BUZIOS WITH BRIGITTE BARDOT AND A BUGRE, SHERIFF OF THE CPF, DRUNK FOR 8 NIGHTS OUT OF 9, ROMANCE REARS ITS UGLY HEAD AND IS NOT SO UGLY AFTER ALL.......AND A NEW IMPROVED BLOG SITE THAT STUBBORNLY WILL NOT LET ME POST PHOTOS......HAS SOMEONE WRITTEN IN TO THEM AND COMPLAINED I WONDER.....IT'S YOU MUM I BET.....WHO THE HELL ELSE COMES HERE AFTER ALL......

BUZIOS......about 10 days ago i was invited by some buddies to go to Buzios for the weekend....its about 75 km east and then north up the coast.....its a knobbly bit that sticks out into the Atlantic conveniently providing beaches on 3 sides of the knobble, each with very different looks and sea characteristics.

Well upto 1964 it was a tiny unknown fishing village, with visits from a few savvy Cariocas (Rio-dwellers) and that was it. But then La Bardot arrived, bathed topless, fell in love withe place, bought a house and the rest is history. Or commercialisation.

Only in Buzios, it works.

The natural beauty is actually enhanced by whats been added.

And in Brasil, a country that you go to for beauty and fun and quaint nad rustic and etc, Buzios has more of it per square inch than anywhere, probably in the world.

BUZIOS IS PARADISE IN A LAND OF PARADISES.

Whereas St. Tropez is a ripoff and snobby and why would you bother, Buzios is friendly and tranquil and busy and crazy and wild and stunning and fabulous and.....how can I put this.....I quite liked it.

It's more expensive than normal Brasil, but you can still eat and drink cheaply enough if you shop around. Likewise if you stay out of the centre, there is cheap and lovely if simple accomodation available.

We stayed in a French run pousada with 9 rooms, swimming pool, breakfast room, beautiful tropical gardens, barbie and sitting areas etc for £15 a night for two including buffet breakfast.

Oh and I had a balcony, and a hammock. And a sink that fell off when I was drunk......but as regular readers will know ( hello mum!) I am a dab hand at plumbing with a broken leg in extremis. It was about 10km out of the centre but there are minibuses running in andout of centro at all hours for next to nothing. Oh and the owner took me and the girls to the beach in the pousada's beach buggy (bugre)......marvy.....might be the remains of the Beetle me and Rich sold 20 years ago.....