Beaches, boats and Brazilian booze

Following in the footsteps of Bridget Bardot and Duran Duran...

The sun peeked out from behind the clouds as we checked into the hostel at the seaside resort of Saquerema, a couple of hours drive from Rio. Fellow travellers in the small house were delighted as for the past few days it had rained.

After dumping our stuff, we wandered down to the beach and caught our first glimpse of the pale white sand, crashing waves and picturesque hilltop church overlooking the beach. Hungry, we shared a huge portion of fried fish and salad cooked up for a bargain price at one of the local cafés, then went shopping for provisions.

That night, there was a BBQ feast of salad, meat and plenty of beers. We got to know a couple from New Zealand and an Aussie girl who had been in the hostel for two months. She was unable to move on because of a broken arm sustained mock-surfing in the garden and we felt pretty sorry for her. Thankfully, after a few more days she got the paperwork she needed to go.

We also got to know a couple from the UK, Phil and Ali, who like us were doing a long trip, and had been joined by a friend from England on his holidays. We were pleased to see them again later on our trip.

After a few days of playing in the sea, riding bikes with no brakes (very scary and not to be repeated!) to the internet café, scarfing down frozen açai with granola and cooling-off in the hostel's tiny pool, we moved on to the seaside town of Buzios.

Sadly, there were no rooms at the best and most affordable hostel in this popular town, so after a very painful and crowded journey on two buses which took the best part of a day, we were forced to check into dorms for a night. Wandering into the lovely cobbles once walked down by Bridget Bardot (who apparently loved it here!), we had drinks and beers in a bar then booked ourselves onto a boat trip the next day. That night we made our own supper at the hostel and said “hi” to Phil and Ali who arrived a little later than us from a different town.

Next day we got on the boat and were plied with cachaca, the potent Brazilian spirit mixed with lime. It was a little too delicious for me... after a while I was bopping away to the disco music being pumped out and jumping off the side of the boat into the cool sea. Duncan was unable to resist posing Eighties pop-star stylee standing on the bow of the schooner boat. He found a fellow poser to play with before jumping off into the sea for an action shot.

“Oh Rio, Rio, dance across the Rio Grand...”