David:

Finally have time to write up about Paraty since its been raining and we are leaving Iguazu this evening anyway...

We arrived in Paraty from Ilha grande and went down to the hostel. Both of us were extremely hungry and even more freaked out about this town. At first impression, at least to a tired hungry pair of me and regina, this place was a bit of a mind boggle. We walked down towards the old town where our hostel was, the streets are lined with giant cobblestones, and it became increasingly obvious that reginas ankle was in trouble, that more or less ends her involvement with this story!!! Got to the hostel, and were told there was a mix up and someone hadnt checked out yet, so we were getting moved to the other property... alarm bells going off already. We were assured the rate would be the same and it was just as nice. It was just as nice, and also it was a B&B which meant somewhere for regina to hide in privacy for the three days with an en suite, smiley face all round.

That evening, even more hungry than before, we took a walk around. The town is quite beautiful in the centro historico, very colourful shops and galleries, there were people in costumes walking around, jesters, and pirates and slaves.. it all seemed quite unreal and we werent sure we were actually there. Anyway, we found somewhere to eat, and things started to seem more normal after that.

The next day I went for a run about the place and after that I took a walk around to get some photos. To my suprise however, the bottom end of the town, nearest the quay was almost completley flooded, even up the streets. You can see this in some of the photos. It made the place seem even more unreal, but added a really cool twist to the place. Some of the streets were impassable and some had paths just above the water line. Around the old town, which isn`t that big, there are about four churchs and lots of other nice buildings, by the way.

On my way back, I met up with the Mayo lads who had brought a kerry girl along with them, I arranged to meet them later to get poor regina out of the house. We went for dinner in a nice restaurant.. in the old town... where we knew we shouldnt. We paid waaaay too much for my liking for something I didn´t enjoy, but regina did, and then off down to the lads where we chilled out for a while

The next day I went for a nice 10 mile run trying to find a waterfall (5miles up hill and savage hills, and 5 back down). Didnt get to the waterfall but as I would find out later I was close, it was too hot to keep going. After breakfast me and the three other guys rented bikes and headed to the cacheoiera taboga.. tabogan waterfall. It was a long tough cycle for the lads (a breeze for me), but it was really hot still, the hottest we had yet. Got the falls and we were amazed to see people surfing their feet down the falls, I think there should be a photo or too. The two lads and I had a go, on our bums, like sissys, and we saw the locals go again with the most amazing skill to stand the whole way to the bottom and land perfectly in the small pool at the end.... if I can ever get a hold of a video the lads took I will post it

After that we cycled to the other falls, which was on the way back... this was an even tougher cycle than the run was. The lads had to get off and walk, so I kept going. A young guy on a racer, who had passed us earlier, passed me out, so I said I better not give up now and kept after him. He was waiting at the top with a grin on his face, and no sweat. Went down to the falls and took some photos, the lads caught up with me and we all jumped in the pool, it was amazing (for reginas sake, it was amazingly crap, she is still at home btw). We swam up to the falls and stuck our heads in, sooooo refreshing!!! Back down we went then and home to the missus with a burger and a can of drink for her... she had pulled all her hair out and eaten a bag of biscuits, as well as taught herself portugese from reading local magazines!!!

The next day we left Paraty, glad we went and slightly sorry to leave because there was sooo much more to do there. Like Praia do Sono, which at night lights up by plants under the water which store up light during the day and give it off at night. Top tip for anyone ever going there, go see it, with a proper set of ankles....

Been too long since we were there so I must have left stuff out, but alas that is all I can do..... next stop Iguazu...