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Published: March 6th 2010
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From Paranagua the small ferry boat cruised through the mangrove islands, past dolphins and numerous birds for 2 hours to reach our dock on Ilha do Mel.
A 20 minute walk across the island and we were at our accommodation, Pousada Treze Luas. It was a bit of a splurge to stay there but well worth it. The rooms were nice and the common areas beautifully done. We managed to get an extra room out of them for no extra cost for Nickie as there was only one other couple staying at the Pousada. It saved us from all squeezing into a 4 bed room.
Two of the beaches were just a stones throw from the pousada. The sea water was warm, almost like the Caribbean, and the sand was powdery and clean.
During dinner on our first evening we ate at a restaurant on the beach, next door to the Pousada. While we were there we saw the most extraordinary thing - the moon rose up from the horizon on the sea. A great big orange moon. So big you could see the markings on it. It was mesmorising. Then later, after a caipirinha cocktail (very strong
but good) the restaurant manager showed us a sweet little owl in their garden. It was just sitting there watching us watching him. Only 20cm or so tall, so either a baby owl or just a very small type of owl. It caught a big cockroach in its mouth at one point and munched away on it.
It was such a beautiful evening - eating & drinking under the stars.
Life doesn’t get much better than that.
We woke the next morning to blue skies and a great breakfast - shame about the dozens of irritating flies that insisted on joining us for breakfast! We hit the beach by mid-morning armed with parasols and a boogie board. Amy took to boogie boarding easily and was soon jumping into the waves and riding them into the shallows. She was screeching with delight as she caught each wave, even when they occasionally threw her off the board. I think the “Australian” in her is finally coming out! We all had a go at boogie boarding but Amy was by far the best.
A late lunch at our sea front restaurant and then a slow walk to the other side
of the island to check out the beach there.
There is plenty of wildlife on the island - colourful birds, butterflies, lizards and crabs.
Later in the afternoon we mooched around the pousada - Nickie found a hammock to have a snooze in while we caught up with some TV. Andy and I went up the lighthouse later trying to catch the sunset but it was obscured by clouds. We could get a good panoramic view of all the beaches from up there.
3rd March and it was Andy’s birthday. We started the day by singing happy birthday, enjoying our sumptuous breakfast. We hit the beach armed with the boogie board and Amy caught some good waves. Andy’s birthday dinner was at our little restaurant on the beach. The little girl, Maria, played with Amy and after eating we all ended up dancing to Red Hot Chilli Peppers in the restaurant. By 8pm we’d been eating and partying for what seemed like hours and we wandered along to another bar for a nightcap. There was a blackout so we returned to the hotel, sat and had a chat with Fernando - the manager, then were fast asleep
by 9.30pm.
On our last full day on the island we walked to an old Fortress. It was 2 hours along the beach and was a beautiful and relaxing walk. The Fort had been restored, complete with blackened cannons and white-washed walls. The return walk took us through the forest with its lush vegetation and exotic flowers. There was a tropical storm later that day so we stayed around the hotel.
Friday was our last morning on the island before departing on the boat to the mainland. We had one farewell swim, sat on the beach under umbrellas (not for the sun this time but for the persistent rain) and made our way to the dock.
It was a fond farewell to Ilha do Mel - a unique and unspoilt island with some truly great beaches.
After a couple of buses we got to Curitiba early evening, in time for a quick stroll through the streets and a bite to eat.
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Jonathan Guy
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Bird in Flight
..is a Snowy Egret! Fabulous shot - and a great bird to see....