Brazil 2012: Pedra Azul

Sunday, July 15:  Left Vitoria around 8:00 am, headed to Rive for the remaining three weeks of classes.  Enroute we stopped at a famous landmark in Espirito Santo, Pedra Azul.  The name means "Blue Rock" due to the fact, that depending on the amount of sunlight, the stone can change color, and often appears blue, green, and even yellow, although usually it is grayish white. Most of the time it is covered by clouds, creating a cold and humid environment at the top  This causes many plants, especially flowers and orchids, to grow. 

We arrived around 10:00 am -- our bus was a large tourist bus, so big in fact, that it couldn't drive back the narrow road from the main road to the visitor center. So, everyone had to walk first to the Visitor Center (more than a mile)....

 

...and then another hike/walk (1/2 mile) back to the trail head. Lots of exercise today!!!

Finally reached the trail head.... 

 

Our guided tour begins...

Near the end of the hike there is a sheet of rock that you climb.  It is so steep and slick that you go up by holding on to a rope.

 

 

At the top of the rock climb, you hike a bit longer to reach an area of hidden pools in the rock face.  The view is beautiful......and the pools of water are quite refreshing to your feet!!

 

 

There were lovely flowers along the hike....

 

 

 

 

Descending the steep sheet of rock.... 

 

This picture shows just how steep the rock climb is....

 

It was after 3:00 pm until everyone returned to the Vistior Center.  We ate lunch around 4:00.....then headed for Rive.  Arrived around 6:30, settled in, and prepared for the coming week of classes.