Along the way, we had received reports that the city of Ilheus was worth a stop. The reports were faulty. It is a large, unattractive city with a major port facility and an okay beach. We stop while I go ashore to the local yacht club for lunch, then all agree that we’ll push on to more promising places.
Leaving Morro de Sao Paolo with some regret, we head south along the Brazilian coast a mere 40 miles arriving at Camamu in short order. The village is located up a wide river surrounded by sand bars and breaking surf, making the entry an attention getting experience. All along its seaward coast are miles of white sand beaches covered over in coconut palms. Substantial homes dot the shoreline as well as the simple houses of local fishermen. […]
After saying a sad goodbye to Kitty, Grant and Will Proctor, I begin to explore the areas around Salvador easily reachable by car and head first to a place that is generally raved about, Praia de Forte, or beach fort in English. It becomes quickly apparent that this is another too cute outdoor shopping mall, a bit like a small and mildly ragged Nantucket, holding little or no interest for me. And its beach, lined with rocks, is nothing much. […]
Phil and Indigo arrived in Salvador today and the boys and I went to meet them at Bahia Marina, one of the nicest (and only) marinas we have stayed at during the trip. It almost makes me want to stay a bit longer—the boys and I leave tomorrow. After getting organized, Phil and the boys went to the Pelourinho area (the historic area) but needless to say, they didn’t visit any churches but just walked around and looked at everything. […]
I went walking this morning for about an hour in this busy city and it was interesting. The boys have been lazy, watching ESPN (they have cable and satellite television here) and reading. Then they went back to Boi Preto, the churrascaria, by themselves (it’s a taxi ride) and ate a lot—they figured this was their last time there. I went to the Pelourinho area (described in yesterday’s entry) and walked around this historical area. […]