Each journey begins with a single step... Two kiwis escaping from the island to explore strange new worlds and boldly go where thousands have gone before... . .

Costs pp: bus Angra to Parati 8.40rs, bus to Parati-Mirim 3rs, apartment in Parati 30rs.

We got the ordinary bus back to Parati and waited there for the next bus on to Parati-Mirim. This place had been recommended by others and was in the LP guide also so we thought we would go there and camp. We travelled not far along the road south then the bus turned off onto a dirt road heading toward the sea. The route was through lovely bush and reminded us a bit of Peru or Colombia. When we arrived at the beach we thought we had come to the wrong place, there was beach bar and some people collecting money for carparking but other than that not much else. The beach was a long curve in sheltered waters but to reach it you had to walk through a crappy muddy area. Carol went looking for a campground and was amazed to find they wanted 20rs each to camp (more than Ilha Grande!), the grounds were completely empty not surprisingly. Back at the beach the guys in the shop said we could just walk down the beach and camp down there but Kent suddenly had an attack of diahorrea and that ended any plans. We caught the next bus back to Parati.

At Parati Carol went on a search for a reasonably priced dorm bed and after seeing everything from a cramped dorm room for 30rs each to a room for 70rs double she finally found a really nice apartment for 30rs each. Thats about NZ$22 or US$15 each, expensive for us but good value for here. The place is excellent with kitchen/dining room, bathroom, and bedroom with double bed. It only has a small sign on the outside wall saying it is available for 'temporary rentals'. It is so hot we have the fans on all the time and one of the first things we did was to fill up the ice trays in the freezer and jump in the shower. As wonderful as it has been to be couchsurfing it is also wonderful to have our own space for a few days and we are enjoying it to the limit. Kent had a day totally inside allowing his stomach to settle and to catch up on rest and watched a bit of local tv.

Because we had an apartment we invited Michel to dinner and had a lovely evening with him then we all walked downtown and watched some entertainment in the old town. One guy singing on stage had an amazing electric guitar that was just the neck but with upside down and the body was just an outline, he and his guitar were great.