Life´s a beach on Parati

Parati would have been a beautiful old fishing town if it wasn´t being dug up. But despite the bulldozers it still held a certain charm.
Cobbled streets and colourful doorways lead you through the old town past artisan shops, cachaca shops and candle-lit restaurants with live music pouring out.
On arrival on Tuesday afternoon we wandered throught the streets soaking up the atmosphere and cachaca. I took a caipirinha masterclass and can now make a delicious passionfruit caipirinha. We had dinner at a restaurant with some (bad) live music and delicious cheap fish.
In the morning we headed out to Pènha to explore the waterfalls. Taking a jungle path up the hill we arrived at a waterfall which had flattened a large slice of rock with its fast waters. Deciding to use it as a waterslide we sat nervously at the top debating the health and safety issues. We finally took the plunge and pushed off to slide down and splash into the pool of water at the bottom. We then did it six more times. Visit to see: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Umk-7vAuJO4
In the afternoon we went to a neighbouring beach to our hostel and covered ourselves in mud, sliding around and sinking in the deep silt bed. After a couple mud slinging matches and a snail´s pace race we washed off and took a surreal 40 minute swim back to our beach at dusk.
In the evening we feasted on a fruit and fish dinner, having taken full advantage of the cheap fillets at the peixaria that afternoon.
An overcast morning gave us the perfect opportunity to wander around the town again and we were curious to see the town in floods from the high tide. As we headed back to the hostel the prophesy of the crackles of thunder came true and the clouds poured down fat tropical rain. We caught a taxi to the bus for Sao Paulo.