12. ILHA GRANDE

Sadness

It was sad to leave Rio and Mellow Yellow... since I had the best week of my life partying there and met some awesome people!!! Although... Ilha Grande is only a couple of hours down the road... then a couple of hours by boat... and some much needed beach time awaits!!!

Backwards?

Hell yeah!

There are no cars, and no cashpoints. That is backwards. In fact, one storm knocked the power out on the island for several hours!

Pre-storm...

Is that a problem??

Hell no!!

In fact, that is what makes this place so charming... and such a great place to be to unwind after carnaval.
Besides which... lack of power in the evening doesn´t impact the bars ... since they still have candlelight and can still serve the beer! (And since its raining hard outside... where is the rush to move on???)

Paradise?

Hell yeah!

I have seen some amazing beaches in my life (Namely Patara, Turkey.... ooh & Weston-Super-Mare, nr Bristol), but the beaches here rule. Especially Lopez Mendez!

In fact, travelling couples, make your way here! The soft white sand stretches and stretches... until the clear atlantic ocean softly consumes it. As the sun and beach retracts, the bars and taverns alight the streets with soft flickering candles... perfect for a cosy drink and slow stroll hand in hand!!!

Or... if you are stuck here with a bunch of lads, like me... then there is still plenty to keep you amused...

Erm... how did that get there... I meant that the there are things to keep you amused, like trekking through the island to Lopez Mendez....

Lopez Mendez

Venturing into the green backdrop to the beaches to get to Lopez Mendes beach is well worth it! Arriving at the top of the ascent, the trees clear and the view of the island from up top is remarkable. Beyond that, monkey´s playing in the trees, some beautiful beaches... and then the king of all beaches on the island... Lopez Mendez beach. For once, I will let the pictures do the talking!!!

Here, the ocean really rips onto the beach. The waves are strong.... and perfect for body surfing....
this was a new one on me... but great fun!

Positioning your body at the right angle as the wave breaks sends you along way in very quickly! Sounds tame... but with the power of these waves, it is a good rush... (well, until it spits you out!).

And of course... the good thing about this place... no men of the sand trying to sell you things! See Rio Entry

Double Dutch

And of course, as I am discovering... it doesn´t matter where you go in the world... your experience is all about the people you meet! Today, I was lucky, I met two awesome Dutch ladies (From Amsterdam), who had a great sense of humour (well, you need to have one when your music exports are 2Unlimited.... and Venga boys!!!)

Unfortunately, pointing that out to them led to a torrent of abuse... the good quips related to crap English cuisine... like... why do we serve our fish & chips in newspaper? That one stumped me!

Why would you want ink on your food???

The most suitable response I could give them to that was singing....

The venga bus is coming... and everyone is jumping

That seemed to do the trick!!! (Probably because they were deathened by my tones... but, I will take all the victories I can!!!)

So, after 5 days of chilling out, its time to move on... next stop... Iguazu Falls.... after a 30 hour trip door to door... covering boats, taxis and buses!!!

Tanned & Chilled Bees Out!