Itacaré

The BR-101 is a long interstate which follows the coast of Brazil. Except, it doesn’t really follow that closely to the coast, so we are constantly having to drive 45 minutes to the beach and back. In these parts, the the BR-101 is one lane each way and used mostly as a truck thoroughfare. Red Beard is no speed demon, but we find we spend the day judging the right moments to pass a semi. What’s more stressful, is that every other driver is doing the same thing. It’s an Indy race going north with the added factor of an Indy race coming right at you. In a 3 hour drive the other day, we saw 3 cars overturned in the ditches–recent flips, some still waiting for help (though with a huge crowd of rubberneckers). Every day we see at least one, yesterday it was an 18-wheeler, completely burned and still smoldering.

The drivers in Mexico, Central and South America have been much more aggressive than I like, so Jason almost always ends up driving. But I don’t think the Brazilians are any more dangerous drivers; there are just more of them on the road than in other countries like Peru or Bolivia. And, they nearly all have a new, small car that can easily overtake a truck or two on a hill–just not when someone else is doing the same thing in the other direction.

Anyway, we found a nice place to relax after a drive like that in Itacaré. Bahia’s waters have turned bluer and the sands more sugary. We are loving the natural beauty.

We found camping inside a hostel grounds, and the bus could just barely fit in the gate once we removed the gas cans and camping chairs from the roof. A few dogs, a couple monkeys and a kitten make good camping as far as Bode’s concerned but we also met a couple guys from Sao Paulo on a bicycle tour that we hung out with. We’re also getting used to chewing on raw cocao seeds like the locals. It’s supposed to make you happy.

The weather is getting hotter- even in the night and the bugs were pretty fierce in this location. But, watching the sunset with a ton of locals (and a few tourists) was good, peaceful fun.

Bahia camping tip: a cold shower at 3 AM helps!