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Ilha Grande and Paraty
So after all the excitement of Rio, I was glad to be making the short trip to Ilha Grande for some relaxation time. And what a place it is. Your stereotypical tropical island paradise really. Beautiful beaches, amazing rainforests, no cars, friendly people, lovely food etc etc. I arrived on the island planning on staying for two nights. Well, I kept trying to leave but just couldn`t bring myself to get on the boat until I`d been there for 6 nights.
I stayed at the Overnativa Green Hostel which was run by a lady called Cristina who cooked dinner for us every night for a fraction of the cost of a restaurant meal - and it was fantastic Braziliam home cooking; meat, rice, beans, potato, salad. Piles and piles of it. She often threw in a glass of wine, a Caiperinha or some such beverage as well. Lovely.
So the days on Ilha Grande were mainly spent lounging on the beaches, treking in the rainforests and eating great food. Just what the doctor ordered. One day, a group of us trecked to one of the nicest beaches on the island (two strenuous hours over mountains, through the forests). Just back from one of the beaches en route, a local beckoned us over to the bank of a swamp where he pointed out a massive crocodile not 20 metres away. Brilliant! I had to give him the eyes though, just to let him know who was boss. You can`t allow for confusion in these situations.
After I finally left Ilha Grande, I took the bus a couple of hours down the coast to Paraty, a small seaside colonial town, which was lovely too. All cobbled streets, plazas, restaurants and beaches. The first evening I took a walk till I came across a bar showing the Fluminense V Vasco de Gama, Rio derby where I enjoed the game with a pizza and a few beers with about 50 passionate, screaming locals.
Next day I took the bus to the nearby village of Trinidade which is surrounded by stunning beaches, on one of which I spent most of the afternoon, accompanied by my book, a beer and some salt cod croquettes. That evening Jez and Charlie, who I`d met in Rio and also on Ilha Grande, arrived in Paraty and we went out for a lovely meal in the old town (seafood stew made with coconut milk) which we followed up with a few beers in their hostel bar.
The following morning I left Paraty behind and took the bus to Sao Paulo, the biggest city in the Southern Hemisphere. I sensed this would be a bit different to the sleepy seaside towns...
- comments
Al Mulrooney Hoverboard! You had a Brazilian yet?
Lazar Sorry to hear that you are having such a hard time on all those beaches with lovely local food and friendly locals. Reminds me so much of August just passed here!!! Glad your well
OMH You do know don't you to: 'Never Smile at a Crocodile, No you can't get freindly with a crocodile...' And you thought that being in a different hemisphere you'd be well away from my cheery singing...