There is nothing more bohemian, than walking with flip-flops. For those who love it like me, there is nothing more comfortable to walk with your feet in the wind. I remember for example, living in the Bijagos (Guinea Bissau) while working for the UN during the first days somehow I ended up without shoes. Barefoot, I was 'saved' by locals on a tractor while I was trying to reach the hostel. They left me in front of a mini shop in the port of Bubaque (Central island of Bijagós) and said 'there, buy flip-flops from china!'.

Após um mês nas ilhas, fui convidada para uma festa num hotel onde todos sem excepção apesar de elegantemente vestido, todos tinham chinelos no pé!

OK, I know what happens on the island, stays on the island. But around here, and with the summer breeze in the air with temperatures rising just makes you want to go the beach at the first opportunity.
We've done beach this year already, when we were in Brazil, for a very special trip. (SEE HERE)

OK, eu sei que o que acontece na ilha, fica na ilha. Mas por cá, e com o cheirinho de verão no ar com as temperaturas a subir só dá vontade de ir espreitar a praia logo na primeira oportunidade.
Nós este ano já fizemos praia, quando estivemos no Brasil, numa viagem muito especial. (VER AQUI) 

There, there were two things things that I had to look for as soon as I had the chance: Bikinis and flip-flops. Havaianas and Ipanemas, my favorite brands!! But which one, is the best? 

In my opinion the Havaianas have a super cool surfer style and design, and with very fashionable patterns, very summery! As you can see from the one I bought, in the photo below. But they are not the most comfortable for long days, or for long walks.

Lá houve duas coisas coisas que procurei logo que pude: Bikinis e Chinelos. Havaianas e Ipanemas, as minhas favoritas!! Mas qual a melhor?
Na minha opinião as Havainas têm um design cool super surfista e agora as femininas com a parte dos dedos mais curtinha, e padrões muito fashion, muito verão! Como podem ver nas que comprem na foto em baixo. Mas não são as mais confortaveis para longos dias, ou para andar muito.

In this respect, the Ipanema's have a more feminine design with original patterns as those that I bought and you can see in the picture below. They have a softer and slightly thicker base and are therefore more comfortable. Perfect for walking and even dancing! The brand has also ecological considerations: The indigenous-ecological mixture is reflected in the design, decorated with graphics made by representatives of Kisêdjê tribe, Xingu. For their participation, the Indigenous tribe received part of the royalties paid to Gisele Bundchen, the brand´s face. In addition, it donates part of the income from the sale of sandals to the project Y Ikatu Xingu, in protection of headwaters of the Xingu River, threatened by deforestation.

Nesse aspecto, as Ipanema têm um design mais feminino, com padrões super originais como que as que comprei e podem ver na foto em baixo. Têm uma base mais mole e ligeiramente mais grossa e por isso mais confortavel. Perfeito para caminhar e até dançar! A empresa também tem considerações ecológicas: A mistura indígeno-ecológica reflete-se no design da sandália, enfeitada com grafismos feitos por representantes da tribo kisedjê, do Xingu. Pela participação, os índios receberam parte dos royalties pagos a Gisele Bundchen, representante da marca. Além disso, doa parte dos rendimento da venda das sandálias ao projeto Y Ikatu Xingu, de preservação das nascentes do rio Xingu, ameaçadas pelo desmatamento.