So after spending time in 2 cities we were headed for the beach... our home for the next 5 nights would be Posada do Atoba in the beach town of Santinho. The welcome & the weather could not have been better. Aline and her family made us at home from the start and helped immensely with recommendations for places to see and places to eat.

Over the next few days we made friends with the guard dogs, 3 miniature poodles, who were real characters. Days were spent hiking on an eco-trail through sand dunes to a 14km long unspoilt beach... no bars, no toilets, no loud music... and visiting other towns and beaches in the north of the island.

The local beach of Praia do Santinho has 2 restaurants right on the beach. We had a fantastic lunch in both (on separate days of course) sitting on the balconies with fresh fish while the waves crashed on the shoreline... bliss.

Aline took us into Lagoa (inland town on the island located on the shores of the very large lake) on Sunday. We shuffled through the small craft market and enjoyed some milkshakes and a 'pay by the kilo' buffet lunch - food again!

On our penultimate evening we shared a home-cooked meal with the family in the pousada for which we are very grateful. These are the memories that will really stay with me... when you meet people in other countries who accept you as almost part of the family and you manage to relax with them, breaking down those 'tourist' barriers.

Our last evening with our great hosts was spent in the local town of Ingleses trying a few caipirinhas with Aline. I even managed to persuade Jo to have one of her very own (and stop drinking mine!). Which she claims to have enjoyed and now says she has quite a taste for them. We'll be making them when we get home.

An emotional farewell at 7am saw us off on further travels, heading toward the city of Foz do Iguacu from where we will see the Iguacu Falls. The family were all up to see us off and we were given a ride to the bus stop with our big bags. If we manage to come back to Brazil, we will definitely visit here again! I hope the Posada do Atoba goes from strength to strength... but I hope if I return that it's got a spare room for me...