Rio Rocks
Trip Start
Jan 23, 2006
1
24
28
Trip End
Jan 31, 2007
Florianopolis,
Brazil
Wednesday, May 3, 2006
We finally arrived after 4 flights, a 2 hour bus ride across town and 15 min walk, only to be told that our hostel internet booking had not been registered even though we had paid a deposit......Then came the good news, they would give us a room in their 'hotel' at the same price. Now after 3 months in hostels this was a big moment for us, and let me tell you this hotel is a real treat - our own bathroom, hot shower, cable TV...and it is right near Ipanema beach!
Lots of people warned us about crime in Rio so we have very few photos to upload this time, due Mark's knee knocking fear of his precious camera being stolen. It was left tucked up safely in our hotel room, watching discovery channel. Rio does have the same kind of signs of security as South Africa, with loads of burglar bars, security guards, electric fences etc, but the scenery and people are awesome. We went all over Rio, and even participated in cultural activities. We went to the Modern Art Museum, botanical gardens (saw some monkeys - other than Alison), Sugarloaf, hiked in a nearby Tijuca Nature Reserve (saw some more monkeys - other than Alison). We vowed when we got to Brazil we would run often, but have only done 3 so far, although one has involved a huge, steep hill!
Finished with Rio, we headed to a place called Curitiba, back to overnight buses! The drivers here are maniacs, and most bus rides involves me with a vomit bag close at hand, although so far, nothing (yet) solid has materialised.
Barra del Lagoa
I think the bus routes are training grounds for Brazilian F1 drivers. I am pretty sure Aerton Senna drove the 154 bus between Ipanema and Sugar Loaf as training.We caught a train from Curitiba which was amazing...it used to be the only route from the coast to this inland town and involves 12 tunnels and 62 bridges. It was amazing! Next was Morrettes where we decided to hang out for the local lunch Barreados which was a culinary delight - ingredients are such exotics as Manioc flour and meats cooked for 24 hours - tender baby, tender. An elderly gentleman begged us to eat at his place - we complied and he proceeded to talk non-stop in Portuguese to us, dishing up our food and instructions on how best to consume it - apparently you put it in your mouth and chew - who would have thought it?
From here, bus to Paranagua and finally a boat ride to the Island - Ilha do Mel...stunning! There are no roads or cars here, only footpaths and flip-flops! This island was beautiful, with amazing beaches and walks. We did get stranded on a beach at one stage when trying to cross the Island - the tide came in a closed our only route back to our tent. What do you do when stranded on a deserted Island beach??? We took our books out, relaxed and waited patiently for the tide to pull out.
After 3 nights of pure unadulterated relaxing (Cayman is hectic compared to Ihla do Mel), we headed further down south onto the next island. Half way we decided to stop in a German town called Joinville. It was kind-of weird to see signs advertising Eisbein. One of the reasons I think we ended up here, was the Lonely Planets' promise about how many blondes were walking the streets.
Next was onto Florianopolis and Ilha Santa Catarina. It is another beautiful island.
In Brazil, every day brings with it a different dog! As you walk around in the town, or on the beach or in the jungle so you are eventually met by a dog who follows you for the day, although yesterday I am worried we may have left ours to the vultures as his lost him with sea-cliffs on the one side and jungle on the other!
