30/12 Relaxing times

Friday 30 December

Said farewell to the Anglo-Boers. The “Russians” left too so we have the dorm to ourselves – at least for the time being. This is the way we imagined it. J has decided she doesn’t want to sleep upstairs any more so we just swapped the complete mattress and sheets unit for a lower bunk in front of the window.

We crossed the bridge higher up the canal and walked down to the beachfront, where construction of the sound stage proceeds.  I had a slightly delicate ankle from yesterday’s tottering on the cobbles. We followed signs to the old fort atop a small hill on the waterfront. Not much but enough to house a few cannon which would have swept the bay and the river mouth. There was a bit of a museum with some interesting bits of machinery that they used to press and scourge millet into flour. Also some cultural bits and pieces. Interesting that the local natives seem to have practised dot painting in a manner similar to the Aborigines. Maybe they didn’t invent it? Also noticed that there was an armed policeman with flak jacket half way up the jungle path to the fort, which was a little isolated and quiet. Another was at the top and we then spotted a third at the bottom. The guide book did mention something about problems on the path to the waterfall so there must be some safety issues here, although the shops and houses are not barred, fenced and razor-wired the way everything is in Rio.

View from fort over bay

View from fort to town on other side of the headland

View of Paraty

More tuna for lunch then strolled down to ask about tickets for the schooners tomorrow. The forecasts are not good. We have had 2 pretty much dry cloudy days but it looks like rain and lightning big time for the next week. Now wondering whether a schooner is a good place to ride out a thunderstorm? We also noticed a big queue at a bank so we made a point of collecting some money to tide us over until we get back to Rio.

We thought we had the dorm to ourselves, but then another 2 ladies arrived about 8.30pm. Damn.  Have been reading books as there is not a lot else to do. 

I have been reading what I would never have previously considered to read as they are ‘boy book’ authors; Michael Connelly and Sidney Sheldon.  Have enjoyed them both.  Fast running out of English books.  Keep eyeing off “La chica que sonaba con una cerilla y un bidon de gasoline” by Stieg Larsson.( Go on you library people/book lovers, you can work out which title that is.)  Somehow I don’t think I would get very far into it.

These are big ugly birds, look like vulture/turkey cross.