Porto Seguro
Trip Start
Dec 31, 2007
1
25
26
Trip End
Apr 24, 2008
Porto Seguro,
Brazil
Saturday, April 19, 2008
We arrived after a twelve hour night ride. At the bus station a ´´tourist assistant´´ approached us even before we had our wake-up coffee. For ´´tourist assistant´´ read ´´tout.´´ He was good at his job and we were soon in a taxi heading, bleary eyed, to a 4/5 star hotel where we would have everything expected, (swimming pool, bar, gym, email etc.), all for the bargain price of 70 R´s per night instead of the normal 240!
OK, so it was Nice and the price only raised to 80 R´s for a deluxe room. Such luxury at such a level, yet somehow you don´t feel you are being pushed as it is real value,- - - even if it does hurt the budget. Well in one week we will be home so why not spoil ourselves a little more. That is the trouble, we have spoilt ourselves on the end of this trip for the last five weeks now .... what a shame!
Porto Seguro is well worth a visit and it does have an HI hostel. Being a holiday place it is generally hard on the pocket but it is so nice.
Since arriving at Recife four weeks ago we have found the coastal run is dotted with some spectacular beaches. Where there are large towns the high rise apartment blocks dominate and they have spoilt the ´tropical beach´ image. Where the developers have not yet reached the small villages and smaller towns are still perfect places where palm lined shores, soft silver sands and lagoons, tranquil behind the reef, allow you to relax in this tropical paradise.
Regretfully it can´t last, the thriving economy of Brazil will continue to make this 1,000 mile stretch of coast a place for the rich to relax and for the poor to be able to scrape a living. I suppose both parties will benefit; it´s a funny old world.
Port Seguro is a busy holiday beach town that appears very new all along the north end of the old fishing village. It is quite clean and tidy; the beach, (and reef), are beautiful. The old port traditional and now full of eating places with their tables stretching right across the old street toward the waterfront. Plenty of choices of restaurants if you can get past the rather insistent touts as you try to pass by.
This year´s trip has been very mixed but the past few weeks we have spoilt ourselves, what a shame we couldn´tdo that all the time, it is just great.
Take care of yourselves and enjoy those things that please you. Peter T.
