Parate and fab cocktails

9yth Feb
WE booked a boat tour that took in 3 beachs. It started off great. Sun was out and the tourists were mostly Brazilian. We went for a swim in the first beach and enjoyed the scenary. The the clouds rolled in and we didnt bother swimming anymore. by the time we got to go home the torrents of rain had started but had finished by the time we moored.
We ate at a nice little per kilo and then wandered again. It was dry thank god. We found a great little gallery exhibiting this photographer who had made friends with a guy who had been broung up in the Rocino Favela in Rio and who had been imprissoned by the age of 30. This criminal organised that the photographer capture the happiness of the Cariocas life in the favela. The quote photographer siad he didnt find that much happiness but lots of spirit. His photos were amazing and if I had been on holiday I would have bought his book. but maybe I will get the chance sometime as I took his website details.
There was a shop that took my eye and the owner came out and asked me to come in. He asked my nationality as they all do here. He was delighted and started to tell me tales of his Irish friends. One was in Hamburg running the club that the beatles played in and they asked him to manage him. He said no as he didnt think he had the time or that they were anything special. Yup he messed up. This german chap also made coctails and asked me to try this liqour he made. It was cachaca but with cloves and cinnamon etc. fab. He made me a coctail with this cachaca and with lemon and passion fruit. It was still a caiparinha but the best I have had. WOW. He sat with us and chatted some more and introduced us to his son, (who did much of the artwork in his shop at only 15). He had been born in Brazil to German parents but they moved to Germany than the US. Whilst in the New York he met a Brazilian (There are loads there). He fell in love, returned to Brazil then married a different Brazilian and finally settled in Parate. A facinating, lovely man.

8th Feb

At first Alex and I walked around and thought ok so this is ok but then we realised we were in the new town which apparently is unsafe. Never felt safer. so there goes that. Then we found the old town by the sea. WOW. There was this beautiful church at the corner of the square with the water on one side and a little marina and the old town on the other. Some guys were playing guitar in this little cafe, just tourists. I would love to have sat there but Alex wasnt keen. We walked around the town, snapping our way along sandy or paved streets. Gorgeous little boutiques selling arts and crafts or bijou restaurants. expensive. We dined in Thai Brazil, a restaurant recommended by Lauren and our guidebooks. My curry was loaded with sugar. I never had a curry like that. It was also the most expensive place we have eaten. We both came away rather dissapointed as we both were so looking forward to this. We contined our explorations of town until the monsoon rains put a stop to everything. We had to stand in a doorway and watch the torrents pouring down and flooding the streets. Eventually it eased and we went back to the Pousada.