They paved paradise and put up a parking lot

Pipa was a little fishing village without electricity in the 70s. It was discovered by hippies and surfers and gradually developed into a seaside resort. The beaches and surrounding countryside were untouched and the fishermen earned far more from the tourists than they ever did from fishing. They also got essential modern comforts such as good espresso coffee, electricity and sewers.

Its recently that the damage is being done. Globalisation and the rising Brazilian middle class have encouraged the type of person who thinks a holiday home is essential. Consequently Pipa is in danger of turning into yet another sprawling resort. Destroying the very thing that attracted people to the place in the first place.

The rising land values has pushed development along the coast to other villages, where they are building hotel and holiday complexes that are self contained. So no need for the tourists to go into the village and no espresso for the fishermen

Its the rather depressing pattern we have seen throughout our trip. With the exception of Venezuela that is such a basket case no-one would want to invest there

What we have lost really hits you when you visit Pipa´s Atlantic Forest Sanctuary. A few acres of protected woodland. In its untouched state, Atlantic Forest has four times the diversity of life than the Amazon jungle. When the Spanish arrived 15% of Brazil was covered now it is less that one tenth of one percent and the bits left are so fragmented that plants and animals are in genetic ghettos. What ever we do we can never return these forests to their former glory.

The beaches all along this coast are breathtaking but their pristine beauty is marred by the plastic bottles and bags that seem to be taking over the world.

This is why I prefer cities. They can be glorious but even the worse (Managua?) are always interesting. They serve a purpose and unlike Atlantic Forest can be always be repaired and improved.