Pousada Santa Clara Salvador

... way to get any space on the beach is to hire/use a table, umbrella and chairs from one of the bars. Th**eaft** they s**ve you drinks and surprising good food swiftly. Debbie was clear she wanted a table near at the front, close to the wat**’s edge, wh**e th**e was plenty of space – as the tide came rolling up the beach we realized why! On leaving lots of buses did actually pass the said street corn** but none that w**e going our way so we cheated slightly and hopped ...

... favourite restaurants, favourite beaches etc, and generally eating and drinking well, and trying to make head or tail of the Portuguese conversation going on around us. We were made wonderfully welcome, and it was great to spend some time at peoples' homes after being a tourist/backpacker for so long! Each evening we have sampled a different restaurant in the Barra area, and had some fantastic nights ...

... other than the marathon return trip) in a beautiful setting before it's back to work. I understand not everyone is in a position to take a trip like this, but I think if possible, it's a really good idea to break the daily routine that most people will follow, more or less, for the majority of their adult lives, to gain some perspective on your place in the world, and what's important in life. Our perceived differences, or life's little problems seem diminished ...

... we managed to sit on the wrong side of it, so I couldn't get any photos of the beaches as we sped down the coast.

When we got off the bus we headed for a lighthouse and turned right, to look at one of the beaches that another guy in the hostel had suggested we visit ...

... with our own modern bathroom and french doors, which open onto the cobbled street, this seemed more than your average hostel. It has a trendy cafe and creperie, internet, a chill out area with hammocks and the location is perfect, set on a corner of a cobbled street, in the midst of the lively atmosphere. You can hear the sounds of music wafting through the doors. Outside, the little streets are filled with art galleries and paintings ...

... it w*s still r*ther empty! At full c*p*city it se*ts 200,000 *nd is the second biggest in the world! 2-1 to Fl*mengo in the end. In the evening we went out for * bit, one of our fellow C*n*di*n counterp*rts going for * b*n*n* pizz*..... not too nice! St*yed in *n Irish b*r c*lled Shen*****ns for * few to end * r*ther ple*s*nt week in Rio, despite the we*ther! At 6*m we were up to st*rt our next trek, 28 hours up to S*lv*dor. Frid*y ...

... restaurant where a lady was playing her guitar at so we sat down and had some beers and food there. we tried the moqueca de peixe; like a fish stew...a specialty of the Bahia area.. On Saturday night while listening to the lady play we had 2 guys sit down with us for our last beer. Joshua- very nice man, who is from salvador but now works in Germany...wants to come and visit Anita in Canada sometime...fell in love with her!! And his friend Wellington...aka the black Hulk Hogan...chatted ...