Ihla do Mel, Honey Island, is a laconic tropical retreat less than two hours by boat from Paranagua, where doing nothing has developed into an art form. Novo Brasilia at the waist of the hourglass-shaped island, the ferry’s first stop, is the more active settlement. We are staying at Pousada Ihla Verde in the much quieter Encantada, a strip of beach lined with pousadas, hostals, restaurants and a busy pier, where the busiest activity is from the packs of mismatched mongrels that roam the beach.
Our new friend, Marie
We met Marie, a spritely Frenchwoman from Bordeaux, on the boat ride over. She is very well traveled but not yet as committed as we are. Her eyes brightened as we told her about selling our house – as if the idea touched her inner-vagabond. Or it may have been the birthday wine. She just turned 64.
Burrowing Owl family
While sloth becomes me, Connie is more ambitious. After checking into the pousada we hiked the island in search of – wait for it – birds. We found a few new species, nothing spectacular, but the real treat was a family of burrowing owls. We have seen them before in Colorado, but never this close up.
Dolphins galore
Today we joined Marie for a 5-hour boat trip to Ihla do Pecas whose main attraction is the bottlenose dolphins that congregate off the beach. It was a bumpy and wet ride at times and the more cautious among the passengers put on their life vests. As if!
