“the greatest reward and luxury of travel is to be able to experience everyday things as if for the first time, to be in a position in which almost nothing is so familiar it is taken for granted.”
Pelorinho was just a bus ride away but completly different from the Barra area. It resembled the old San Juan. Walking down the street was more like walking through a concert at times. There is nothing more that I like but to be around music. Pelorinho was the place to be.
A bit of Capoeira
Baguncaco
Last weekend was the absolute highlight of my trip. Morro de Sao Paulo was gorgeous. With its sandy streets and welcoming residence I felt a kind of peacfulness that I dont think I will ever find anywhere else. The idea that there were absoulutly no cars on this island seemed unreal before I got there but the invoronment was so easy to adapt to once we stepped foot on it. Walking around barefoot all weekend was really cool, I felt so free! The rain tried to stop us from having a good time but of course like any other day in Brazil we made the best of it. Running down the street at night as the rain poored down our faces and soaked our clothes I could not feel a drop of saddness. Its really something I only ever dreamed about doing. The hotel was amazing and really unexplainable so im just going to have to put up pics to show.
I went horse back riding, ziplinging and ate some of the best Carne du Sol con Batata Frita and white rice with farofa all for just 50 reais!! Thats like 20 something bucks in american money!! NOT BAD AT ALL :). I had a really good time and i'm so thankful I was able to experience something like that. Of course taking a mud bath did not happen but I walked around barefoot all weekend with no care in the world and that is the beauty of it all.
So far my trip to Salvador, Bahia has been AMAZAZING! Not only am I having a great time but I’m learning so much and its only been a week. Unfortunetly, I am new to this blogging thing. I just need motivation to start. So here I go…..
I touched down in Brazil on June 27th on a beautiful sunny morning just how I pictured it! The first thing I did once I got off the plane was exchange my money for Reaiz. Cha Ching J ! My money almost doubled which I was not expecting. When we got the hotel I was in awe from the view by the pool, truly amazing. The "backyard" as we would call it was breathtaking. The ocean view as you can see in the picture below was beautiful!
Finally got our books in Portuguese class! I have never been happier to get homework. I feel like the homework is really going to help me communicate with my parents more. It’s only been a week and some change I can already see my progress though. My parents even say I’m doing a good job and I can actually have a full conversation with them now. When I first got here I was so scared to say anything so I was really quiet with them and pretty much waited for her to initiate the conversation. As time goes on I am really catching on to the language, its so similar too Spanish. The only difference is the pronunciation.
Although I am not a religious person at all, I love the religiouse aspect of Bahia. It is so interesting and caught my attention from the beginning of the trip. The lecture, tour of Pelourinho, and the Bale Folclorico da Bahia really caught my attention the most throughout this trip. Its amazing how they carried this religion of Candomble throughout slavery and it still lives today. The traditional clothing, ceremony and music is still alive! Thats amazing, after all these years. I really respect that. In Pelourinho its is not uncommon to pass by women wearing the outfits like the one the woman below. It represents what they came from, Its unbelievable that they still carry this.
Beach today was the best! Got to watch the sun set as it reflected off the ocean water =D. That doesn’t happen at Revere Beach.
