Paraty

The Costa Verde is one of Brazil´s most beautiful coast (as my guide book says). The Costa Verde´s main attraction is Paraty, an unaltered colonial town 300km South of Rio. The town remains out of the beaten track and should not be missed, I think.


To me, Paraty is a mix between Vinales and Trinidad in Cuba. Vinales because inhabitants still go about their own businesses without paying attention to the few tourists around, children stroll to school, farmers and fishermen sit on the pavement drinking beer... people seem to have kept their authenticity. Paraty also reminds me of Trinidad because of its colonial architecture: houses built around courtyards, windows and doors painted in bright colours (where in Trinidad the whole houses were painted in bright colours, here walls are white and only doors and windows are flashing out in red, blue, green or yellow), cobbled streets making you feel like you have a leg shorter than the other all the time.


Anyway, very nice, very beautiful, very cute...

Tomorrow I have an early start (5h30) to take my bus to Rio. I will then fly to Salvador de Bahia, more than 2000km North. I am super excited: I will discover what people say is the true face of Brazil, the Nord-Este where African influence is still very strong. These words come to mind: heat, black, African cuisine, reggae street parties, forro, desert, wonderful beaches..... I can´t wait.