On Wednesday, the tour proper starts. We are bussed to a port (somewhere) and are taken on a rustic schooner to Ilha Grande (meaning big island) of the southern coast of Brazil. I am not great on boats, so I sit tight looking at the horizon. James is sat right at the front of the boat, almost straddling the side of it peering over the edge wondering what type of marine life lies beneath and would a scuba dive be worth it.

About an hour and a half later, having braved a visit to the loos, we arrive in Abrao, the main village on Ilha Grande . It is a very unusual place, meant in the best possible sense. The island is covered by dense lush vegetation, jungles descend into the sea and mist floats down from the clouds above to meet spray shooting back up off the rocks. We are taken to our pousada which translates as guesthouse, normally small family run lodgings - a little like a bed and breakfast. The place that we stop at is lovely, its intimate, clean and private. No nasties, lurking under the bed although the humidity of the place does mean the place smells a little musty. No bother - we put the fan on full, open the windows and give the place a good airing.

James and I ditch our bags and we head off round the island for some exploring. Our zealousness for adventure is soon cut short when a dodgy stomach sees me legging it back to the pousada in triple quick time. I am soon right as rain and we head back out. We bump into some travellers that we met in Rio and join them from a few drinks. 

Group dinner is at 8 and we feast at a local eatery . We are told of a great place in whcih to have drinks - located at the end of the beach, so off we go, navigating an inlet seperating the beach from the bar, dogs and a secret handshake (well, almost) and we are in. Its hotting up and all the gringos are dancing on the tables. We are having fun, but I am thinking that I am a little past dancing on the tables. When did I get old! The boys are on beers and the girls on Caprinhas (again). We all have a lovely time and then go back to the pousada together.

The next day (Thursday) we awake. The breakfast is beautiful. Fresh bread, ham, cheese, orange juice, coffee, water melon, pineapple and three different varieties of cake and cereal too! We soon learn that this type of breakfast is a typical Brazillian breakfast in these neck of the woods and we load up hoping that it will see us through the day.

There is some discussion about whether to charter a schooner round the island to see Ilha Grandes numerous beaches . I am glad we didnt! We (the group) collectively decide we need to explore this place and we hike to Lopes Mendes beach (two and a half hours by foot) but it was worth every second of it. The beach was ferocious, waves crashing onto the shore line, surfers, body boarders all the adrenalin junkies were there. It was sensational to see the coastline, the views were breathtaking. We even saw a croc in an inlet peeking above the surface. We spend 4 hours or so at the beach and then we catch a water ferry home. I hadnt taken any travel sickness tablets and the journey back to Abrao was hard. It was a miracle I wasnt poorly. Was it mind over matter? Who knows.

We had a gorgeous dinner along the beach front and the clouds soon rolled in. Thunder bolts and lighting, very very frightening. It was sensational! The lighting show was truly spectacular, there was no letting up watching bolts shoot across the night sky, we get absolutely drenched although we are giggling all the way home.
Next stop Paraty.