Brazil to Tobago

We finally completed our last before the paradise of the Caribbean! This one was extra special because we crossed the Equator!! As per Maritime tradition, we had a Line Crossing Ceremony or, more commonly know nowadays as, an Equator Party to celebrate. Wilhelm served as Neptune, the king of the sea, to give the boat "permission to cross" and Rufus, as our Captain, faced Neptune's interrogation in order to get his blessing. 

Viv and myself were the only two crew who had not yet crossed the equator and so we had to endure a mini initiation of ash baptism by the captain. After our ceremony was done we each took a turn to swim over the equator line (and wash off all the ashes) and then enjoyed a feast of beef lasagne and chocolate mousse for desert.

Wilhelm created a special drink called a "Stormy Petrel" which combines one part cachaca (a bit of Brazil) and two parts Amarula (a bit of Africa - thank you Sara for the awesome gift!). Rufus also treated us to some of his "flapcakes" (thick flapjacks) and fried sugar cinnamon bananas, DELICIOUS!

After about 13 days at sea with little wind we are happy to be at anchor in Pirate's Bay, off of Tobago. We're loving the island life!

Kate

First published on offtheline.co.za

Pipa

Somehow we managed to stay in Joao Pessoa for over three weeks. A glimpse into how easy it is to get stuck while travelling by boat. We decided it was time to move on. After a wonderful time on the peaceful river we got the boat ready for the next leg.

The first stop was Pipa, a small beachside town just south of Natal. We spent the time relaxing on the beach drinking ice cold coconuts and beers while the boys did plenty of surfing. Pipa became a popular local surf spot in the  70's with its pristine beaches and numerous breaks. Although it has grown somewhat since then, with its bustling tourism and crowded beach bars,  it is still spilling with charm. Pipa is well worth a visit if you ever happen to find yourself in the North East of Brazil and is only a two hour bus ride from Natal. Visit Pipa On Line for more info.

The relatively unprotected bay made for some more than bumpy anchoring and adventurous tender rides . So after two awesome days of taking it easy  the rolling around become enough and it was time to set sail. We arrived in Fortaleza yesterday morning and we will be staying for about two days. This will be our last Brazilian stop so we'll be stocking up for a lengthy 2 week sail to Trinidad. Bring on the Caribbean!!!

Viv

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Olinda

The second leg of our road trip took us to Olinda, a short bus ride north from Recife. This town is also along the coast but its draw card is not its praias (beaches) but instead its architecture. The historic downtown area is a World Heritage Site and well worth a visit.

Rufus and I spent our time mainly in the histotic area, just wondering through the streets admiring the beautiful buildings. Coming from South Africa, and having the crime rate we do, we are all too familiar with burglar bars and security fences. Olinda’s historic buildings have the same only, theirs is so ornate and exquisite, you can spend hours admiring the design and workmanship.

Unfortunately I did not pack in the charger for our camera and so I was not able to get any good shots of the architecture (I probably wouldn’t have done it justice anyway). Luckily during my online wonderings I came across Ricardo Bevilaqua’s flickr stream and his colourful shots of the town. He kindly allowed me to use some of his pictures to give you an idea of the areas beauty.

Kate   

                                                                                                                                                      This First published on offtheline.co.za                 

Porto de Galinhas

Just after we arrived in Joao Pessoa, Rufus and I left the boat to do a mini road trip along the coast. Our first stop was Porto de Galinhas, or “Port of Chickens”. We stayed for about 4 nights, which happened to be over a holiday weekend so, the place was packed with visitors from all over Brazil and, the atmosphere was incredible.

Porto de Galinhas is located in the Pernambuco state, about 60km south of Recife and has been voted “Best Brazilian Beach” for the 8th time in a row by the readers of Voyage & Tourism Brazilian magazine.

The beaches really are A.MA.ZING. and the holiday vibe is so infectious. Everything comes alive at night – the shops, restaurants, markets and of course the people. You never need to wear more than your bikini, day or night (and a lot of people don’t), and "stupidly" cold beer is never far away, no matter where you are.

There are endless activities for visitors. Ruf and I snorkelled on the reef, spent a lot of time in the sun exploring the beaches, did some window shopping and of course ate a lot of good food. The area is safe so you can relax and enjoy your holiday without having to worry about your belongings.

This was the best way to start our mini holiday and I would definitely go back for another visit.

Kate

First published on offtheline.co.za

Joâo Pessoa

After leaving Fernando de Noronha we made our way to mainland Brazil and arrived at the mouth of the Paraiba River after a two day sail. Realising that we had finally crossed the Atlantic, as we motored up the river to Jacare Village, just below João Pessoa, was an unbelievable feeling and after being here for over a week it still feels surreal.

After catching up on sleep and ensuring that our boat was going to stay put, Ruf and Kate took a week to do a little road tripping along the coast. Wil and I spent the week on the boat taking it easy and exploring the nearby sites and beaches. During our stay we were fortunate enough to meet another cruising couple, Peter  & Louise, who had just spent 7 months in the Amazon River! It was fascinating to hear the stories about their adventures as well as catching up with a fellow South African, Louise and learning about Trinidad, where Peter has lived for the last 30 years after immigrating from the UK.  We were spoilt rotten by their hospitality, Louise's incredible food and endless helpful tips. We hope to meet them again along the way for some more laughter filled evenings. Check out their website to see what they have been up to.

Kate and Rufus arrived 'home' on Sunday afternoon after a great trip and are staying on Melody for the next week. Wil and I arrived in Rio de Janeiro on Monday afternoon to meet my parents, who are travelling, as well as seeing family.

Viv

First published on offtheline.co.za