Life's a Beach!!!

An Island somewhere far, far away...

Take some time to think of your favorite destination on earth.

Perhaps your destination has spectacular beaches or beautiful lush rainforest. Or you may simply prefer scrumptious cuisines day after day. Often the currency exchange will be at the top of our list as we always want more for less. All bar that few percentage of albinos (or the British) will be on the hunt for some excessive hits of vitamin C to darken their pastiness. Now…take all of that and add the most beautiful women you have ever seen into it and you have found my favorite holiday destination! 

What I talk about I can not name as it would be like Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves giving away the secret password to a world of endless pleasure. We all need our own secluded get aways and this place is mine! 

Aaron the Kiwi and I arrived on the Island after chilling in Lencois for a few days. Aaron has been twice already (once only a few weeks before) so you can imagine my expectations are quiet high! There is too much to see to spend your time going over an experience already experienced so I was excited and anxious to be here and see what all the rave was about. Lucky we had rested hard for about…hmmm…3 days as we were flung right back into it here with the continuations of Carnival post parties and the End of Summer parties to keep us entertained. 

Whilst here we stayed at 2 different hostels. Sunset Backpackers was definitely the pick and one of my favorite hostels in South America. Priced higher then most but what an amazing view and group of staff. Happy hour every night (free cocktail) is a necessity in ever hostel so good work Junior and staff in getting those caipirinhas to us all on the hour! If you make it to SB you may see my ugly mug hanging over the bar…a gift to the owner who caught a few of us having late night snacks from the kitchen on CCTV! Most days were spent at the beach which has some of the best surf in Brazil. Nights were spent drinking or…. drinking! We hired scooters to get from A to B and is quiet inexpensive. It takes a good few hours to get around the island and some very scenic locations. Some good clubs on the Island but none will compare to P12. This day club is set around a massive pool. Drinks are excessive but stiff. Bikini's are everywhere and after a day in the sun sipping on cocktails its time for a boogie on the dance floor!

With copious amounts of booze as a lubricator many friends were made and whilst causing shenanigans on this island getaway like no other. I'm sure you don't need me to ramble on anymore as your probably just googling at the pictures!

After 2 weeks being spoiled on the 'Island of Pleasure' I ventured back to Rio where I did all the touristy things that I hadn't had time for over the Carnival period. Jesus, Sugar Loaf, The Botanical Gardens and also an epic ride hang-gliding over Rio de Janeiro. Whilst I was flying the chance of making my next flight out of South America were growing slimmer and as it turns out I missed my flight to New York. Luckily my airline were flexible and I was able to out of Rio only a few hours later at no extra charge. 

This Blog entry is the final one for Cato el Conquistador in South America and Antarctica so I hope you have enjoyed!! Tune in next week for the shenanigans as I head through the US of A.

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Carnival Recovery!!

Salvador and Lençóis

I blame the vast amount of partying over the last month to be the main cause of not posting anything since just after Carnival. So I need to back track about 5 weeks to Rio de Janeiro where I ventured north to Salvador on an epic 34hr bus ride! I would never commit to such a long bus ride since I experienced this almost 8 years ago when traveling up the west coast of the USA on a shit heap of a bus (never travel Greyhound in the USA!). It was only supposed to take 24hrs but, as you become used to in South America something went wrong. Nothing too serious….just a break down and a drawn out wait for the next bus to turn up. Eventually I arrived in Salvador where I met with a Kiwi compadre (Aaron) who I last partied with in Buenos Aries.

Not too much to rave about in Salvador. I only stayed the 1 night and didn't venture too far from the hostel as I was still sobering up from Carnival. I did have the unfortunate experience of running into a creep with a knife down by the waterfront whilst snapping up some pictures of the sunset. Been a while since I've done a hundred meter sprint but when your got a knife pulled on you it's amazing  how fast everything happens! Anyways…I got away and didn't need to part with my belongings or limbs! This is the 1st knife incident I have had over almost 5 years abroad and over 35 countries so don't let this incident worry you too much if our thinking about heading off to South America!

After meeting with Aaron we ventured to Lencois - hippy-ville which is located on the side of a national park 5 hours due west of Salvador. Very beautiful area but only few days there. It was a perfect spot for chilling after Carnival and a small detox. Some of the best hiking throughout Brazil can be done here however we opted for some rock climbing and just lazing about. I had a friend here who owns a pousada (Brazilian name for guest house) and also runs a school for underprivileged kids so I had the opportunity to work in the school for a few days which was quiet rewarding! My Portuguese was crap so the communication was very limited and I was placed with the youngest kids and was hours of entertainment for them as they would take turns in getting thrown into the air and swung around!

Ok…so too much of nothingness was getting on Aaron's nerves and after the few days detoxing it only seemed fitting to head to another party destination… Perhaps the greatest in Brazil and from my experience so far…one of the best locations I have been to!! So….tune in to the next Blog to hear more!


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