The Portuguese landed in Belem at the mouth of the Amazon River yet still 120km from the Atlantic Ocean in 1616. Interestingly enough the voyage from Lisbon to Belem, due to prevailing winds and strong currents, took longer than the trip from Belem to Salvador. Today, with nearly 1.5 million people Belem is the economic […]
It has been a tenuous 3 weeks. But I am happy to report that I have made it to the Amazon. Battling some bad weather, mud and wind was a small price to pay for seeing some of the greatest beaches, riding some of my favorite tropical roads and delving into the colonial history of […]
Since leaving Olinda on October 12th I’ve been riding hard to make it to Belem where I’ll connect with Alex, a Brazil Rider that I’ve been in contact with since crossing the border of Brazil in May. As I’ve been plagued by rain and the ride north is taken more time than my best plan, […]
While I have been plagued by rain during my ride north toward the Amazon, I must admit that Brazilian roads are for the most part very good. Sure there are pockets of areas where pot holes, or deteriorating pavement can be frustrating. In these cases, I would much prefer dirt or gravel. But many areas […]
With his chubby fingers he adjusted the oil stained brim of the yellow and green hat. Soaking wet from the rain, his hat bore not only the colors of the gas company he worked, but the also the Brazil flag. Brazilians are very proud of their country and show it in color. He understood my […]
I couldn’t keep from snapping the scenic colonial architecture and colorful buildings. Here are a few more treats from my days in Salvador and a movie that I shot just before encountering the truck accident near Salvador where kids were looting a truck driver’s cargo while he was trapped in his flipped over cab: Looking […]
With more than 600 Baroque and Renaissance buildings restored since its recognition as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the early 1990’s, Salvador’s old-town, Cidade Alta (Upper City) is the heart of the colonial heritage. Most of the activity surrounds the Parça e Sé and the Largo do Pelourinho. Some people find that Salvador in […]
The Brits told me that while I was getting water logged in Arraial d’Ajuda, they were experiencing sun, surf, bikinis and local color here in Itacaré. But by the time I met them the next morning, the mist and rain started its on-again/off-again dance. The boys wanted to go fishing. Not a day for beach […]
After 48 hours of practically consistent rain, the weather gods gave me a break so I could escape the enchanting pull of Arraial d’Ajuda. I bid farewell to my Paulista friends, Carol and Danielle and motored down the road navigating the obstacle course created by the potholes outside this seductive hamlet. With the sky full […]
While we shared a few tall beers in Arraial d’Ajuda we listend to forró music and watched the amazing dancers. Here’s a quick little movie I threw together, as it’s perhaps the only way to get the feel of the music and sensuality of the dancing. Enjoy!
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