Island trip

Happiness on the beach!

To celebrate our first pay day and a month in Brazil, we went on a trip to the beach. It has been an incredibly busy and at times, rather challenging month so we were all exhausted, fighting colds, and desperate to get out of the city and see a bit of Brazil!

Seven years ago, on a flight to Madrid, I met Rhen. We hung out in Madrid, hugged trees and explored the city for the time I was there.

Retiro Park, Madrid 2007!

Well, Rhen now lives in Portugal, but is from Sao Paulo and has hooked me up with his cousin, Paula. She invited me and my friends to join a group of her friends on Ilha Bela, an island 2.4km from the mainland in Sao Paulo state. Love how friendship networks work! She is so so sweet and friendly, really like her.

It was a long and eventful journey sorting hire cars, joining the long convoy of cars that was our group, getting lost (actually nothing to do with me, I was snoozing in the back!)...we arrived at 3.30am and in true Brazilian style went straight for food and drinks (us Brits were not best impressed, but worked through it hehe). A couple of caipirinhas later and we were all ready to sleep, though when Emma and I were finally shown our room we went straight back to sit at the pool and watch the sunrise! 

The island is stunning. It was an amazing introduction to the Brazilian coastline, though I miss the warm Indian ocean greatly, I had forgotten how cold the Atlantic is!
 

View from our hotel

Hello Brazil!

I am not yet in the Brazilian swing of things. After a day on the beach, where Emma and I spent most of the day fast asleep, we decided to all nap early eve till meeting at half 9 for dinner. Emma and I set our alarm for 9, got up and all made up and then rather cold.....I had the genius idea that waiting in bed for the others to get ready was a great plan as we would stay warm (the boys' timekeeping leaves a lot to be desired too, we thought we may well be in for a wait)....hmmm....we woke up at 8 the next morning! We both really needed the sleep, and after a lil outing to buy coffee and brekkie were properly forgiven!

Sao Paulo besties :) The group of Gringos with Paula

Sunset