Salvador Carnaval
Day 12.
Although we didn’t manage to see a favela or a football match in the end, our last few days in Rio were still pretty fantastic. We saw an incredible lightning storm from atop sugarloaf mountain, danced till the wee hours in Lapa (like Notting Hill Carnaval, only every day!) and watched loads of football, and volleyball on the beach. I have lost count of how many bikinis we have seen, all of them tiny. Amusingly everyone we have met who is non Brazilian (including me) is finding they can only just squeeze themselves in the ´Grande´ size. There are some larger Brazilian ladies so lord only knows where they get their swimwear from.
We also saw the Rolling Stones on Copacabana beach the night before we left Rio (in Brazil – the ´holling stones´). I say saw in the loosest of terms as actually we saw very little of the Stones themselves. But nevertheless it was a fantastic party in a fabulous setting
After leaving Rio we travelled 18 hours by bus up to a beautiful seaside town Porto Seguro. We spent a lovely 2 days chilling under palm trees on miles of white sands during the day and drinking Caparhinia and Cachaca shots at night. This also gave Jo time to recover from the seemingly endless string of injuries and illnesses she has been plagued with since we arrived. Fortunately she has maintained a brave face and sunny disposition throughout.
Following another 10 hours bus ride (the worst yet – freezing cold, no blankets) we arrived in Salvador to spend Carnaval. The costumes, drums and music are pretty amazing so far although I am pretty sure the best is yet to come. We are still getting ripped off despite trying to haggle with our broken Spanish and very basic Portugese but have so far avoided the pick pocketing and groping which is custom during carnaval.