Profile
Blog
Photos
Videos
Hola from Ihla Grande!
So we are stranded on this beau Island (state park of Rio - no cars allowed, v mountainous n jungle like with amazing beaches) until tomorrow and it´s raining and swealtering so decided to get on the internet and let you all know what we´ve been up to.
Since we last blogged......I went on a Favela tour despite my conscience telling me not to, however all ppl that live in the Favelas love it when you come round! They feel special that you are paying ot see their homes and all the kids ask you to take pics of them, so cute! Sixty percent of the money you pay goes towards the upkeep of this community centre for the children in the favela, it´s really good. The Rocihna favela houses 300,000 ppl - it´s a real eye opener. From the top of the favela you can see the rich quarter literally across the road, I´m finding it hard to comprehend how such poverty and wealth can live side by side. I mean right in the heart of the Ricinha the streets are so narrow and full of waste, it´s really sad. Everyone seems to be very happy and always singing.
The drug gang that run the Favela are called ADA (Amigos dos Amigos) and my, did my heart pound when we met some of them, casually holding shot guns!!! Obviously no pics were allowed. But I think the scariest part of the trip was the motorbike ride up the hill into the favela - ARRRGHHHHH is all I can say : s
So now we are in IHLA GRANDE. Staying in this awful pousada that is so damp that hanging our clothes in the room leaves them wet and I´ve had nightmares everynight.
On Fri it was really cloudy and rainy so we decided to go on a trek in the jungle, saw some prison ruins and found a waterfall. Much fun although very steep and even our merrels couldn´t help us in the slippery mud and I fell over eek! That eve tasted cuisine of the Island ´mocqueca mixta´ this type of fish stew - delish and met some crazy brazilians with whom we drank caipirinhas and danced samba.
Sat - took a boat trip to Lopez Medes beach - so so idyllic! Clear waters, good surf, lots of sund and lots of fun : )
Wildlife we have spotted on the Island: chocolate white crabs that burrow into the sand, HUGE snails, massive blue butterflies, noisy black monkies, lizards, humming birds and Gaivotas to name a few - unlucky we don´t know that names of everything but I´m loving the nature and TREES!
That´s us for now. Next stop Iguacu Falls!
Hope you´re all well. Lots of love Soph xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
- comments