From Guarapari we went to Manhuaçu where we found a good parking for the nite at a shell gas station.
While in town looking for a bank, passersby stopped and wanted to see the camper,and asked questions of our travels.. Lucas and his girlfriend wanted to see the inside and as we were talking more and more people gathered and took pictures of us and the camper. everybody tried to show us the best rout to Diamantine, we did in the end follow the advise of a truck driver. The drive is slow but the scenery is spectacular.
Stopped for a short rest at a ALE gas station and met Sandro and his wife.
Thy both had worked in the USA for 10 years and with the money saved came back to Brazil and opened a business and now employ 14 people. We were invited for a coffee and to spend the weekend at his ranch. We are now in Serro, 60km. Short of Diamantine. Again a crowd of young boys surround us and we are impressed with the intelligent questions thy ask. I gave them all a Canadian Quarter as a souvenir, and a little later one of the boys gave me a Brazilian quarter as a souvenir. There is a party in town so I hope we will get some sleep.
March 7, music stooped at 10pm. So we did have a quiet nite. Arrived in Diamantina and had a hard time finding the camping place. Narrow and steep cobbled streets make interesting driving, where I think we will never get through, a car still passes us. Perception from the passenger side must be different. We did find the camping, a very nice spot and only 10 minutes walk in to the historic centre, mind you, a very steep walk.
Hugs to all.
Norbert and Greti

Lucas and friends discussing the best route to Diamantina

More admirers of the Blue Wonder 

Sandro's wife served us a delicious cup of coffee

Hebert, Rian, Lucas and Vinicius in the town of Serro. gave me a Brazilian quarter for a souvenir.

Church in Diamantina

Diamantina

This is our 10 minute walk in to town

Our Van made it through

Drove on to Petropolis and hired a guide to show us the sights. Very interesting city and nice to get to know the history. It is a university town and very regulated. No Prostitution "officially" and no loud music or parties after 11pm. Then drove on to Trestopolis and are now in the National Parke Serra Dos Orgãos. Did a short hike yesterday and today we hiked 24 km. with a climb of 3000 feet. Lucky for the jungle canopy we were most of the time in the shade. Need I say that when we were back at the camper I was done for the day as it was 34 degrees at 10am. and did not cool off until after 6pm.

The views were spectacular, and well worth the effort. At one lookout you could see Rio. Norbert went for another hike later, I guess he misses the Grouse Grind. 

 Feb. 27,yesterday we arrived at Buzios, one of Brazil's famous beaches that was discovered by Brigitte Bardot in the 60s. Found a perfect spot to camp, only 100 meters from the beach and very calm water with big Cruise ships anchored out of the Bay. Perfect for swimming for me as I do not like waves.   Lots of people come to our camper to ask about our trip. We have not met any other Overlanders in Brazil, so we are a rarity here and attract a lot of attention especially the young people are very interested, and many dream of traveling north. 

We are now in Arraial do Cabo and again the beach is beautiful. We are camped at Camping Club Do Brazil one block from the

Hugs to all

Norbert and Grteti

Cooling off

Norbert picking Bananas

Do not remember the dimensions will look up and clarify later

Teresopolis from Serra dos Orgaos.

Taking a short rest on the way up to Serra dos  Orgaos

The finger of God



As Racoons in Canada these are their cousins doing the same thing

Visited the Goat Farm and Cheese Factory Fazenda Geneve,

Super clean Goats

This is Reinaldos dream

Beach at Buzios

Buzios

Argentine teenagers full of questions



Our parking attendant and guard at Buzios beach



Arraial Do Cabo

Calm waters are my thing

Monument in Arraial Do Cabos

February 19, 2015

We are still in Rio and having a good time. Our host's took us on a day tour around Rio and its beaches, it is indeed a wonderful and lively city. Thankfully we can still stay a few more day's here at the Collegio Babtista, most students were on Carnaval vacation and will be back on monday so that is the end of our stay here, also it is time to move on. We finally ran out of Propane, so no Fridge and no coffee in the morning. We have been looking for two weeks for propane but none of the companies could or were willing to supply us as our system is unknown here. Waldeck and Debora took us on a walking tour of historic Rio and also a little part of one Favela. On the way we met Marieke and Sophie from Farce who decided to tag along with us as we had such a good guide. We spend a very nice afternoon together. Today it is over 40 degrees and I am not moving from my shaded spot.

Today the 21st. We finally did get Propane and now we can cook again and most important make coffee in the morning.

Waldeck and Debora picked us up at 4 this afternoon and we drove out to their summer place in the mountains, we arrived very late and it was dark and on a little dirt track. We did not know what to expect. Well, what a surprise, the gate was opened and there we drove in to a perfect sanctuary, a main house and 4 cabanas all very tastefully furnished and decorated, with a creek running through the property that can be dammed and you have a swimming pool. Lawns nicely groomed and many outside showers. We walked up though a banana plantation to a waterfall and had a swim to cool off. Stopped at a friends house and he was cooking "Fashada" a Brazilian specialty. What an amazing journey we are having. 

We booked our flight home for March 16, as our car insurance runs out on March 12th and we found a place where we can park the Blue Wonder until our return in November.

Hugs to all

Norbert and Greti

That is the closest we got to Christi Redador

View of Rio from Pan de Azucar

Waldeck and Debora took us out for lunch in this very nice Coffee house

Shopping district of Rio

Cathdral in Rio

At 40 degrees we needed refreshment every 30 minutes

This is where Marieke and Sophie joined us

Escala de ? very close to the Vavelas

The beaches are so white you can not be without sunglasses

6am. in the morning, negotiating for Propane in the middle of Rio and finally success



We did get a taste of the bean soup he is cooking 

That is what I call cooling off

The Vavelas

Norbert almost got his camera taken away for taking a picture in the Vavels

The Sanctuary

Had an early start and arrived at our destination in Rio at 5.pm. It took us 9 hours for what should have been a 5.5 hour drive. Most of the delay was coursed by one wrong turn very close to our destination and many closed roads due to Carnaval. Thankfully we did make it and are now parked at the Collegio Babtisa where the guard knew we were expected. Met Neto and Grazi who live on the grounds and arranged for our stay. We were right away offered Dinner and most welcome was the shower as it is 40 degrees here. Also met Sergio and Ana who do volunteer work here with the children of the Favelas. 

February 15 we met up with Thibaut and Renata and Asvin, and together went with the Metro to the Parade grounds, just as we arrived it started to rain and did not let up until 2am. The show started a little late but what a spectacular event. I have watched the parade on TV but in the stadium you can feel the plus and the energy not only from the parade in front of you but also the spectators. The floats are incredible and the costumes very elaborate. The event started at 9pm. And finished at 6am. We did stay until 3:30 am. Then the metro ride back and walk to our camper it was 5:0 am. before we were in bed. Today as it is my Birthday I can chose the activity, so I chose sleep to make up for last nite.

Hugs to all.

Norbert and Greti

These are the wonderful people at the Collegio Babtista who made it possible for us to park in Rio de Janeiro.

These are our hosts for the Carnaval Parade

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Our camping spot in Rio

Neto and Grazia  who treated us like family.