Ilhabela is the the sailing, diving, wreck capital of the
state of Sao Paulo and one of the largest islands in Brazil with an area of
750km2. It is very touristy with a
population of 20,000 that increases 5 fold in the summer season. The middle class here are descendants of the
slaves that were brought over to work the sugar and coffee plantations (that no
longer exist) and call themselves “Caicaras”.
The major economy is tourism and our tour company was named “Caicara”.
There are 2 marinas listed in our guidebooks and we head to
the nearest one, it is dark and the mooring balls only have a small loop on top
and no way to reach underneath to grab it.
So we go to the next, Yacht Club Ilhabela, and as we are scoping out the
mooring field with the balls having the same configuration as above and very
challenging, a appoyo (launch) comes out and guides us deeper into the field
and hands off the ball. Since it’s late
and it has been another bouncy 8 hour crossing we head to bed. Next morning the wind is blowing and it is
rainy and there are always things that need to be done so we stay aboard.
The wind has settled and the appoyo from the yacht club has
come out to take us in to register. We
are allowed 4 free days on the mooring and use of the club’s facilities—pool,
workout room, computer room, restaurants, etc. (the best we’ve seen so far
although the wifii signal is the pits off the boat). The Yacht Club is the host to the largest
sailing regatta week in Brazil. We head out on foot to explore the
town. First stop is a tourist kiosk
where we sign up to go for a day’s excursion by jeep over the mountain. We shop at the local market, walk thru town
and happen upon a designer store named
“Marcos”. We talk with the manager,
whose daughter is living in Toronto.
Most Brazilians that we meet are very disillusioned with Brazil and it’s
governance, no wonder as the the Reia continues to lose value. It is lucky for
us as 2 years ago it would have been 2 Reis to a dollar and now it is 3+. We have dinner out to give Pati a reprieve
from cooking and enjoy a wonderful Gelato Ice Cream.
Next morning we take our jeep ride over the mountain through
the “Parque Estadual de Ilhabel” to the Praixa (beach) Castelhano. A 2 hour
ride through the mountain parque where we see the wonders of tropical flora-
giant tree orchids, ferns and bromeliads, air plants, parasite trees. We arrive
at the beach, drop off a few people and head out again to the base of the hill
that leads to the waterfall where we hike 1.5 hours to the top. Back to the beach
where Marc does some body surfing in the waves and we are served lunch,
reminding us of lunches on Thailand beaches
- fresh fish, salads, Caipirinhas ( official drink of Brazil with
Cachaca). We met a couple from Salt Lake City who will be teaching English on
the mainland, a couple from Sweden/Brazil and a young Lesbian couple. I walked the beach and find “sand dollars” which I offer to our
newfound friends.
Not that we use it much right now with all the moorings and
anchorings, but the bow thruster is not working again. That makes 2 fixes and 2 f--k ups. Marc is furious. At least we have the wind generator working. Anybody out there have any boat issues? HAH…..
NEXT STOP--------PARATY.
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