Curitiba, Parangua and Ilha do Mel

From Iguaçu we got a bus to Curitiba and decided to stay there a night. We got a hostel right next to the bus station and both passed out with the light on and the door open because we were so knackered from the bus journey. It was quite sweet, the cleaner came and turned off our light and closed our door. When we had recovered we headed into town for a wander round. First we found a really cool market it was like a farmers market in England. Everything was so well organised and really well presented and looked so good. Brazil is just so different to Bolivia and Peru! Here is some pics from the market:

We spent the rest of the days looking at other markets, eating, window shopping and generally chilling out. I really liked Curitiba because it had a laid back feeling yet it was a huge city. The next day we got the train to Morretes which is supposed to be the most beautiful train journey in Brazil. It was stunning because it goes through jungle and mountains. We were lucky not to have many people in our carriage as well so we could move around and look out both sides:

We then got the bus from Morretes to Parangua and decided to stay there a night. It´s a strange port town with, what would have been, lovely colonial buildings along the front but they are now faded and falling apart. On the front, by the sea, it´s the kind of town where everyone rides big old lady bikes and no one is in a rush but then you dip into the commerical area and it´s just a normal busy, boring town. We didn´t have much to do apart from watch the world go by and drink cold beer.

The next morning we got the ferry to Ilha do Mel and met a French musician called Julian. We all stayed in the same pousada and went sunbathing and then for lunch. Ilha do Mel is beautiful and made even more relaxing by the lack of cars/roads. Everyone cycles or walks everywhere. Alexa and I went for an evening run to burn off the chocolate ducle de leche we´d endulged in earlier!

Front in Parangua:

Scenary from the boat ride to Ilha do Mel:

In the evening we went out and ate prawns and fish which were tasty and we bumped into Richard who had been in the Pantanal with us. He´s a really nice guy from England who has been teaching in Buenas Aires for 2 years. It turned out to be a fun evening.

The next day was my birthday! In the morning we walked with Julian to the fort which was about 4km north of where we were staying and he played his flute for us there. We sunbathed the rest of the afternoon and then hiked up to the lighthouse with Richard and made caprinhas and ate chocolate cake (which Alexa had cleverly brought over from the mainland). It was very exciting.

Walking to the fort:

Sunset at the lighthouse:

Us with Richard:

For dinner we went to an all you can eat pizza/pasta place with Julian and Richard. There was live music and Richard got them to sing me happy birthday in Portuguese which was a new experience and one which I obviously found highly embarassing for no reason! We then played numerous games of Oh Shit! and Sweedish and Irish Snap. All in all it was a really fun birthday.

We got the boat back to the mainland on the 26th Mar and are now heading for Uruguay!