We have arrived in Paraty with no problems, unless you count Xss getting briefly stuck in the turnstile on the bus, a problem. There was a comedic moment of me pushing from behind and him pushing the turnstile at the front. The turnstiles are situated just behind the driver and force you to buy a ticket. However they are very tough (which is good when you want strong stomach muscles) and very small (certainly not enough room for a man and a backpack). They don't like fat people here, and indeed there is a sign on the bus telling you that you have to offer a fat person your seat! I guess it is seen as a health problem.
We have been spending the last few days sunbathing on the beach a stones throw (and for once this is actually true) from our hostel. The town of Paraty is also very beautiful and very safe to walk around. There are plenty of evening hours as it gets dark at 5pm. So plenty of wandering - my new sport.
On the beach there are not many people (still to work out why) but plenty of stray dogs whom befriend anyone they see. So for the past two days ´Benji´has been sitting near us, looking after us. Its not uncommon to go for a walk and see a foreign couple walking along with a dog running around their heels as if it is their own. It makes us laugh. The problem with our one, Benji, who has adopted us is that he is racist and encourages others to be so also! Whenever a black person walks past us he barks crazily and runs at the person, stopping a meter away to bark until they leave! This encourages the other dogs and they join in. It is more than a little embarrassing as it is quite a noise and show, and its hard not to look. Like with any difficult friend, it poses the question, how do you say, ´I'm their friend but don't agree with their opinions´ in one look. He honestly doesn't bark at white people, or mixed race, only black men.
Benji is now posing a dilemma, should we move to a different beach to avoid him? We went to a different place on the beach today but he found us and sat with us all day. He is really quite nice, if only he weren't so racist.
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