Oh no! Our little corner of paradise is experiencing some freak weather and it is pouring, pouring with rain. A bit sad on our last day, but maybe it will make it easier to leave. The birds are going berserk and seem to be as surprised as we are. Goodness, I am going to miss all their chirpy chat in the mornings, though sadly they have not been easy to see.
Analida and Eduardo took me to see their other houses which they had built in a former resort about ten minutes up the coast. Analida has built the most beautiful house, which she either rents or uses for her guests. When she returned from being away for a few months, the neighbouring private air-strip had built the most enormous green hanger literally straight in front of her entrance with about ten yards between them. There is no planning permission or rules as to what and where you can build – consequently there is the most amazing range of hideous architecture with houses, despite being on quite a large plot, built cheek by jowl with the neighbour. Sad…
Another mortifying fact Analida told me, was the number of unwanted children who are born to young, young girls, often still at school. They are passed on to their grandparents, probably in their early 30s, who also cannot care for them as they are working. We met someone Analida knew on the beach yesterday, with his girlfriend who could not have been more than 30, with an adorable little girl of about two. I assumed it was her daughter but in fact, it was her granddaughter and they asked Analida if she knew of anyone who might take her…. heartbreaking. Apparently this is not uncommon, and there is quite a racket of Europeans (in particular) coming here to take these young children – pretty horrifying in 2022.
The rain is seriously coming down and our journey back to Rio tomorrow looking ever more adventurous!
EC-Rider Travels 
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