San Marco Hotel Salvador

... mark and later the girls and a couple of other Brazilians on a set of big steps past the Pelourhino post. There we waited to listen to Geronimo E bande Montserrat, a great samba band. While we waited we aid some fried maize balls filled with prawns and salsa and salad. They were delicious, but I later found out they contain about 1000 calories a go! We drunk Caipirinhas and ate the sweetbreads prepared by big African ladies who wore traditional dress, they were deep fried and crumbed and ...

... punch me next, may get some notice of any approaching blows. We thankfully arrived at the hostel without any further injuries. What a shity end to a good first night of Carnival. Day 45 - 20/01/09 Tonight I went to a "Caromote", an event in one of the grandstands along the road overlooking the parade in Barra. In the Caromote, there's a big area where you can watch the parade high above the road in relative comfort with Sofa's, clean toilets and Nintendo wii's. Yes, Nintendo wii's ...

... to be closer to it through them. Of course I like him as well, but no longer as anything other than a friend. I think I saw Brunas heart break last night not much but I know Flaviano has only told her partial truths about me,that I'm here with lots of people, that I'm a very important person from Australia. Ok so the second thing is good for my ego!. Anyway, I'm not sure it wasn't heart break but the realisation I think that things didn't add up ...

... and disturbing details... Anyway, the island is incredible and looks like paradise. And basically is.Our room in the hostel had windows that opened out onto lush green forests with big green hills in the distance.. And of course the beaches are just amazing. The main beach (called Segunda Praia) is packed with the usual tourists, bars, parasols blah blah.. but we walked only 20 minutes further down the coast and had sprawling white sandy beaches all to ourselves ...

... some dude sang pretty mellow ****. The next day I was the day I walked around, before having a very nice steak dinner. Tuesday nights, however, are a big event in the Pelo. The squares that were empty the night before now had stages, fruit bars, and other food and art vendors. Thousands of people come from all over and there are public performances of capoeira (a mix of dance and martial art that dates back to the times of slavery ...

... capitale bresilienne. Construite au debut des annees 60. Elle ne nous est pas apparue si nouvelle que ça... Brasilia a deja vecu malgre sa jeunesse. Les batiments n ont deja plus la reluisance qu ils devaient avoir a leur origine. Malgre l aspect deja det**iore de nombre de ses constructions, la ville fremit d une activite bouillonnante et constante de capitale. On sent qu ici des choses se passent. Des decisions sont ...

... here, the anti inflamatory medication is super strong and effective - like super, duper, duper strong! Yesterday for late lunch, early dinner, Jazzie and I shared some fine Caiperinhas at Sabor do Brazil (flavour of Brazil) and the waiter there was really very lovely. He was testing my portuguese, putting down the side dishes of the Moqueca (´scuse the spelling) and getting me to name them, making me laugh when I mispronounced or got it wrong... The ...

... just can't help but move when there is music around. We even were served drinks by people who just were having so much fun dancing they continued to dance while serving us. It was fantastic. The second night of Carnival we did pretty much the same thing headed out and enjoyed the scene at Barra and the third night also. During the day we wandered around the area and tried to catch up on some sleep. On the Sunday we decided to check out Campo Grande during the day and ...

... Makes sense. I find a City Bank, and word, I have no problem attaining funds. Ok, now the bus. I find a schedule at one of the bus stops that tells you which bus you need to take to go where. Sweet, why doesn´t Brazil have more of these handy lil helpers. I get on the correct bus, but I get on in the front of the bus and I get scolded as only those who have prepaid fare cards can enter through the front. Ok, fine, whatever, I´ll get on in the ...

... superficial probes. You’ve got to commit to a night to really know much about a place, except what you can get from Lonely Planet and other guide books. And then first thing you have to jump on a crowded bus in a city you don’t even know and try to make enough sense of it to get off in the right place, if you booked ahead, or at least in a good area, if your plans are flexible. The old system of ...