Salvador
View of Salvador Harbour
Had a lovely 12 hour bus journey to get to Salvador but after the first day there thought it was well worth it. I did not enjoy carrying my backpack though, I dont know how I am going to cope when I am changing places all the time, think I am going to have to ditch loads of stuff along the way – especially some of the bookshop I decided to bring!
When we arrived it was pissing it down with rain which made it even nicer carrying a 3 stone backpack and a seperate rucksack to get another bus to Pelourinho which took about an hour and then we had to wander round to find the Hostel Alberge de larengeiras. Luckily Kirsty knew her way around a bit as she had been before so we found it okay but they were not very helpful when we tried to check in. We stood there for ages dripping wet and I could hardly stand up with my backpack. They kept telling us there was only a reservation for one person not two but eventually some guy who spoke a bit of English sorted it out. The dorm was okay, 9 beds – not 7 as we had booked but who cares. We showered and went and got an early lunch and eventually felt human again. So we decided to go exploring.
We went to Mercado de Modelo and did some shopping and then went to see what boats went where. We decided to go to Itaparica – a little island 40 minutes away from Salvador – it was well nice. We got a cool taxi driver to take us round for the afternoon and show us all the sights he was ace and it only cost 20 reals (about a fiver). Then got the last boat back to Salvador in time to see loads of carnival processions going on at Praca de se.
Church on Itaparica Island, salvador carnival processions
Eventually got back to the hostel starving so went and ate with this other girl we met at the hostel then went out exploring Pelorinho’s nightlife. It was pretty cool, lots of maracatu drumming etc etc. Met loads of guys as usual and just generally had a good night, including beer and hand massages and cockroaches!! Interesting mixture eh!
Our massaging fighting champ!
Unfortunately the next day was not as exciting. We spent all day trying to find the TAP air portugal office to change Kirsty’s ticket home and emailing GOL linheas airlines to try and change my ticket from Salvador to Rio, to Recife to Rio (as I decided I wanted to go back to Olinda for a few nights before going to Rio on the bus on the way down here), all with very little joy! After 5 hours of wandering and asking lots of dumb people we eventually found the TAP office in Salvador’s trade center – mission accomplished, but I still had no response from Gol so decided to go back with Kirsty on the bus the next day anyway and go back to the travel agents and change it there which all worked out okay in the end. Met up with other travellers that night so had an English speaking night which was quite nice for a change, not having to think about how to say stuff in Portuguese all the time. One of the girls called claire who arrived today and was in the same dorm as us had just come from Olinda and Sejal’s apartment – how weird is that!!!
Went down to the beach the next day before checking out and packing then just had lunch and chilled out until it was time to get my horrible horrible backpack and get back on all the buses again ready for another 12 hour journey – at least I feel like i’m going home this time – I haven’t told anyone i’m going back yet so it will be ace to see their faces when I turn up again – especially after having a leaving party and everything! Oh well its a good excuse to have another party when I leave for definate on Tuesday night.
Kirsty on Salvador Beach
Tchow Salvador
Tags: Brazil, Salvador, Travel, Travelling
Aymi
Leave a Reply