Crowds gathered around the Ponte JK on the Corpus Christi holiday, Thursday (4), enjoying the sunny weather to engage in outdoor sports and leisure activities at the Paranoá Lake shore.
The couple Luiz Felipe, 20, and Isadora Saraiva, 25, who usually prefer open-air outings like visiting Água Mineral, changed their plans due to the park’s closure and chose the lakefront for their break.
“We had been planning this outing since the start of the week. Since the pools at Água Mineral haven’t reopened, we decided to come here. We wanted a change of routine and even enjoyed a unique breakfast by the lake. It was very nice,” said carpenter Luiz Felipe.
The main activities available at the shore include kayaking, pedal boating, and stand-up paddleboarding (SUP), which attract many enthusiasts. Isadora listed SUP as one of her favorite activities.
“I’m building up courage to get into the water, but the main plan was just to get out of the house since the day is beautiful. Whenever we come here, we rent a board and do SUP on the lake,” she added.
Optimism about the crowd at Ponte JK was also shared by those working there, like Pedro Henrique Rodrigues, 27, who rents kayaks, pedal boats, and SUP boards. He noted that client flow increases significantly during holidays and weekends.
“I’ve worked here for almost a year. So far, the movement is steady and fair, but we expect it to improve later. The flow should be similar to a busy Saturday or Sunday, which is great. We expect between 200 and 300 people enjoying the water today,” he said.
The holiday also drew new visitors, such as software developer Withene Costa, 23. He chose the Ponte JK area to start a hobby he had long planned: fishing. The calm day off gave him the push needed to start.
“I had thought about fishing and bought the gear just to try it. I took advantage of the long holiday to come here and experiment. I bought bait, hooks, and line and arrived early around 8 a.m. It’s a new and very enjoyable experience. The shore is lively, with many people enjoying swimming in the lake,” he explained.
Vinícius Freitas de Souza, 26, a video production company owner, also followed the same leisure plan. He gathered his cousins for lake activities, including a dog wearing a life jacket joining the group in the water.
“We were at home with no plans for the holiday when someone suggested coming to the lake for kayaking and paddleboarding. I had been here before, but it’s the first time the family came together like this. The water is a bit cold today, but the sun made the atmosphere very pleasant,” he said.
The holiday vibe was also felt by street vendors. Luís Carlos Nogueira, 58, who has sold acarajé and drinks for four years by the Ponte JK, says the place has become a well-known spot for lake visitors.
“Today is perfect for the beach, and we expect it to be crowded. We offer drinks and acarajé, and the flow is very good. We usually get many visitors on weekends, but with the holiday starting on Thursday, the number of customers rises a lot. From mid-afternoon, this place gets crowded, and that’s when we work the most,” he shared.
