Schundel's World Trip: Brazil - Paraty The Gold Trail and Emerald Coast 09/9/2006

Paraty 9/9/2006

Well, the day did not begin too early after all the drinks the night before. Around 9:30 am we started our trip to the Gold Trail. The trail was leading all the way from Paraty to the gold mines of Minas Gerais over hundreds of kilometers. Early on it was only an old Indian path, only much later the trail was expanded and paved to a solid cobble stone road. Slaves were carrying the gold from the miles to the harbor, it was also used to distribute mail. Later when a new, much shorter trail was built to Rio, the now so called "Old Trail" lost its importance, but still was used to transport sugar cane, cachaca, coffee and also slaves. We were able to hike the original trail for a few miles. It almost felt a little like the Inca trail with the cobble stone pavement, but not quite the same. It was a great experience, with great views of the bay and harbor of Paraty, a very nice waterfall in which we took a quick bath and the exercises was also welcome. The only thing we wondered about was why they did not restore more of the trail. At the end of the cleared path the jungle started and the wide paved trail merged in to an overgrown single trail. We thought it would be actually quite cool to hike this trail all the way to Minas Gerais and camp along the way.

On our way back to Paraty we quickly decided to a beach close to Ubatuba that Volker had been to before. The drive was spectacular, great views. We had lunch there, but once the "burachudos" (really nasty biting flies) started attacking us we decided quickly to take off for the next beach in Trinidade. The village itself was packed with young people and tried really hard to be "hippie", but we did not like it too much..... too crowded anyways. Another beach close by was much more to our liking. The coast was very rocky here, huge boulders everywhere, a stream crossing the street and flowing into the bay. We climbed the rocks and just sat there watching the waves crushing in, spraying water meters high. There were quite a few surfers trying to make use of the waves, but the surf did not look too "surfable" for e and we actually did not see any body get up and on the board to ride a wave.
\n \nSoon it got dark and we went back to Paraty. A little writing in my journal while watching / listening a documentary about Osama Bin Laden on CNN ...... very unsettling!\n \nFor dinner we went again to "Punto di Vino". The place was absolutely packed, people actually waiting in line to get in. We got really lucky and got a table in no time. Delicious pizza with an awesome Chilean Camenere red wine. After a night cap at a little bar close to the hotel we went to bed early.

Soon it got dark and we went back to Paraty. A little writing in my journal while watching / listening a documentary about Osama Bin Laden on CNN ...... very unsettling!

For dinner we went again to "Punto di Vino". The place was absolutely packed, people actually waiting in line to get in. We got really lucky and got a table in no time. Delicious pizza with an awesome Chilean Camenere red wine. After a night cap at a little bar close to the hotel we went to bed early.