Yesterday 8th September we left Puerto Alegre, where we had been rescued (sic) by Victoria, a woman from a local newspaper who felt that we might be at risk overnight from ne`er-do-wells where we were parked by the sea. We´d arrived at the only marked campsite and found that it was simply parking places on a road. Victoria led us to a prestigious yacht club of which she and her husband Raphael are members, and we were allowed to stay there for 2 nights. Kontiki was not there, having gone to visit other areas for a few days.
It was an amazing setting at which to stay - large swimming pool (but too cold to swim) and manicured grounds, plus hot showers, which always go down well with us. Working with a local newspaper, Victoria brought in a reporter and photographer and their article will appear next Thursday. A bar-b-cue meal was cooked for us and we were clearly an attraction to club members.This typifies the kindness and generosity we always seem to meet.
Last night we arrived at a ´proper´campsite where we´ve been fitted in amongst several big American motorhome palaces owned by members of a Brazilian club. Apparently no units usually stay there at this time of year - winter equivalent to Feb in the UK - so it´s like Christmas arriving early for the owner. Cost is 10 Reals per person per night (about 4 to the pound).
We´re expecting Kontiki to join us today, and tomorrow we´re off to visit local canyons. It was one helluva climb to get here from sea level. Most importantly of all is that it´s Peter´s 21st birthday tomorrow, and as we´ve more time today, we are celebrating with a home-cooked meal this evening.
In every place we visit, people are keen for us to see everything there is to see, and are proud of their State. Raphael had explained to us that his State sees itself as separate from Brazil (shades of Yorkshire, Cornwall?)and celebrates its own holidays more than national ones. In fact, on their local holiday its not wise to display the national flag - sounds like Basque in N. Spain, and these Brasilians in fact see themselves more as Spanish than Brazilian.
We´re really enjoying our travelling, and look forward to what the next day will bring. Without wanting to sound trite, we all feel very lucky to be able to travel as we do. Certainly, though, we wouldn´t want those huge American jobs. They must spend their time going along roads measuring the height of tree branches, not to mention finding safe places in which to park their opulence.
Gramaldo, where we are camped, is a very Austrian looking town and you´d never guess it´s in S. America! Olwyn, Maureen and Janet are recovering from chocolate crepes we had earlier. Amazingly full of melted milk chocolate. However, in a sense this is not the real Brazil, in which there is lots of poverty.
OJ
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