MondayMorningMutiny.com

I am sitting in a car driving from Taubate to Ubatuba, a beautiful journey across rolling countryside, over a ridge of small mountains to the coast, the frequency of the rich greens of the foliage increasing as we travel. From a distance, all the flora looks the same. On closer inspection, the variety is revealed and it becomes hard to find two trees of the same type.

From the peak of the pass it is all downhill to Ubatuba. There was a memorable section of road to rival that famous one in San Francisco for all it´s twisting, turning hairpins and sharp gradient. I´m thankful our brakes are reliable.

With surfing out the picture and no banks wanting to accept my card I enjoy a much needed break mostly spent on various beaches. Notably Itamabuca, where the river meets the sea. `Red Beach´ is another, where the crusty sand is like demerara sugar, resting in clumps, crunching underfoot like hot golden snow. These are just two of the 74 beaches and 15 islands along the gorgeous stretch of coastline in and around Ubatuba.

Here I spend 5 days learning Portuguese, eating the delicious Açai and reestablishing a sensible diet, away from the Atkins´ orgy and small farms´ worth of cows I must have devoured so far. Concerned over a lack of vitamins, I consume a variety of fruit based Caipirinhias.

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As I lay on a surfing beach near Ubatuba, some 3hrs bus ride away from the tourist feeding frenzy of Rio, resting and nursing my injuries, I reflect on the short but action packed last few days. If and when I return to Rio, I will walk the well trodden tourist path and take part in more sedate activities.

Hangliding perhaps..

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