Christmas - Ihla Grande

Well although as you saw from the photos Christmas was pretty perfect, we still had suffered more than most to get there! Our bus from Campo Grande to Sao Paulo took 20hrs, only to find out we couldn’t get a connecting bus to Angra dos Reis (all fully booked), so having had to tackle the S.P. subway we got on another bus to Rio de Janeiro (6hrs) from where we could catch a bus to Angra dos Reis (3hrs). Are you still following all this? So we ended up getting to our destination at 10pm at night having left at 4pm the previous day!!!

Eventually found accommodation in our price range, having been given quotes at least 6 times our budget!! Turns out Angra is quite a fancy port full of yaghty types putting the prices up! Crashed out in bed as soon as we saw it. Following morning, 24th Dec, we stocked up in supplies and got the boat across to Ihla Grande. It was overcast when we left but by the time we got there it was brilliant sunshine! We were shown to our accomodation by a very annoying brazillian who had insisted on speaking / shouting at us the whole boat journey in portugese, despite us not understanding a word he said! The converstaion ended up being “bla bla bla Michael Owen bla bla bla David Beckham Ha Ha Ha!!!”....repeated over and over again!!!

We struck gold with our accomodation, still in a Hostel, but we had the penthouse suite with ensuite, aircon, and balcony!!! The Brazillians celebrate Christmas on the 24th, having a big meal late in the evening and then crashing out all Christmas Day! So the hostel had put on a big BBQ that night....we stuffed ourselves with meat, so much that there was very little room left for beer!

Christmas day we woke to sunshine so chose to get up before the crowds for the 2hr walk to Lopez Mendes beach (quote: arguably the best beach in Brazil). We spent the day sunbathing, swimming and playing frisbee, before tackling the hike home (in order to save ourselves the 2.50 boat fare...extra beer money!). That evening was pretty quiet, some early beers on the beach, a Christmas Pannetone, and couple more drinks in the Hostel bar.

Boxing Day we took the easy option and went on the boat trip around the island, stopping off at some nice beaches and lagoons for snorkling. Unfortunately our luck changed on the way home and the heavens opened! But still think we got the best out of the island!

The following day we left for Rio de Janeiro, our destination for the New Year!!