i currently have 9 days left in salvador and 11 days total in the country of brasil. now that the time is drawing to a close, i am realizing that if i wish to see, do and feel things while i am still here... i am the only person that can make that happen. that goes for anything in life. you are the only one who can make you who you are...
leda's dance student, aldren lincoln (who was named after buz aldren and abe lincoln) picked me up on his motorcycle from the university. this was my first time on a motorcycle... and man, was it fun. my fear passed immediately and joyful laughter took its place. we curved along the bending road that followed the ocean's bay and talked about the massive camarotis (cah-mah-doe-chi) that are being built for the upcoming carnival. we arrived in porto de barra (bah-ha), parked the bike and walked down to the umbrella filled beach...
the day was peaceful, sussa... we talked in portuguese (because he could not speak much english) about many things, laughing at each other's accents and grammar. the water was so crystal blue, you could see straight to the bottom no matter how deep and a perfect cooling warm. we swam for ages in the bay's calm, undulating water. about 3 feet in the sand beneath you plummeted, and suddenly you could no longer touch. over and over we would count to three and dive down, kicking our feet to the far depths to grab a hand full of sand, then push ourselves off the bottom and surface to laughter and the sparkling water.
we laid more, talking and laughing. we walked a bit, taking pictures of one another. i felt like a child. i was happy. i had not a thing in the world to weigh me down. there were no pressures, no obligations, just me, the sun and a new friend. we got back on the bike and arrived at the farol, the fort which was once used as a watch base for in coming war attacks. the giant black and white building sat upon a great hill. around it's back the hill dropped off to meet the ocean below. the sun sat perfectly in the center of the sky and the water created the most beautiful swells. they looked like rings caused by massive vibrations. the surfers floated peacefully in the water and we sat on the hill watching the sun get lower and lower. just before the sun began it's setting, we climbed the huge mound of jetties that sat next to the farol. the massive ball took about 85 seconds to set completely once it hit the horizon. the waves below would smash against the rocks, spraying upward into the colorful rays. it was like a postcard, everywhere.
soon after it was dark and we climbed back on the bike and met up with dave and leda before heading home.
the night before we went to the dunas, aka dunes. they run for miles and miles in all directions just outside of lauro de freitas (where i am staying). after a 15 minute car ride we came upon these giant hills of the purest white sand. at first you think you are looking at snow, but when you realize you're standing in 95 degree weather in a tank top and shorts... you remember that bahia doesn't get snow.
we walked and walked through the nothing. there were hardly any colors at all. white, green and a few specks of dusty red. we arrived just in time for the sun set and the sky was full of pinks and purples and greys. we climbed the biggest mountain to see the view of the city and the ocean below us. dave had brought a long wooden board for sand sledding, which was way more fun than normal sledding! up and down and up and down. we were all constantly panting and smiling, we even brought one of the dogs down with us! it was quite the experience, and i'll never forget it.
yesterday was a day of rest. after so much excitement packed into 2 days (which was desperately needed), i enjoyed the idea of nothing. my body sore and my brain exhausted, i spent most of my day on the roof deck reading and spending time with myself. around 5pm i went for a walk down to the beach with alici, in perfect time for another beautiful sunset.
p.s. if you click on the pictures you can see them bigger!
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