The stage! Definitely more lively at night… the first half was a talent competition.30-May-2009 05:57, Panasonic DMC-FX3, 2.8, 5.8mm, 0.033 sec, ISO 200
After torrential rain appeared in the paradise that is Ilha Grande on Thursday night, we decided to cut this trip short and move on quickly to Paraty; an old colonial town with a centre that is completely cut off to traffic and has been declared a national historical monument. Unfortunately, the weather here was also poor, but we still managed to have a cracking time!
The cobbled streets aren’t the easiest things in the world to navigate; more than one stubbed toe when wearing flipflops!
The cobbled streets aren’t the easiest things in the world to navigate; more than one stubbed toe when wearing flipflops!29-May-2009 20:05, Canon Canon EOS 400D DIGIT, 8.0, 53.0mm, 0.004 sec, ISO 800
Paraty is a beautiful place, although when they describe the streets as “cobbled” they actually mean “likely to break your leg if you put one footstep wrong”. We did not know where we’d be staying but a friendly tout at the bus station (only R$8 from Agna dos Reis to Paraty, sit on the left side of the bus to see the stunning coastline) ushered us towards “the cheapest hostel in the historic centre” that is Historic Centre Hostel. He was right, it’s not bad! They had no double rooms available on the first night so this was also our first night staying in the dorm, but after that we had our own double including ensuite bathroom and mosquito net at the very reasonable R$70 a night.
Good timing! Paraty has a festival on!29-May-2009 20:22, Canon Canon EOS 400D DIGIT, 7.1, 45.0mm, 0.006 sec, ISO 800
We’d also managed to time our visit with the Festa do Divino Espirito Santo 2009, a festival that ran for two weeks in the main square of Paraty. If the weather was going to be crap, it didn’t matter, this would keep us entertained! Many food stalls dotted the area in front of the stage, and not your average burger & chips either. Japanese, Brazilian and Italian treats were all for the taking and very reasonable. Apparently they actually had a “free food” mini festival; I was most disappointed to find out I’d missed this.
John’s birthday photo! He doesn’t like smiling… at $20 entry for his BBQ with all you can eat steak and unlimted Caipirinha, I’d probably be a bit worried about the final bill as well!
John’s birthday photo! He doesn’t like smiling… at $20 entry for his BBQ with all you can eat steak and unlimted Caipirinha, I’d probably be a bit worried about the final bill as well!30-May-2009 02:33, Canon Canon EOS 400D DIGIT, 3.5, 28.0mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 400
Our arrival also happily coincided with John’s (the owner) birthday, so the R$20 (~£6.50) all you can eat & drink barbeque was a welcome surprise. It was even better than it sounded on the tin, with as much Caipirinha as you can drink and more steak than we could eat. You heard that right… I eventually had to turn it down I was so full! It was beautiful! We then headed back to the festival to check out the night’s entertainment, which turned out to be a slightly strange talent contest with a Susan Boyle tribute, break dancing and various other acts similar to BGT. At a very late our, we crawled into our dorm bunk beds and awaited the next day.
Who like to fight!30-May-2009 15:29, Canon Canon EOS 400D DIGIT, 11.0, 102.0mm, 0.002 sec, ISO 800
Which didn’t start bright and breezy in mood or weather, and we wandered down to the poorest beach we’d seen to date to gain some semblance of reason and purpose. On the way we saw a street crowded with very entertaining Fiddler Crabs who happily pranced and fought their way over the cobbled streets.
The stall had some very interesting herbs…30-May-2009 18:22, Canon Canon EOS 400D DIGIT, 20.0, 63.0mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 800
Back at the festival a couple more stalls had opened, included one with a variety of very interesting herbs & spices… They also had some guys sprinting around the festival wearing pretty scary looking fancy dress costumes that had the kids screaming in laughter or terror I wasn’t completely sure.
Munching some japanese noodles at the festival.30-May-2009 21:43, Panasonic DMC-FX3, 2.8, 5.8mm, 0.033 sec, ISO 200
After this we retired to the hostel to get changed for a slightly tamer second night out with a few beers and some Japanese noodles (R$6) to satisfy our hunger. I also managed to find out what the white blocks on a stick that are always being sold on the beach were… I think… tastes like a cheese tofu combination; definitely not coconut which was another guess. Anyway, a much more chilled evening, leaving us ready to take on the famous Paraty waterfalls the next day!
Just round the corner from the hostel. You can see the weather was pretty bad – the first clouds and rain we’d seen in Brazil made us abandon ship at Ilha Grande and push on to Paraty.29-May-2009 19:50, Canon Canon EOS 400D DIGIT, 9.0, 28.0mm, 0.005 sec, ISO 800
In the sunshine this place must be amazing, as it was it is still very beautiful and peaceful.29-May-2009 19:52, Canon Canon EOS 400D DIGIT, 9.0, 28.0mm, 0.005 sec, ISO 800
There are horse drawn cars everywhere, as the centre of Paraty is closed off to cars and completely pedestrianised.29-May-2009 19:57, Canon Canon EOS 400D DIGIT, 6.3, 105.0mm, 0.004 sec, ISO 800
Lots of boats are around this harbour, which used to be the main port for the export of gold from the area.29-May-2009 19:57, Canon Canon EOS 400D DIGIT, 9.0, 28.0mm, 0.005 sec, ISO 800
There are lots of boutique shops which sell art, sculpture, clothes, jewellry and more,29-May-2009 20:04, Canon Canon EOS 400D DIGIT, 4.5, 28.0mm, 0.02 sec, ISO 800
The cobbled streets aren’t the easiest things in the world to navigate; more than one stubbed toe when wearing flipflops!29-May-2009 20:05, Canon Canon EOS 400D DIGIT, 8.0, 53.0mm, 0.004 sec, ISO 800
Argh! Lots of Captain Jack’s wandering around and also people dressed as african slaves to help illustrate some of Paraty’s history.29-May-2009 20:08, Canon Canon EOS 400D DIGIT, 7.1, 68.0mm, 0.006 sec, ISO 800
These are stools studded with shells, mirrors, buttons and ceramics, we’ve seen quite a few of these.29-May-2009 20:14, Canon Canon EOS 400D DIGIT, 5.0, 68.0mm, 0.01 sec, ISO 800
Will (left) is John’s (right, hostel owner) adopted son. And a very loud snorer.30-May-2009 02:31, Canon Canon EOS 400D DIGIT, 4.0, 48.0mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 400
John’s birthday photo! He doesn’t like smiling… at $20 entry for his BBQ with all you can eat steak and unlimted Caipirinha, I’d probably be a bit worried about the final bill as well!30-May-2009 02:33, Canon Canon EOS 400D DIGIT, 3.5, 28.0mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 400
Ben, Wendy & Lynette having a great time and now bestest of buddies with their Caipirinhas.30-May-2009 02:34, Canon Canon EOS 400D DIGIT, 4.0, 28.0mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 400
Ben – not sure what he’s doing here, possibly trying to suck up fruit from a distance…30-May-2009 05:47, Panasonic DMC-FX3, 2.8, 5.8mm, 0.067 sec, ISO 160
The stage! Definitely more lively at night… the first half was a talent competition.30-May-2009 05:57, Panasonic DMC-FX3, 2.8, 5.8mm, 0.033 sec, ISO 200
Singing in the rain! He was going to bust out some George Samson breakdancing moves, but didn’t want to spill his beer.30-May-2009 06:08, Panasonic DMC-FX3, 2.8, 5.8mm, 0.033 sec, ISO 100
The street just around from our hostel was quite muddy and pretty unpleasant as it was the first to flood whenever it rains. However, this meant it had lots of wildlife!30-May-2009 15:28, Canon Canon EOS 400D DIGIT, 9.0, 105.0mm, 0.002 sec, ISO 800
Yet more fighting. They disappear at the vibrations of footsteps, but quickly venture out to start fighting again.30-May-2009 15:31, Canon Canon EOS 400D DIGIT, 10.0, 93.0mm, 0.002 sec, ISO 800
Birds on a log, there are loads of these, a bit like vultures but not quite…30-May-2009 15:40, Canon Canon EOS 400D DIGIT, 18.0, 105.0mm, 0.001 sec, ISO 800
Back at the festival, we found this rather impressive array of spices & medicines on one particular stall.30-May-2009 18:21, Canon Canon EOS 400D DIGIT, 10.0, 28.0mm, 0.004 sec, ISO 800
These crazy characters were running around a large playground to drums, basically scaring little children.30-May-2009 18:33, Canon Canon EOS 400D DIGIT, 20.0, 82.0mm, 0.025 sec, ISO 800
This little canine came wandering over, being exceptionally friendly and performing tricks. Normally a prelude to begging for food!30-May-2009 23:51, Panasonic DMC-FX3, 2.8, 5.8mm, 0.033 sec, ISO 100
If you see people wandering the beach with white blocks on a stick, that they then burn and sell to you; they are some weird hybrid of cheese and tofu, and quite tasty!31-May-2009 00:43, Panasonic DMC-FX3, 2.8, 5.8mm, 0.033 sec, ISO 160
The cobbled streets aren’t the easiest things in the world to navigate; more than one stubbed toe when wearing flipflops!
Good timing! Paraty has a festival on!
John’s birthday photo! He doesn’t like smiling… at $20 entry for his BBQ with all you can eat steak and unlimted Caipirinha, I’d probably be a bit worried about the final bill as well!
Who like to fight!
The stall had some very interesting herbs…
Munching some japanese noodles at the festival.
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