I have now had my fill of looking at architecture. I have been to two colonial towns of extreme wealth with some rock climbing, and a planned, sprawling city from the 70´s. I have been enjoying my tourism since leaving the farm. I have spent 2 days here, then 3 days there, then a night on the bus every once in a while. The buses here are great. They stop alot, but will get you from anywhere to anywhere within a night. I woke up last night in the state of Bahia on an extremely rutted dirt road with no lights for miles. Still, the bus kept chugging and at 4 am dropped me off in some small town on the edge of where I wanted to go. So, my savior, (who insisted I tip him for his kindness), drove me in his 1970´s wagon-taxi to Lençois.
Wow - This small colonial town is on the edge of Parque Chapada Damanchia and is incredible. However, I will not get to experience all that the natural world has to offer here (caves, underground waterfalls, rock climbing on conglomorate cliffs, and tons of hiking) because I have another midnight bus to catch to the next destination - Salvador.
Tomorrow is Valentines Day, so wish your sweetie a good one. I wish all of you a good one as well and will miss home a little more than normal tomorrow. I am really enjoying traveling by myself. However, there are many times that I miss my puppy and all of my friends.
Tomorrow night I have to catch a bus to Salvador for Carnaval. If it is anything like the bus I took to get here, Lençois, the coolers will be stocked and the singing lively. Everyone goes to Salvador for Carnaval; or at least it seems that way when I mention where I am going. Every other traveler I have met is going there as well. One heck of a Gringo party I guess.
Bahia is truly a different world. "The Africa of South America" is what they say. It is very ethnic. The people have more color, yes, but more than that they have different color in their dress, culture, families and music. The place is amazing. I went on a small hike today and felt as if I had left the Brazil I had known. The terrain is sandy, and shrubby with beautiful rivers cutting through old plateaus that have now made mountains. I will post pictures after I go and experience the geological wonders first hand. Quartzite on one side and Sandstone on another. If anyone is interested Google: "Roy Funch and Bahia, Brazil" and you should should come up with the story of how when South America was connected to Africa the layers of earth were compressed, diamonds were made, seperation occured, glaciers...uprising, erosion, etc.
Well, enough for now. I have to go taste some homemade Caçhasa and then off to bed for another long day tomorrow. I will be glad to get to Salvador for Carnaval so that I can rest a bit. Just kidding.
Luv you all,
Mags
