Day 92 - Paraty to Ilha Grande, Brazil

We wake up to yet more rain this morning but that's fine as our transfer (Easy Travel) is picking us up at 12:00 to take us to Ilha Grande further along the coast. Luckily we are the last pick up so didn't have to go around Paraty picking other people up. 

Yet again, the scenery along the way is amazing as we wind along the lovely coastal road with hundreds of little islands rising up out of the sea. 

We arrive at the small port to get our boat across to the island. It takes about an hour to get across. 

The water is so choppy along the way. I have never seen the water level rise and fall so much out at sea. One minute we as looking up into the sky the next face into the ocean. 

Leaving the mainland behind. 

Arriving at Vila do Araabo which is the only little town on the island. The island had remained strangely untouched mainly due to its history of being a pirates lair, then a leper colony and then a prison where political prisoners were held along with some of Brazils worst criminals until the mid 1990s. Kind of like a Brazillian Alcatraz. So no wonder the place has been left relatively untouched from developers. Since the 90s there had been a bit of development along the palm stuffed beach front in the main town but it had remained incredibly picturesque. There are only three vehicles on the island a rubbish truck, fire engine and police/ambulance vehicle and no cash machines. It is like going back in time. 

The town only consists of a few roads and most of the action is along the stunning beach front. 

We arrive at our little Pousada (Guesthouse) called Tropicana Pousada. Luckily I had done my research when booking and it is only 800m from the port as the only transport around here is foot or boat and the roads are not built for two wheelie cased, phoney travellers. 

One of the three vehicles on the island - the police car / ambulance. 

The beach that runs along the front of the town. This island is a bit of a Mecca for beach lovers with 102 beaches on this relatively small island. 

We sit and have a few beers on the beach with the waves lapping at our feet. 

After we move on down the road and manage to stumble across our first big Brazillian footie game on Brazillian soil. The atmosphere even in this little town was electric. It was a big local game, Bahia vs Fulminese (the latter being the Rio team). I think it was a cup game (don't quite get the set up of the Brazillian league yet - it's a bit weird). Every bar had it on and it was pretty much 50-50 in terms of fans watching which made for a great atmosphere. Fulminese won 1-2, scoring in the fifth minute of injury time. The place erupted and suddenly from nowhere there are drums and a huge band playing celebrating. Great stuff. 

As we left that bar the the rain started again with thick cloud rolling in down the mountain almost covering the town. And then the power goes off which is met with a huge eruption of cheering throughout the town. The Brazilians do know how to embrace life and have a good time. They are like it everywhere - go over a bump in the road on a bus and they even cheer. Lovely people.  

So lucky that the game had just finished before the power cut or I bet there would have been a riot. 

The town is now in pitch black as the thick cloud covers any moon light too. Luckily two of the bigger restaurants down one end of the beach have generators so we head there for dinner. We attempt to sit outside on the beach but even under huge umbrellas the driving rain is too much for us. 

After a gorgeous meal of fish, rice and sautéed veg we make it back to the hotel dashing from shelter to shelter to avoid getting too wet. We made it relatively dry only to get to the door and find out that Nat had left the bloody room key in the restaurant! Of all the times to leave a key in the restaurant she picks a pearler. Off I trot back into the rain to retrieve the key. I gave up trying to stay dry in the end. 

After stumbling around our room with an iPhone torch as our only light we manage to get into bed. Let's hope we have power and sunshine tomorrow.