Diary Entry
We reach Joinville in the late afternoon. The city is known for its large German and Italian communities. At the supermarket checkout, I meet a young lady named “Julia Brand,” who is pleased that her name sounds so German.
We stay here for a few nights and look around the small town.
Many colonists from Germany once settled in this region.
We take it easy and spend most of the day in the house pool until Sara’s best friend Shima arrives and we greet her warmly. She will accompany us for the rest of the trip. In the afternoon, we head downtown. Since it’s Sunday, the city seems deserted.
We find the only café that’s open and has a wide selection. We spend the rainy afternoon there, eating our way through the entire menu while Leon plays happily in the children’s corner. Many Brazilians also spend their Sundays relaxing here instead of going to church.
The history of Joinville
Joinville was founded in 1851 as Colônia Dona Francisca and later renamed in honor of François d’Orléans, prince of Joinville. The city has been heavily influenced by German immigrants who arrived in the region starting in the mid-19th century. These settlers brought their language, culture, and craftsmanship with them, leaving a deep mark on local society. Even today, there are German cultural associations in Joinville that focus on the history and preservation of German traditions. One notable example is the German Cultural Association Joinville, which focuses on both historical immigration and current cultural events. German immigration is considered a prime example of successful integration, from which both the immigrants and Brazilian society benefited.
In Joinville, we can see the influence of German immigrants. There are even half-timbered houses in the city center. Not far from here, the second-largest Oktoberfest in the world (after Munich) takes place.
We’ll also get to Blumenau, the site of Brazil’s German folk festival, but first we’ll head back to the seaside. For that, we’ll drive to Bombinhas.
