACTS

* The Countryside restaurant atop South Mountain in Upper Milford Township was opened in 1957 by Leo Kressley, who called it Kressley Kreemy Freeze.

* J&N Countryside Ice Cream has been rebuilt with its dining room windows facing the Lehigh Valley, reversing the old layout. Tall poplar and ash trees interrupt the view, but beyond the trees is Lehigh County north to the Appalachian Trail.

* Once the new Countryside restaurant opens, the only entrance-exit will be on the Route 100 side. Southbound traffic will be allowed to enter from Route 29, but no exit is allowed onto Route 29.

* The partners who own J&N Countryside restaurant are Jim and Nadine Schmoyer, and Joel and Nancy Leh. Both couples live in Lower Macungie Township, and Nadine Schmoyer is first cousin to Joel Leh.

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countryside restaurant to reopen on south mountain

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Countryside Restaurant, Upper Milford landmark, to reopen atop South Mountain

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For more than five years, the fire-gutted Countryside ice cream restaurant sat idle at the Route 100-Route 29 split, atop South Mountain. To Nadine Schmoyer, it was a disturbing sight. "Every time I drove by, it made me sad," said Schmoyer, who owned the restaurant in the 1980s.

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A video about life in the countryside

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The project was to capture Rural America. We were only allowed to film from sunrise to sunset. Here is my piece, filmed with my new Panasonic GH4.