Day 93 - Ilha Grande, Brazil

We have truly arrived in paradise today. We wake up and the rain has stopped and we can even see blue sky. Although the power still isn't back on. 

After breakfast overlooking the beach, we buy a boat ticket to take us to Mendes Lopez beach which is rated as one of the best beaches in Brazil. It is the other side of the island to Vila do Abaaro where we are staying and it is possible to walk it in 3 hours over the mountain but we opt for the easier boat journey given we have limited time and want to hit the beach. 

When we arrive it is the absolute definition of paradise. The beach is like something out of a postcard or the bounty advert. As we are the first boat over today it is completely deserted and ours are the first footsteps to break the sand today. 

We had an even better surprise in store for us though. This wasn't even the Mendes Lopez beach but just some other beach they drop us off at. As the water is too choppy at Mendes they drop people here first instead. We have a 1km hike over the top of the mountain to the other side. It takes about 25 mins to walk over and as we get over the top of the mountain we can hear the roar of the waves and as we arrive we see a huge beach stretched out before us as far as the eye can see. This was more like what we were expecting. 

Mendes Lopez is hands down the most gorgeous beach we have ever been on. It is idyllic. It's what we were expecting from Thailand but Thailand has managed to taint a lot of their beaches with too many tourists. This is completely unspoilt, rustic and not touristy at all - it is empty and remains like that for most of the day. At the most there was only ever 100 or so people on this vast beach. It stretches for miles and has golden white sand with waves crashing in that surfers die for. There no shops or restaurants just a few guys with a cool box selling drinks and hiring out surf boards. 

Panoramic view. 

There are loads of crabs darting around. Some pretty big ones too. 

This shows just how empty this beach is at 1pm. 

We are also really lucky with the weather too. All the way on the boat it looked as if we were in for another day of rain but it cleared up into a glorious day. 

Is that Daniel Craig coming out of the sea? Or just a Diet Coke break for the ladies? ;-)

I wish they did surf lessons here. Itching to have a go but alas, this is the nearest I get to a surf board today. 

My fave pic of the day. 

We did see something really strange on this beach though. We were watching this huge mama coat herself with this thick white cream for at least 20 mins. We couldn't figure out what it was as it looked like the thickest coat of sun tan lotion every applied. It turned her skin completely white. Baffled Nat puts it down to skin cancer which doesn't quite sound right as she is in a bikini and only applying it to her arms, legs and arm pits. They she proceeds to the sea to wash it all off. Then it dawns on Nat. This minging woman is removing the hair on her arms, legs and pits on the beach with immac. God knows how much hair was floating around the ocean after this beast had finished removing her hair. I didn't go anywhere near that spot of sea but I bet it was like floating seaweed. 

Here is a picture of a normal woman who doesn't remove her hair... (On the beach that is) (note the use of the Yiannis trade mark "........." there).   

The only shop on the beach. 

The surfers were amazing. The waves were so huge and current so strong we couldn't swim in the sea but there were some real pro's out their surfing. Fantastic to watch. 

About as busy as it got all day. 

Nat waiting to see that if that hunk comes out of the sea again. 

At about 3pm we head back to get the boat back. The walk is so picturesque in itself. Phenomenal bamboo trees along the way. 

Back to the beach where the boat picks us up from. We had a quick dip in the calm waters before heading back. 

The boat back was full of pensioners and we were sat next to a couple who talked constantly about what amazing walkers they were (they had walked across from the town and "darted off like greyhounds" (her words)). She also kept saying to people "my husband would like to know if you were impressed by our trek today". Hilarious to listen to!

When we got back the electricity was finally back on - mad dash to charge everything that we own that could be charged! After a shower and change we go for a few beers with an old friend - "shit head" is back on the scene! Haven't played it since Bali - almost forgot the rules. Haven't forgotten how to lose though. 

We then go for dinner in one of the gorgeous restaurants on the beach. Such a lovely setting sat on the beach underneath the stars and moon with the tide lapping at our feet. Life really doesn't get much better than this. Ilha Grande is easily one of the most beautiful places on earth. 

It's a gorgeous night. We can even see the moon and stars tonight. Our first night without hard core rain in five nights. 

The moon rising over the mountain. 

The restaurant we ate at last night looking lovely without the rain.  Genius use of umbrellas. 

We go for a walk down the beach after dinner and I have a small issue crossing a fast flowing stream that leads into the sea. 

Here is the bugger. It was flowing faster than I thought. 

Nat wave dodging. 

Time to move on again tomorrow unfortunately. The only consolation being that I don't think you could ever leave this place having spent enough time and without wanting to spend more time here. Again, the list of places to definitely come back to grows ever longer. This is firmly up at the top though.