Snorkelling, drunk guides and more..
Photos:
Ilha Grande
Day 13 Sat 11/9, Ilha Grande (Villa Abraao)
A warm sunny day. Perfect for a day out on a boat. I decided, with a group of flks frm the hostel to go snorkelling – my first attempt.
The boat was very comfortable and had about 70 – 80 passengers, with two levels. The guide was bilingual and a young guy in his early twenties. After a 2 min talk in Portuguese and a 30 second English translation, we were on our seafaring voyage. Great weather and sunshine. First stop Lagoa Azul for an hour of swimming and snorkelling. I put on the equipment and got in the water. Brrrr, the water felt about 15 deg C. I swam for a bit and came back to the warm sunshine on the boat. I made another attempt and then called it a day! I didnt see much sinc the water was a bit murky anyway.
We were served fruit and then it was off to Praia Santana for 50 minutes. A dirty beach, but a lovely little church.
Third and last stop was for lunch. Shared a meal with two other folks.
Our guide popped open his first beer (a can of Skol) after his introductory speech. He continued to imbibe at regular intervals and was quite blotto by the time we got back. His attempts at talking after the last stop for lunch were quite funny. He was giggly and started confusing his left and right. His English translations steadily became shorter, inaccurate and quite funny.
Back at the hostel, a shower to wash off the salt and headed to the hammck to try and read for a bit. Ended up talking to others. Dinner at the hostel and then it was off to the beach for a night of suco and some live Samba music.
While my attempt at snorkelling was short-lived and a failure, I had a very enjoyable day.
Day 14 Sun 12/9, Ilha Grande (Villa Abraao)
Another assorted and scrumptuous spread for breakfast – fruit, fruit juice, milke, coffee, cereals, granola, oats, two cakes, biscuits, peanuts covered in chocolate and ham and cheese sandwiches.
Most of the folks I spent time with the past 3 days were off after breakfast. Jordi, Beck, Aoife, Karen and Claire were off to Paraty and then Trinidade. I am sure I will see them in Trinidade before we say our final goodbyes.
Off on a 5 hour hike to Saca de Ceu. It was an easy hike along the jungle, passing 3 pretty beaches, a mangrove marsh, restaurants and backyards of houses.
Back at the hostel, I got a surprise as I walked into my room after a refreshing shower. Two co-travellers from Rio were to be my roommates. After searching the village to find a locker for the girls, we walked around for a bit and then had dinner on the beach. The chairs and tables were set on a sand. We had peixa com banana (fish with banana) and bolhos de bacalahu. Delicious!
Wrapped up the evening with a suco on the beach at the same place I have been frquenting! Run into more hostel mates.
Tags: Travel
Damu