Ilha Grande, Days 5 - 7

If Rio is a beach lover's paradise, then Ilha Grande is a paradise lover's paradise.  With beaches.  Ilha Grande (Big Island) is about two hours south of Rio down the Atlantic coast, and is reachable via a 40 minute ferry or boat ride from either Mangaratiba or Angra dos Reis.  We left from Angra.  The journey down from Rio along the coast was stunning.  Cerulean waters meet golden beaches on one side, whilst the verdent jade of the Atlantic forest cover the rolling foothills to the north.  I could have stayed on our bus all day, but of course the purpose of the journey was to find Ilha Grande!

There are no vehicles or banks on the island, and even electricity is sporadic heightening the welcome sense of separation from modernity.  Ilha Grande has an interesting history, hosting a prison as recently as the early 1990's before being closed down and the island turning to eco-tourism.  During the age of discovery and colonisation, immigrants from the old world to Brazil were quarantined on the island to protect against the raging cholera endemic at the time.

We stayed at the Green Studio Beach Hostel, just off the main beach and full of interesting characters - both tourists and locals.  One chap that  would pop in from time to time was probably about 70 years old, looked the height of health, spoke no English but constantly urged us to drink caipirhinas.  That's what I understood from his gap-toothed mutterings anyway.  Breakfast consisted of what I now consider the typical Brasilien morning fare of cake, super-strength coffee and fruit.

We managed to trek up into the jungle on our penultimate day to discover the fabled Cachoceira da Feiticeira waterfall and ruined aquaduct.  The intense humidity whilst under the trees is exactly how I imagine the Amazon.

Here is a shot of my attempts to refresh myself under the waterfall:

Estoy Hecha Mierda
A couple of days after 'catching a few too many rays', my shoulders were toast.  It was at this nadir of my physical condition that we ambled past a room of Chileans.  I am not sure of the Collective Noun for a group of Chileans, so I shall use poetic license and call them a 'mine'.  We ambled past a mine of Chileans in the midst of energetic partying.  A friendlier bunch I have rarely met.  Of course they called us in and dosed us up with Caipirinha and Pisco, whilst making music with no more than a saucepan and table (there was aso a guitar).  Although they could speak perfect English, they were too drunk to recall my pained protestations each time they slapped me on the shoulders and back.  Hilarious at the time but agony for the next few days...

Rio de Janeiro, Days 1 - 4

At the Copa, Copacabana

They really do know how to live down in Rio.  A quick stroll to the beach (of which they have ten stunners to choose from) followed by a day of frollicking and lounging in the sun.  Combined with a choice of coco, caiparinha or beer and watching the sunset over the ocean, it is a good life.

Of course, we Brits also know how to live life.  I spent my days at the beach covering myself with factor 50, griping about the blisters my flip-flops were giving me and stopping my hat from blowing away!

Rio is nown as the `Cidade Marvellhosa`, a title it certainly deserves.  I have mentioned the beaches, but there is so much more.  Pau do AcucarSugarloaf mountain is a main tourist draw but is impressive.  Almost Alpine style cable car ascent sent my mind back to various snow-capped mountains and valleys.  Santa Teresa gives the  town a quaint colonial feel with French influences, now inhabited by the local artistic community.  Lapa is the party quarter - a Friday night here entails sipping caiparinhas and dancing samba on the streets.  Then there is Ipanema, the bohemian area.  Requires more than a bohemian budget.

Pictures shall follow if I ever get time!

Ash.

So it comes to this - an actual blog post

Well, after spending the last half an hour attempting to resurrect my old travel blog, it has become apparent that I have only managed to change the template (about five times) with the result being that it looks even worse than before!  Hmmm...I'll get back to sorting out the formatting I am sure.

For the time being, all that needs to be said is that me and Jenny are flying out from Heathrow on Tuesday heading for Rio.  I say flying out, we may be lucky to even get to Heathrow with the current Arctic weather conditions.  This isn't a Snowboarding blog any more thank you very much Mr. Weather!

Let's see what the weather is like at the moment:

Nice and chilly!  At least we have been practising our Patagonia-wear...

Rio is looking like a touch more tropical.  I wonder how ever will we cope :)

So for now please accept my apologies on the poor state of my blog, but be reassured I have six months to nurse it back to health.

Ash.