Friday, 11 April 2014

Swimming With The Fishes

A hot and stormy day in Bonito.

Catching the bus back to Campo Grande tomorrow, then it's a long haul bus to Paraty via Sao Paolo.

Yesterday, we finally got into the water properly for the first time.

Although we didn't take a camera, this is what we saw... 

http://www.riodaprata.com.br/galeria-de-fotos

Our guide Junior took us snorkelling down the Rio Prata through miles of crystal clear waters, seeing shoals of amazing fish large and small, a caiman or two, underwater springs and the splash (only a splash) of a giant otter.


To add a little flavour, we were caught in a tropical downpour and were all struck by lightning as we swam.

Not the demise one might expect in a South American river, but it would have been a romantic way to go.

A slap-up lunch followed: steak, salad and refried beans, with rice pudding and banana compote for pudding.

We'd done the trip with Natalie from Gosforth - deputy head of Geography at Dame Allen's and her dad Les Shaw played under Bobby Moncur at NUFC, so she was great company on another smashing day out in the country!

5 comments:

  1. Either that lightning had more of an effect than you thought or you might want to check Natalie's credentials - no Les Shaw ever played for the Toon - and what does "under Bobby Moncur" mean? Moncur didn't manage us. She's obviously up to no good - have a rifle through her bags when she's not looking.

    Aside from taking the piss, that river swim sounds ace - apart from the lightning - still not sure how you're not dead. Your pics are of the usual high quality and I'm starting to wonder how long before we have a jaunt south of the border. You're still missing nothing back here (or maybe we're both missing out and I'm just totally unaware - South London may as well be South America) so just keep on keeping on.

    Big love to you both

    The Lewis-Minolis

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    1. Oh Lewis! "Under' as in wing, I guess, played with Supermac, he babysat Moncur's kids and is still owed a fw bob for same. She checks out as vice principal at Dame Allan's and explained what 'resurgence' was to the guide. A man believes what he wants to believe. Re the lightning/not dead thing, she and Kim concurred that lightning dissipates on water, plus we were all-over neoprene at the time. Kx

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  2. Finally caught up with all your entertaining reports.

    You remember Miles, my eldest? He's been in South America since Feb on his 12-month, round-the-world trip. He's currently in Peru but by a strange coincidence was at Iguazu Falls almost at the same time as you guys...

    Keri

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    1. Hi Keri - good to hear from you! I shall keep an eye out for Miles - I realise now what a well-trodden path we are all on!

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    2. I think I might be following your example (at least for a couple of months) next year.

      He has workable Spanish but had the same problem with Portuguese as you. Impenetrable!

      K

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