Spot on the Tropic of Capricorn.

Ilha das Couves

Ubatuba (state of São Paulo, Brazil) is known for its fantastic beaches but also for the fact that it is the spot where the Tropic of Capricorn enters the mainland of Latin America. I remember seeing Michael Palin on TV being there, showing a tiny plaque.  

It took some discovering to find the right spot. There is a large monument further down the road halfway the Itaguá beach. Next time we will try to visit that place. This time the heat was too “tropical”….

The plaque is just next to the river, the Rio Grande, in front of the most "grand", but derelict, building of Ubatuba; the Casarão do Porto. This was built in 1846 and used in relation to the harbor until 1890. Then it was left by the owners, who went to Rio, as the harbor of Santos took over from Ubatuba. In the 20th century it came to the state and had different functions. Now it is closed. It looked worse than some years ago. On the edge of the roof you can just see the two Majolica vases that are left. There must have been at least 6. 

Casarão do Porto

It is a pity that sometimes there is so little interest or possibility in keeping the history of the old cities of Brazil alive. 

Ubatuba has some pretty buildings, but it is hard to find them between the raging tourist trade. 

Ubatuba church and bandstand

We noticed some strange code on the little plaque - TCL114-13. Looking on the internet it refers to site about boxes (TCL114-13). When there is a box.... then the next question is: What is in there??? No answers yet.

Looking south

Looking north

Back again to the Tropic of Capricorn. North of this line are the tropics. On the 21 of December the sun turns at this spot and starts going north again. Even when I took this picture (Januari 2) the sun is still straight above our heads. There is very little shade. Look at the lamppost or at the huge pylon that holds the electricity cables.... no shade!!!

Looking south

Looking north

I took a picture of somebody walking there (north of the Capricorn)... Just a small blob of shade. Ample evidence that we are in the tropics….. 

You can imagine that around Christmas and the New Year, it is extremely hot to be in a car (without airco) in the queue to and from the beaches like a large part of the people of São Paulo that come to Ubatuba during the Christmas holidays. Yes everybody goes home at the same time!! 7 kilometers in 2 hours! At a temperature of 41 C.  

Then even south of the Tropic it sure feels like the tropics. Ahh let's stay on the beach.....

Perequê Açú  (Ubatuba - SP)