Praiamar Hotel Salvador

... a Candomblé ceremony. Candomblé, in a nutshell, is an Afro-Brazilian religion that evolved during the slavery years and has vague links with Catholicism and Indian influences. It was basically a means for the African slaves to maintain their beliefs and culture. It is a religion that has no right or wrong, no heaven or hell, no sin or forgiveness but just believes in the spirits of their dead ancestors protecting them in the guise of various ...

... right into your face like you're an exhibit. But during carnaval with all the clowns costumes freaks and beautiful girls no one gives a ****. Maybe they thought I was wearing a crazy outfit.  The music here was accompanied by an ass grinding dance that is quite indecent. The band had women from the crowd on stage that looked like they could break down walls with them asses. Weirdly girls about as young as six were doing this dance all over, it looked like everyone was ...

... continue in that direction and that day, yesterday, made him realise he wanted to be with me. That he wanted a future together. He feels so certain about it he has changed his plans to be with us in Rio and taken up some work in Rio so he can be there for our last four days. Also, he has asked me to come and meet his family and come see the neighbourhood. And Neidi, who is his best friend (and a beautiful woman to boot), invited me to lunch with her ...

... to get back to the hotel through jammed streets and poor public transport. Heīs on the bus but itīs proceeding slowly. It feels very much like Olinda today, but a bit more commercial. Same vibe as the Afoxe we did there, but of course more street vendors and people. Whilst Iīm waiting Iīm using this free internet connection... A coisa boa, why? Because the first part of the day, the best part, rained twice, and the second time it bucketed down to the point where even the ...

... I wandered around the island, and I was surprised to find little communities of shanty houses like you find in the favelas all over Brazil. My first impression of the place was that everyone on the island is somehow connected to the tourism industry and would be able to afford something halfway decent. It's especially sad here, because the poverty's kind of tucked away behind the beach bars and restaurants. The level of poverty doesn't approach that which I ...

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After breakfast (which was scrummy), we managed to get chatting to the owner, a lovely Irish guy called Sean. He helped us decide what to do in Salvador, what to do around the area and where to go on the way down to Rio. Katie pumped him for info like a tv ...

... up. It was so peaceful and relaxing, very different to the buzz of Ipanema beach but I enjoyed the peace and quiet. We went to the pousada to collect our bags and the woman offered to take us to Mar Grande as a taxi service to catch our ferry back to Salvador. We were grateful of the offer as it saved us trying to flag a Kombi down. She explained that Mar Grande is better for us as the ferries are fast and they stop at Mercado Modelo ...

... presence with shotguns *nd m*ny other delightful tools of w*r. All w*s good though *nd we were b*ck with *ll body p*rts int*ct. Rest of the d*y w*s spent w*tching movies, with popcorn provided courtesy of the hostel, including one film st*rring Rich*rd Ge*r *s * p*edophile hunter. Gre*t stuff. Thursd*y we got up to be greeted by f*irly nice we*ther, w*snīt r*ining so we decided ch*nce it *nd go to see Christ the Redeemer. Took * bus to ...

... a dance show, a few caiprinhas... Now I really should go see the Pelourinho by day, though a bit wary of being by myself. Am glad that, like everyone else, I never take my card out with me and always keep my money in my bra, specially as my wallet got nicked last night, despite always being in a group and keeping a close eye on my bag...but didnīt have a cent in it TG! But I do feel more vulnerable here than I have anywhere else. (Mum, donīt worry, Iīll be fine!) Love to all xx

... everything (just kidding, kind of, not really). Well, actually, to my chagrin, Iīm not good at surfing, dancing forro, stealing hot brazilian chicks away from Finlanders, opening doors the right way, getting bathroom doors to shut or getting people from Alabama to talk to me, this list could get long so Iīll stop now. I get to Pelourinho around 9am (I know, well it took me like 1 hour just to get on the first bus) and I sit down on the steps of ...