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Yesterday (by T)
So to update you on our trip to Paraty!!! We left the hostel in Ilha Grande, fairly sad to leave to be honest, there isn't anywhere i've been like it and would definatley recommend this island to anyone going to Brazil..Paradise....Anywho, we got the ferry after lugging our bags across the beach which in fact weigh about 2 and half stone!! Bloody heavy in the sweltering heat! At Angra dos Reis we waited before catching the bus to Paraty which took longer than expected and was fairly packed and definatley not luxurious. (Like being on an old double decker for 6 hours)
When we arrived in Paraty it looked pretty and very Brazillian, made our way to the hostel and were pleasantly suprised by the cute garden area and the quietness of the place. Also the fact that we had two bottom bunks and a private bathroom was again a luxury! Another treat is that we took our washing to the launderette as we really needed clean clothes and there was no washing machine, so trekked through the back streets to find the place, on our way we heard the loudest gunshot, still not sure who or what got shot but it scared us half to death!!! Anway after no casaulties, we walked around the historical centre to the harbour and beach, this is the older part of the town and is really cute, little white and colourful houses with lots of craft shops and cobbled streets, reminds us a bit of the Brazillian equivalent of Chester or York!
After an Ice cream we went back to the hostel where we met our Australian room mates, they were cool enough! But whilst outside swinging in the hammock we got talking to a few people, Alois (Nice French Girl), Ramond (Nice Dutch Guy) and Jan (Older German guy). after chatting about our travels and explaining our little life stories, we all went out for dinner which was slightly odd with strangers but still cool to be in company! Dinner was nice and we tried some Brazillian Platter and a flatbread thing..pretty tasty! Also we were introduced to a new cigarette, lucky strikes that you press a button on the filter and it turns it to menthol! Very Ingenious!! Alois and Ramon tried to persuade us to go clubbing but we were far too tired and decided to go back for a quiet drink and an earlish night.
Well yesterday was fairly quiet but was actually one of the better first days of somewhere new! Also we have not been eaten by ants or mosquitos in the night so that was cool!
Ok so today... (by B)
After a comfy nights sleep we woke up early to do odd jobs, wish brothers happy birthday, shout at banks, that sort of thing and then got on the little boat that belongs to the hostel. Was just us two and Alois and Ramond! (we headed down the river to the sea and made our way to a little island owned by some artic explorer, we were the only ones there! Had to get to the beach by jumping into the sea!
Luckily the sun came out and we had good fun chilling and messing in the sea. Headed back to the boat and to another beach. Our Brazilian captain took us on a walk through the jungle, and we are not talking the Ilha Grande paths here! This was walking through streams, through bushes over logs etc. Not so fun in a bikini and flip flops! We finally arrived at the point of a walk, a massive wheel used over a hundred years to make the sugar liquor which goes into a caiprinha. The captain then proceeded to climb the wheel, (over a twenty foot drop) to stand on a tiny little pillar. He then made us do the same (for no apparent reason). As we were all balancing on this pillar (Ramond had nearly fell to his death once at this point ) we stopped to take a picture. As we were posing, Aloise screamed nearly knocking Tiff down the drop and said Theres a massive spider on my foot. Well you can imagine our reaction. I pretty much lept (with Ramonds help) off the pillar, only narrowly avoiding the drop! Tiff managed to hold her nerve on the pillar long enough for a photo!
Made our way back through the jungle (Oddly with myslef charging off in front this time) and got to a little restaurant where the only thing we could afford was to share some french fries! We also had a beer to calm our nerves! Most needed smoke of my life I think!
On the way back to Paraty we stopped at a little lagoon where we feed some tropical looking fish, they pretty much jumped out of the water, Ramond and the captain even did some fishing! Also saw a little creature (sort of like a possom) which scurred out of the jungle to get a banana, but was took quick for us to get a decent photo!
This evening has been spent sorting more stuff out for our six hour bus trip to Sao Paulo tomorrow (we are in an actual HOTEL - how exciting!) and getting ready for the jazz festival in the historical centre!
Hope you are enjoying our blog and realise how lucky you are to be reading this following our near death jungle experience!
Miss you all
Biff xx
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