SO, JUST WHERE ARE WE???

We arrived in the far north east of Brazil, in the Cariri area of the Praiba state, to a strange landscape of desert and boulders, not knowing what to expect and why we were there! Our tour operator suggested this area as a restful place to stay before we travel on to India. After seeing some rocks that is just what we did, and it has to be said at least there are interesting pictures to show for it!

Savvy Salvador

Salvador is said to be "Africa in Exile", a city where african culture is fused with western culture in all aspects of everyday life. One hundred and sixty-six Catholic churches sit proudly next to Candomble temples, a facinating mix of old and new, rich and poor, African and European, religious and profane. The city was established in 1501 as a safe harbour for exporting the wealth and abundance of South America to Europe; a wealth created by sweat and hardship of the Africans transported here during a slave trade which lasted three centuries.

Every Tuesday is the feast day of St. Anthony, the patron saint of Salvador, and the streets come alive with music and celebration. Drums beats, the rhythm of which touches your very soul can be heard on every other street corner. Music fills the air and is of such fabulous quality, it is hard to believe this is just your average Tuesday in Bahia. A similar display in England would mark a much awaited, annual festival rather than a weekly get together. There is so much to catch the eye and the imagination; Capoeira dancers, fire eaters, Bahia ladies selling sweets dressed in 18th century costume, jugglers and food and drink stalls in the market squares. All this with beautiful colonial buildings and cobbled streets as the stage...

ENJOYING THE SURF

CATUSSABA HOTEL, SALVADOR, BAHIA, BRAZIL



Alice and Rory getting some practice in for Bondi Beach and Australia!

Will and James just enjoying the surf!

FELIZ ANNO NOVO!

Brazilians know how to celebrate and New Years Eve is the warm up to Carnival!

Traditionally everyone dresses in white, a sign of new beginnings for a new year.












The Bahia State is renound for its laid back atmosphere. Everywhere there is evidence of the fusion of the African and Latin cultures, especially the music and drum beats that fill the air!












David looking very fetching in his white shorts and shirt....party guest or Purser from the Lido Deck?!?















A baptism by surf and a fresh start to the new year!

THE "GEM" OF BRAZIL

Ouro Preto is a jewel of a town at he heart of the Minas Gerais state of Brazil. About 5oo km inland from Rio it is a town whose buildings are evidence of its wealth and importance during Brazil's colonial period.

The charming, hilly streets, are lined with beautiful colonial buildings and the town boasts 13 baroque churches. The town was a rich outpost for the Portugese empire, based on the gold and gems mined in the surrounding hills and countryside.



There is also a darker history to the town as the mines were often worked by the slaves transported from the Portugese colonies in south west Africa. The winding road (stilled cobbled in part) that we travelled from Paraty was made by the slaves, all 1400 km of it. The lovely houses lining the streets of Ouro Preto still have the small barred windows on the the lower ground floors where the house slaves lived. The area, and European residents, were made wealthy on the backs of the slave trade and assuaged their conscience in the beautiful churches perhaps? An example is the San Fransisco church pictured which was just outside our hotel.
It was difficult to choose photos to blogg as every turn of a corner revealed yet another beautiful streetscape.

David spent a jolly afternoon with our guide trying to buy several propeties to rescue...finish the Hall I say!

PINCINGUABA AND PARATY

The bay at Pincinguaba with a tropical downpour just moments away.












Paraty is a town 30 minutes from our hotel in Pincinguaba. Strolling through the quait colonial streets (no motor vehicles are allowed in the historic centre) it is hard to imagine just what an important port city this was in the 17th and 18th century to the portugese. This is the end of the Camino Real a road that stretches 1400 km inland from the Minas Gerais province where all the gold and precious stones are mined. The gold and gems were carried by horseback and by slaves to the port in Paraty and sent across the Atalntic to Portugal.


It remained an important town until Rio superseded it as a prefered port and Paraty declined and became lost in time. Now with new roads and better communications from Rio and Sao Paulo, it is enjoying a renaissance as s tourist destination.

SEE, FATHER CHRISTMAS DID GET THE LETTER!!

James proudly showing off the booty Father Christmas brought him! note the decorated palm in the background!

A MERRY (TROPICAL) CHRISTMAS

Father Christmas did manage to find us in this truly perfect part of the world known as the Costa Verde.

Lying on a sunbed overlooking a beautiful bay, it is dificult to imagine that 2 of the largest and most vibrant South American cities, Rio and Sao Paulo are just 4 hours drive , right and left respectively, at the end of the dirt track. This is a very special part of the Brazilian coast as the "national park" status of the area means that no developement can take place. Pincinguaba retains its rustic charm as a small fishing village, where fishermen pull their craft up on to the beach waiting for mood to fish to take them. We due to technical difficulties, we lost most of our photos of Pincinguaba but you can visit the web site to get and idea! www.pincinguaba.com.


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