Paraty

DAY 24 (3 OF 3) – REFLECTION, PARATY, BRAZIL

Just like Venice, Paraty is unique during full moon when the high tide comes in the floodgate, flooding some areas of the historic centre. Our visit didn’t coincide with the full moon, but we did get a taste of the beautiful reflections in Paraty from the daylong rain that flooded the streets.

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Read other posts on Paraty, Brazil
Day 23.1 – Sea, Paraty
Day 23.2 – Town, Paraty
Day 23.3 – Night, Paraty
Day 24.1 – Rain, Paraty
Day 24.2 – Thai, Paraty
Day 24.3 – Reflection, Paraty

Next Destination – Sao Paulo, Brazil
Continuing on our journey from post Day 25.1

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South America 2013 – Our Destinations
Buenos Aires (Argentina), Iguazu Falls (Argentina/Brazil), Pantanal (Brazil), Brasilia (Brazil), Belo Horizonte & Inhotim (Brazil), Ouro Preto (Brazil), Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), Paraty (Brazil), Sao Paulo (Brazil), Samaipata & Santa Cruz (Bolivia), Sucre (Bolivia), Potosi (Bolivia), Southwest Circuit (Bolivia), Tilcara, Purmamarca, Salta (Argentina), Cafayate (Argentina), San Pedro de Atacama (Chile), Antofagasta & Paranal Observatory (Chile), Chiloe (Chile), Puerto Varas (Chile), Torres del Paine (Chile), Ushuaia (Argentina), El Chalten (Argentina), El Calafate (Argentina), Isla Magdalena (Argentina), Santiago (Chile), Valparaiso (Chile), Afterthought

November 1, 2013 | Categories: Brazil, Day 21 to 30, Paraty | Tags: Brazil, destination, flood, historic, journal, must see, Paraty, photo, Rio de Janeiro, South America, things-to-do, town, Travel, water | Leave a comment

DAY 24 (2 OF 3) – THAI, PARATY, BRAZIL

We were delighted to find a wonderful Thai restaurant in Paraty. With the fresh seafood, coconut and pineapple, the food at Thai Brasil was absolutely delicious. The playful décor of painted flowers and fruits on walls and tables was equally pleasing.

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Read other posts on Paraty, Brazil
Day 23.1 – Sea, Paraty
Day 23.2 – Town, Paraty
Day 23.3 – Night, Paraty
Day 24.1 – Rain, Paraty
Day 24.2 – Thai, Paraty
Day 24.3 – Reflection, Paraty

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November 1, 2013 | Categories: Brazil, Day 21 to 30, Paraty | Tags: Brazil, destination, food, journal, must do, Paraty, photo, restaurant, Rio de Janeiro, South America, Thai, Thai Basil, things to see, Travel | Leave a comment

DAY 24 (1 OF 3) – RAIN, PARATY, BRAZIL

The weather got worse over the night. It was rainy and chilly pretty much the entire day. We gave up the idea of taking any boat trip or going to the nearby beaches. Because of the Atlantic, Paraty could get rainy at times, especially during the summer. As a result of the rain, we had a relaxing day at our guesthouse to update our blog. I (Angela) also found time to do my first watercolour painting. We did, however, venture out to the historic centre for a seafood lunch.

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Read other posts on Paraty, Brazil
Day 23.1 – Sea, Paraty
Day 23.2 – Town, Paraty
Day 23.3 – Night, Paraty
Day 24.1 – Rain, Paraty
Day 24.2 – Thai, Paraty
Day 24.3 – Reflection, Paraty

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November 1, 2013 | Categories: Brazil, Day 21 to 30, Paraty | Tags: Architecture, Brazil, destination, journal, must see, Paraty, photo, rain, Rio de Janeiro, sea, South America, things-to-do, town, Travel | Leave a comment

DAY 23 (3 OF 3) – NIGHT, PARATY, BRAZIL

In the evening, the historic centre was not as lively as we thought it would be. Nevertheless, under atmospheric lighting, Paraty presented its colonial charm as if we were walking in history.

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Read other posts on Paraty, Brazil
Day 23.1 – Sea, Paraty
Day 23.2 – Town, Paraty
Day 23.3 – Night, Paraty
Day 24.1 – Rain, Paraty
Day 24.2 – Thai, Paraty
Day 24.3 – Reflection, Paraty

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November 1, 2013 | Categories: Brazil, Day 21 to 30, Paraty | Tags: Architecture, Brazil, destination, journal, must see, night, Paraty, photo, Rio de Janeiro, South America, things-to-do, town, Travel | Leave a comment

DAY 23 (2 OF 3) – TOWN, PARATY, BRAZIL

We walked leisurely in the pedestrian-only historic centre. Paved with large uneven stones, most streets in the old town were designed as a channel with its lowest point in the middle for drainage. We walked by a house at which its owner was painting the main doorframe in green, one of the several colours commonly found on doors, windows and shutters in Paraty, while the walls were mainly whitewashed.
We walked by Casa da Cultura (House of Culture) and saw some interesting figures wearing colourful masks standing on the balconies overlooking the street. Housed in a historical mansion, the Casa da Cultura serves as a small cultural hub in Paraty. We saw some displays of knitted art and photography. The big surprise came when we went to the upper level and found an exhibition of traditional paper masks and a school group just about to finish their mask-making class. The kids were having fun running around the room and putting on the masks they made. The mask display and the playful kids brought us a moment of brilliant colours in this rather greyish afternoon.

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Read other posts on Paraty, Brazil
Day 23.1 – Sea, Paraty
Day 23.2 – Town, Paraty
Day 23.3 – Night, Paraty
Day 24.1 – Rain, Paraty
Day 24.2 – Thai, Paraty
Day 24.3 – Reflection, Paraty

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November 1, 2013 | Categories: Brazil, Day 21 to 30, Paraty | Tags: Architecture, Brazil, children, colonial, destination, journal, local, must see, Paraty, photo, Rio de Janeiro, sea, South America, things-to-do, town, Travel | Leave a comment

DAY 23 (1 OF 3) – SEA, PARATY, BRAZIL

On our way to Sao Paulo from Rio de Janeiro, we stopped by the seaside town of Paraty. Famous for its colonial buildings, pirates, beaches, and rainforests, Paraty was a significant colonial town in the 18th century as an export port for gold from the mines of Minas Gerais to Rio de Janeiro. A Gold Trail was established from the towns of Minas Gerais to Paraty to transport gold, supplies and slaves. In late 18th century, as the gold mines began to dry up, many cities in Minas Gerais such as Ouro Preto underwent a gradual decline, so as Paraty. Today Paraty contains one of the best-preserved colonial town centre in Brazil.
We came to Paraty for its beaches, colonial buildings, and its layback atmosphere. It was cool and cloudy when we arrived in Paraty. At the dock, several people were fishing while the boat owners were cleaning their colourful tourist boats. We took a stroll along Rio Pereque Acu to Praia do Pontal, a beach stretching out into Bahia de Paraty north of the historic town centre. The beach was quiet with only a few beachgoers chilling out at the seating area where barracas (stalls) were serving snacks, drinks and seafood.
Back in the old town, we walked passed a local restaurant near Igreja Santa Rita which had their catches-of-the-day displayed in front of the store. We decided to give it a try and had our first seafood meal in Paraty.