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On The Beaten Gringo Trail
Ilha Grande, meaning large island, is acessible only by boat and would rival any Thai beach due to its beauty and comparitvely fewer tourists. Framed by thick jungle covered mountains, it is car free and has only two maibn streets from which others ascend into the mountains leading to hostals and residencial homes. It is absolute paradise! From the main beach you can hike into the jungle to many of the other stunning coves and stretching white sand surf beaches.
It was on this trek that we met Gabrielle the Italian and his Portugese lady friend. Nearly tripping over backwards on the muddy jungle path to speak to us, Gabrielle was busting with conversation. He would jump from one topic to the next practicing his English with us, then translate it into Portugese for his lady friend all while kicking a football, smoking a cigarette and generally being a jolly old smart arse. It didn't take him long to find out we were all leaving Ilha Grande on the same day and heading in the same direction so without even a seconds thought he and his lady friend insisted we ride with them. And so we made it to our next hostal thanks to a crazy Italian driver in a little red hatchback, blarring salsa music... and it only cost us a lunch! They really went out of their way to drive us into the isolated costal area of Trindade, down winding jungle roads and his final comment as to why he did it was because he was passing on the kind of hospitality that he had recieved on his own travels. Absolute Ledges!
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