David is getting a tan in glamorous Brazil in the glittering beach-side paradise of Búzios.
The Búzios Peninsula is about eight kilometres long and washed by the Brazilian and Antarctic maritime currents. Its western side has beaches with calm, warm waters while the eastern side is open to the ocean, with coves and colder waters. The peninsula resembles an island and is rich in exotic vegetation, with 23 beaches of breathtaking beauty. Most are within walking distance of the city, but those that aren't can be reached by rented open-top buggy. Nature has provided Búzios with year-round summer.
Búzios was originally settled by European pirates and slave traders and the mix of many bloods evolved as it became a prosperous fishing village. It has been voted one of the world's 10 most beautiful areas, known for its charm, architectural harmony, natural beauty, sophisticated shops, restaurants and discerning visitors.
French actress Brigitte Bardot came here in the 1960s with her Brazilian boyfriend and claimed it the most beautiful place in the world, which drew local and international 'beautiful people'. Forty years on, it is still Brazil's most popular resort.
The people of Búzios were so grateful to the French sex kitten for catapulting their little village into the global spotlight, they honoured her with her very own stretch of seafront called Orla Bardot. The charming promenade passes pretty colourful boats and runs to Armação Beach from the centre of town and is furnished with wooden decks, benches and native plants and paved in Pirinópolis stone.
Bardot stayed at Pousada do Sol on her second visit to Búzios and it's still there. It has just seven rooms and the one she stayed in has a plaque on the door. Former owner, Ramon Avellaneda, remembers teaching her to play 'Bossa Nova' on the guitar.
Búzios has its share of historical buildings, colonial mansions, fishermen's houses, statues of Brigitte Bardot and even a Bardot cinema.
It's fair to say this is a glamorous place. There are ridiculous numbers of perfect bodies. Swimwear is minute, to the point of 'why bother'?
It really comes to life at night. The cobbled and immaculately manicured centre simply buzzes. Perfectly groomed locals and rich visitors wander along Rua das Pedras, the town's busiest street, looking at one another before choosing a restaurant.
When they do eat it will be in a sophisticated establishment specialising in Japanese, French, Italian, Moroccan, Thai or Brazilian cuisine and you can be certain that almost everyone will sip on a caipirinha, the ubiquitous Brazilian cocktail of cane spirit, sugar and lime.
