| Paraty ---23 to 25 Jan 2006 |
After a good breakfast at the "Solar dos Geranios" we walked to the town dock where there were
about a hundred boats with crewmen seeking passengers for cruises to nearby islands and beaches
for swimming, snorkeling, or for fishing. Most popular cruises were aboard large masted sailboats
(motorized, but with no functioning sails) offering five-hour cruises with four beach-stops for about
25 Reais (US$12.50) per passenger. The boats leave when they get enough passengers, generally
between 10:00am and noon. We decided to go the following day. Had lunch, took a siesta until the
late afternoon.
about a hundred boats with crewmen seeking passengers for cruises to nearby islands and beaches
for swimming, snorkeling, or for fishing. Most popular cruises were aboard large masted sailboats
(motorized, but with no functioning sails) offering five-hour cruises with four beach-stops for about
25 Reais (US$12.50) per passenger. The boats leave when they get enough passengers, generally
between 10:00am and noon. We decided to go the following day. Had lunch, took a siesta until the
late afternoon.
Small boats at the riverside
Large cruising and fishing boats at the main town dock
The day was hot, hot, hot --- got us thinking about getting to the cooler highlands. Almost nobody
was out in public; probably taking a siesta or out at one of the beaches. As Paraty cooled toward
evening crowds of people appeared on the streets, in the plaza, in shops and in church. The many
small restaurants and snackbars expanded onto the sidewalks and even into the streets. The crowds
hit their peak around 11:00pm.
was out in public; probably taking a siesta or out at one of the beaches. As Paraty cooled toward
evening crowds of people appeared on the streets, in the plaza, in shops and in church. The many
small restaurants and snackbars expanded onto the sidewalks and even into the streets. The crowds
hit their peak around 11:00pm.
The following day was really great. We went on a five-hour cruise stopping at four beaches, each
stop from 30 to 50 minutes, snorkels, goggles and floats provided. Our sail-less "schooner" was
rated for fifty passengers but we had only about twenty aboard, so there was plenty of space in the
shade of the canvass top. We enjoyed a good seafood lunch, which was sold by the crew and was
served aboard. Our fellow passengers included a young English couple and a Brazilian family that
had spent two years in Texas and spoke English --- so there were people aboard with whom we could
converse.
stop from 30 to 50 minutes, snorkels, goggles and floats provided. Our sail-less "schooner" was
rated for fifty passengers but we had only about twenty aboard, so there was plenty of space in the
shade of the canvass top. We enjoyed a good seafood lunch, which was sold by the crew and was
served aboard. Our fellow passengers included a young English couple and a Brazilian family that
had spent two years in Texas and spoke English --- so there were people aboard with whom we could
converse.
During our last full day in Paraty we walked up a hill to see an old fort designed to protect the port
from pirates; we examined the bulwarks and a few old cannons, and enjoyed the panoramic views. On
the way up we examined a cemetery in which most of the graves were in concrete casings above ground
level. On the way down we spotted a circus tent and learned that there was to be a performance
that evening; we later went to the show, extremely amateurish but different. Another discovery was
a group of video-game computers mounted on a trailer parked in an empty field, a mobile outdoor
video parlor.
from pirates; we examined the bulwarks and a few old cannons, and enjoyed the panoramic views. On
the way up we examined a cemetery in which most of the graves were in concrete casings above ground
level. On the way down we spotted a circus tent and learned that there was to be a performance
that evening; we later went to the show, extremely amateurish but different. Another discovery was
a group of video-game computers mounted on a trailer parked in an empty field, a mobile outdoor
video parlor.
Circus tent, Paraty, Brazil
Mobile outdoor video game "parlor"
mounted on a small trailer.
mounted on a small trailer.