Santuário do Caraça

That's Gustavo showing how many bags we're taking. (75041 byte(s))	The neo-gothic church's back in the Sanctuary complex. (283964 byte(s))	In the trail to the Lourdes Grotto, we cross a few streams. Luckily this one has something to help us do that. (165140 byte(s))
The Lourdes Grotto. This thumbnail shows the saint statue in detail, while the larger picture shows the grotto itself. (123893 byte(s))	As I got pretty disappointed with the previews grotto, I was very enthusiastic about exploring any inviting hole near the trail. We found this one and there I went. It leads to a small cave with a much larger opening in the other side, hidden within the woods. (141832 byte(s))	Here's how the hole is found from the trail. (61085 byte(s))
From the trail to the Lourdes Grotto (which first leads to the ruins of a chapel) this is how the Sanctuary complex looks like. (84796 byte(s))	At night, after the Mass, the old priest feeds some brazilian wolves (lobos guarás) with raw meat. They call it the Wolf Show. We all gather in front of the neo-gothic church and that's where they go to look for this free meal. That's the female one. (44413 byte(s))	Another picture of the female wolf. (53999 byte(s))
The day after we had some heavy hikings, starting with the one to Cascatona (Big Fall). (61555 byte(s))	The following people were going on this hiking (from left to right): Gustavo, me, Silvina, Beto and Daniel. Guto (Manoel) is taking the picture. Fabio and Pedro choosed to take a rest from the day before, though. Notice how Gustavo is wearing and using some professional equipment which were the target of many jokes and, naturally, "healthy" envyness. (293630 byte(s))	Guto and Gustavo like to pull on some heavy rhythm which I follow just because I'm stubborn, but I'd rather do the hiking in a more pleasant way. The other three probably think the same, as they were always left behind. Beto was the first to be seen after one of the many stops we made to wait for them. (299649 byte(s))
Another (not the last) stop to wait for the last three of us, this time contemplating some nice wild flowers. (153050 byte(s))	We are now very near the difficult climb down the hill to the bottom of the Cascatona, but first we're going to the belvedere. Nonetheless, we stopped near the climb to look around. (87706 byte(s))	This is the Cascatona seen from above. (145852 byte(s))
A small part of the fall, seen from a place still near the climb. (296894 byte(s))	Ah, a beautiful sight from the belvedere. As it can be easily seen, the weather was very cloudy and even rainy sometimes. This was probably the first time we had signs of sunny weather since we got there. (178137 byte(s))	I took this picture with (negative) light compensation so the water would be better seen. We're getting ready to do the downhill climb to swim in the rapids below and in this pic you can see more than half of the Cascatona. (290777 byte(s))
That's the same part of the fall seen from a place in the middle of the downhill climb. Beto and Daniel didn't want to try it and went back to arrive in time for the lunch. (296405 byte(s))	And this is the end of the fall where we had some swimming time. Once again, Gustavo shows how well equipped he is, even though the water wasn't too cold in there. (87944 byte(s))	After a while we took the climb back up, and this is a sight from it seen from the top. (179400 byte(s))
Now we're getting back to the complex whose the church tower can be seen from between the vegetation. (344265 byte(s))	After lunch time (which me, Gustavo, Guto and Silvina gave up due to the long lines -- the park was full with one-day visitors), we took the trail to the Bocaina. A good deal of it goes near the margin of the Caraça Stream (Ribeirão do Caraça), which seems to have the edge of the woods in the other side. Notice how the weed covers the woods there. (161281 byte(s))	The trail to Bocaina is very smooth, even though it's long (about 6 kilometers), and although it goes through an open field it has a good view of the mountains, woods and falls nearby. (94751 byte(s))
That's the Cascatinha (Little Fall), another nice place to go and have some swimming time, seen from the Bocaina trail. This is a good time to offer the 360° Panorama I made. It requires a Java Enabled browser though. (290554 byte(s))	The trail crosses about two small streams and the Caraça one. The small streams have this kind of bridge and the Caraça has to be crossed through the water (they say there's a stone bridge, but maybe the latest days rain got it underwater). (92717 byte(s))	The end of the trail to Bocaina is a bit more difficult, but nothing too impossible. Anyway, we finally got to Bocaina and that's me trying to stay near the falls for the picture. The thumbnail shows a closer look of me, but the larger pic has me only as a small detail. (294364 byte(s))
In the way back to the Sanctuary complex we meet again with the Caraça Stream and the edge of the woods. The afternoon light turns the dark waters into a perfect mirror. (95554 byte(s))	The next day, while Gustavo, Guto, Beto and Daniel went to try some harder trails and Silvina was "grounded" by her wet shoes, I joined Fabio and Pedro in some light hiking to the Cross (Cruzeiro). This is probably the best place to look at the Sanctuary complex. (297225 byte(s))	After lunch time, we tried the Pool (Piscina). Unfortunally, it seemed to be a great waste of time and effort and we were very disappointed, so we ran back to try the Cascatinha (Little Fall). This is another angle of the Sanctuary complex seen from the road, which is part of the way to the Pool. (84014 byte(s))
Luckily we had plenty of time to get to Cascatinha and still enjoy a good swim in its very cold waters. While me, Gustavo, Fabio, Pedro and Silvina were going there, Beto, Guto and Daniel stood with the two ladies they met that day in the Pool. (87138 byte(s))	When we got back to the Sanctuary complex, we met Beto, Guto, Daniel and the two ladies in Beto's jeep. The passengers went to the bar while Beto offered us a ride up to our cabin. Here's me and Fabio cheering after this interesting "rally". (90381 byte(s))	Once again we gathered for the Wolf Show. As the park was much emptier, the female wolf didn't even bother to leave the courtyard. (75428 byte(s))
After feeling full, the female wolf decided to give up on growling at the male (which is usually cautious enough without her threatenings, to avoid coming to the courtyard) and I finally got a good shot of both together. (78865 byte(s))	In the last day, I took this picture of the burnt part of the complex, now turned into a museum. (96208 byte(s))	Before me, Fabio and Pedro took our trip back home, we all gathered for a last toast with two of the kind and humble old brothers. (88954 byte(s))

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