Ilha Grande ... an island paradise.
Trip Start
Mar 05, 2008
1
34
107
Trip End
Jan 11, 2009
Ilha Grande,
State of Parana,
Brazil
Thursday, May 29, 2008
We arrived off the boat at about 2pm, then walked the 10 minutes to our pousada (hotel). Most of the group paid for the 'trolley man' to carry their bags, but we deiced to continue with the motto of "you packed it, you carry it!" I know that as my bag will only get heavier, I am going to grow to hate that motto!
We got settled in, then walked back to the beach for a quick snack. We walked around the
local stalls and stores, came home, had a shower, then a serious nanna nap
Ilha Grande port coming in on the boat
. Went out for tea about 9.30pm. We had crepes and some really nice fruit juices.We had a fresh fruit breakfast (courtesy of chef Ian), then set out with Kata (our guide) and a few others to see a few of the beaches on the island. We walked for over two hours in total (doesn't sound like much,but most of it was uphill!) and saw four beaches along the way. The final beach was Praia Lopes Mendes - claimed by some to be the best in Brazil - which had sand so white and fine, it was like walking in flour! It even squeaked when you walked on it! Whilst the beach and water were beautiful and clear, it wasn't really good for swimming (just dumping waves). Ian said that it certainly doesn't beat Rottnest!!!! We swam, sunbathed, etc, then caught the taxi boat back to home port about 5pm.
That night, although we had planned to have pasta (coz the others had it the night before and said it was amazing!), I talked Ian into going to a seafood restaurant with everyone else. Unfortunately, whilst my massive cooker of grilled seafood was really nice, his chicken curry was absolutely appalling! It tasted like it had been smothered in salt. We didn't complain coz we thought that's just how it was meant to be, but found out later that someone else had ordered the same dish, and they tried his and said that it was disgusting
A view of one of Ilha Grande´s famous bays
. Course, it was all too late by then ... and it wasn't cheap either!We had a pretty early night ... although some others were still dragging themselves in at 6am - don't know how they keep it up! Those damned caiparinhas!!!!
Had a sleep in the next day, another fruit breakfast, then walked 40 minutes to one of the closer beaches. Had a swim, sunbake, read a little and had a really nice time.
That night I took Ian out for the pasta that he didn't get the night before (memories of salt still fresh in his mind!) I had to redeem myself for that bad decision. But when we got there .... the pasta place was closed!!!! Could this decision get any worse!!!???? We ended up having a nice mixed grill somewhere, but I have decided that he can make the decisions from now on, coz mine just seem to go wrong!!!
Our time on the island was done, so it was off on a boat, then a 2 hour trip in mini vans to the pinnacle of Brazil visits ... Rio de Janeiro!!!
