After a brief and nervous stay on Copacobana in Rio de Janeiro we caught a transfer 2hrs down the coast. A short boat ride on a tiny vessel, the captain drinking beer the whole way, to Ilha Grande, a stunning tropical island with a weather system of its own. A small sleepy fishing village whose numbers swell from 4000 to 25,000 in the high season, luckily it was low. Our hostel, Beirgarten, felt like a tree house with views out over the jungle. Spent a day at Lopez Mendez, a
picture perfect beach with clear, cool waters, white sand, coconut palms and all. On the walk over we met teeny tiny monkeys who looked like ewoks gone mad. Nearly stepped on a beautiful but deadly black white and red coral snake.Day 2 saw G come down with a mild tummy bug from a dodgy caipirinha, so a day of bed rest was needed. But by day 3 we were ready to face an 8km steep climb to view a waterfall. The sound of dying dinosaurs led us to a troop of 7 or 8 howler monkeys, with tiny baby clinging to mum high up in the very tops of the trees. Luckily we didnt upset them or they would have used their favourite defence mechanism and showered us in poo.
Brasil has introduced us to the concept of by the kilo restaurants. A truely great way of dining when on a budget and dont want to mess around trying to speak the language. They are like sizzlers on speed! And our hostel specialized in vegetarian, a welcome change from the masses of meat on offer usually.
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