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Published: February 26th 2008
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We were supposed to take a night bus from Salvador to Recife, our next destination, but thanks to the help of the tourist agency in our hotel in Salvador (Hotel Pelourinho, really friendly staff!) we ended up buying a cheap flight ticket with Webjet. You can imagine our relief at being able to exchange a 16 hour bus ride for an hour's flight!
Why Fernando do Noronha? Lonely Planet totally recommends the place, and it also made the UNESCO World Heritage list, but coincidentally, before travelling to Brazil I had read a very convincing article in a travel magazine. So as soon as we walked out of Recife's arrivals, we walked right back into a travel agency to check out availability, keeping in mind that our trip to Noronha was not included in our plans, meaning we'd have to sacrifice visiting other places. In the end, to make sure we'd arrive in Fortaleza (further north) in time for our flight to Rio, we decided to take the flight to Noronha that very same day. Luckily, we managed to get flight tickets on time and the agency managed to book us accommodation (after all, the agency was called 'Luck Viagens', hehe).
Morro Do Pico
Leaving the port on our boat trip... Within an hour, we landed in Noronha and since the travel agency had organized our accommodation through a agency in Noronha (Atalaia), before being dropped off at our guest house we were shown a welcome video highlighting the island's major attractions. How organized, I thought! Then again, we did pay quite a bit for the accommodation and, on top of that, we had to pay an eco tax upon arrival because the islanders take ecological preservation very seriously. Of course, the video was really a selling tool for the agency to introduce the various tours they offered! Since we were only going to be in Noronha for 3 nights, we decided to sign up for 2 tours, to make the most of our time on the island - a boat trip to get a view of the island from afar and a jeep tour, to explore its hard-to-reach natural beauty. I must say, the agency did not let us down!
Despite the weather being quite cloudy during the boat trip, it was such an experience to watch dolphins, for the first time ever, swim freely alongside the boat and to hear their distinct cry so clearly. Luckily, that
afternoon, the skies cleared and we ventured to Praia do Leão, apparently one of Brazil's most beautiful beaches.... Sam and I were left completely astounded!! We suffered a little to get there, because we had to walk in the scorching heat for quite a while, but it was well worth it! Never have I witnessed such wild beauty and utter tranquility, pristine waters of an indescribable colour only a handful of people occupying an endless stretch of the finest sand. It was definitely the most relaxing afternoon of my entire holiday, as we tried to surf the powerful waves (which just brought us crashing onto the beach) and massaged each other with the sand, hehe! That evening we were dying to get a taste of the nightlife, but we were so exhausted by 10pm that in the end we decided to go to bed early to be fully prepared for the next day's jeep tour and made it a point to go out the following evening!
The jeep tour was absolutely fabulous and the perfect way to get to know the island for 2 reasons - it's small enough to cover in a day and some beaches are really
hard to get to! And when we were not feasting our eyes on some of the most beautiful beaches and sceneries I have ever seen in my life, we were busy getting to know the members of our group, explaining as always where Malta is, that it's an independent country, that it's ever so small, that we have our own native language and that Sam and I are not sisters!!!! What a gorgeous day! And just when we thought it couldn't get any better, we were taken snorkelling to see the turtles! I had never snorkelled before and was about to chicken out, especially when we were informed that we might also see 'baby' sharks, but I would have missed out on a truly incredible experience.
That night, to end a perfect day, we went out to explore the island's nightlife - and again we were not disappointed. The island is just brimming with energy and life. Just make sure you are not out before 11pm though, because you'd think you have been deceived. We started out at a 'pizzaria' close to the church in Vila dos Remédios. A band was playing live reggae and the dancefloor was just
A natural window in the shape of Brazil
... or is it Africa? After all, Fernando de Noronha is closer to West Africa then to Sao Paulo!!!!! crowded with swaying bodies. They say that Brazilian men are very forward, but until last night we hadn't really experienced it. Apparently, there are more men than women on the island, so that might be why!!! 😊 Anyway, we found them all very charming! One guy spotted Samantha from like a mile away and after sending a friend to let her know that he liked her, he came running to her with flowers in hand!!!! Then disappeared .... hehehe
Next we headed to Bar do Cachorro and under a brilliant moon, with the waves crashing in the background, we danced forró all night while guys tenderly whispered love song in our ears!!!!!
I love this island!
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jenni
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ekk trid!!!!
Ah what beuatiful amazing pics u ve got! remeber next time i m coming with u!!!! Hugz jenni