Paraty, the town from the 1600s

We had to catch the first boat away from Ilha Grande, so we got up early, as usual, to pack our backpacks. It was a long goodbye with the folks from the pousada, and we promised to stop by if we ever came back to the island. The boat left at 10 AM, and it cost 4.50 reais. This time, we took the official boat, which made the crossing much more comfortable since we had real seats to sit in. Luckily, there was a bus leaving quickly from Angra dos Reis to Paraty. When you buy tickets, tourists automatically get seats on the better buses, which have more legroom, among other perks. An hour and a half later, we arrived in Paraty after a long and bumpy ride. The driver was speeding, even as we wound through the mountains. He accelerated through every turn, and we were bouncing around in our seats! :) Once we got to Paraty, it wasn’t hard to find a place to stay. We were greeted by several eager people who knew the perfect pousada. We chose a spot with a pool that wasn’t far from the historic part of Paraty. The hostel cost 60 reais. It didn’t take us long to jump into the pool, even though it was a bit chilly. Luckily, we had access to a steam room, so we could warm up again. Paraty is safe to walk around in, so we strolled through all the old cobblestone streets looking for a restaurant. There were plenty to choose from, but most were half-empty since the town is mostly visited on weekends. That’s the downside of traveling off-season, but the upside is that everything is much cheaper. We found a really cozy little restaurant where we ordered fish with shrimp, squid, potatoes, and rice. It all came to about 35 reais. Afterward, we headed to a bar for some drinks. The mixing ratio is totally off. Two-thirds is liquor, and only a tiny third is soda, so it only takes two drinks before you’re feeling pretty tipsy!