Ilha de Mel

Hello from Honey Island (Ila de Mel).

Firstly I´m lazy so lay-dees re: the virtual drink, will check my whereabouts on the public holiday (Sunday here!) and let you know. I´ll call one of you or something at a set time! Yay!!

Left Rio - which was a relief actually - Carnaval was fantastic, but I was well over that big dirty city after a whole week there. A big big week, a busy week, and I´m very very glad to come out unscathed. Perhaps that bird crapping on me really did bring good luck. Someone did steal my watch on the beach in Floripa, but I´ve been trying to offload that for 5 years, so good riddance. Hopefully AIG will provide me with a new Raymond Weil instead.....

Anyway, we caught a train and then trekked through the Atlantic rainforest a couple of days ago from near Curitiba - almost down to the coast. It was great - it rained and it was hot, but a lot of fun. We do have a whinger in our group though, so they´d better suck it up before the Inca trail, which is 12 times as long.... and 10 times as steep.

Now on Honey island after a 2 hour boat ride yesterday - it is stunning. No cars are allowed on the island so it´s very peaceful - bit of a hippy paradise (not as bad as Punta del Diablo though!) and we´ve found a great seafood restaurant where I´ve eaten three meals since arriving..... The beaches are great, we´ve done some walking but not much else to report..... except for the mosquitoes.... wow. A whole lot of mosquitoes!

Tomorrow - overnight train to Iguazu falls on the Brazilian/Argentine border- which I´m really looking forward to. Should be awesome!