South American Adventures

My first stop in Brazil was a tiny fishing village called Barra da Lagoa. I found out about Barra da Lagoa when I met John in Mendoza and he told me that his grand plan was to have surfing lessons in Brazil and he was told that this was the place to go - in no time at all i had invited myself along for the ride. Somewhat of a fabled place, it doesn't rate a mention in the guide books, but has a steady flow of backpackers through word of mouth - all the more reason to visit!

The hostel at Barra da Lagoa had beach views from the balcony, free use of kayaks, snorkels and surfboards, generous Caipirihna cocktails, and a little old man who would appear every night between 10 and 11pm with a big box of his wife´s homemade chocolates for the grand price of 70c each... need I say more? I intended to stay for three days, but was there for a week and found it incredibly difficult to drag myself away even at that.

Sunset from the hostel balcony:

Next stop was Rio de Janiero. I had heard many stories about Rio and managed to get myself into a bit of a state about what a dangerous and terrible place it was, particularly heading there alone. Rio does call for a different kind of travel - the camera goes away, money finds itself in socks or several different pockets, and nothing non-essential leaves the hostel. But as soon as I arrived, despite the unfortunate rain, I adored Rio. It is an amazing and beautiful place and my safety fears were completely unfounded (with adequate precautions). In the sunshine that I finally found during my last two days, the city only got better and by the time I left I was completely in love with Rio.

My last stop in Brazil was a well known island a few hours south of Rio called Ilha Grande. This is the tropical paradise that you dream of! The weather was absolutely stunning from the moment I arrived and perfect for lazy days in the sunshine. The island is accessible only by boat, is largely uninhabited, has no cars and is thick with deep green jungle. You literally walk through the jungle, past the tiny monkeys swinging in the palms overhead, and find yourself on empty, pristine and isolated beaches. My idea of heaven!