Brazil, Brazil and more of Brazil

First land sight in Brazil after 18 days! Might not seem like much for someone seeing dry land all the time. But the feeling is great - I promise you!

​Brazil. I'm not even sure where to start. It has been so much more than ever expected. But still, we weren't expecting that much. Or... maybe we were but it was just a hard time knowing what to expect. I mean, where to even begin? That is a hard time when writing these blog entries at the same time is to figure out what to write and when. Then all of a sudden 14 days have passed and it is even harder getting to the writing table and start. Because where do one start after so long? Some part of you feel like you haven't done that much. But the more you start thinking about it, it is more and more memories just "popping" up all over and the entire entry is just jibberish. Like now. Jibbering away!

So going back to the "landing in Brazil". First day we started with the clearing into the country. Which, for the record, was done after a bottle of champagne (+ a little more!). But all went well, and we were both allowed to stay. At least for some time. We were headed to Salvador all along but not really sure what to do or what to expect once getting here. Everyone just been telling us to keep safe in Brazil. Keep out of danger. Just don't do anything as someone else wouldn't do. But what is that really? Does anyone know? Hell if we do. So we ended up checking through town, soaking up the atmosphere and get an overview about what we've gotten ourselves into.

A normal sight in Brazil. Very welcoming, right?

The view from the Marina in Salvador!

Another typical view in Salvador!

The first impression were easily the incredible temperature that hit you straight over the nose and get you to a point that you were barely breathing at times. Or you were breathing, but felt like you were an athletic Finnish Sauna competitor. Completely sweating to the bones within seconds of even seeing the sun. Great thing there is absolutely no shadow anywhere, and if you thought you can hide in the boat I would like to let you know that the shadow at times are NOT better than the sun. floating sauna pretty much. Swimming is good. If it wasn't for the marina. Marinas are not really known for amazing water and without oil or diesel spill. However, sometimes you just have to do what you need to do!

Just cooling off in the marina. Among the diesel and these weird fishes?

In these warm weathers, it always get me thinking. At some point in time, during the time when no one really knew anything better than heaven and hell. There were these adventures (or Idiots, but lets call them adventures!) going to somewhere unknown. Lets say there were trying to figure out a new route to somewhere in a world all flat. Heaven above. Hell below. They headed south. Could likely also at the time been known as "going down". When the weather were getting incredible warm, people probably went crushing down with heat stroke or similar, they still though that; "No way, we are not even close to hell! It's not warm enough! No we are just close to India..." Or somewhere else. there can't be people just feeling at that time, when Brazil were discovered that this was normal. But still a new continent were discovered. And what a discovery it was/is!

Random sign that quite made us feel like they were on to something!

Brazil have really shown itself from another view than what I really thought it was going to be. The first town we got to. Salvador. Are filled with charm and charismatic people. No one really in a position to completely converse with us in a good way. Our English does not work. Our school Spanish is far from Brazilian (or Portuguese for that matter!). But still, they are all working out there best, with charades, calling friends, pointing and guessing, getting you really feel like all are filled with the urge to help. Like a really good customer service. Just that the customer service kind of tumbled on the goal line as we more time than not are getting absolutely no where! But still, No where were we ever in a feeling like we shouldn't go somewhere, or that we were not welcomed. Okay, we didn't really push ourselves into dark alleys or visiting out in the pitch dark of night. But it was safe. It felt safe and all were so nice.

Some views are just amazing...

... Wouldn't you say?

No matter what was "not broken" on the trip here. We still had some maintenance to do and we kept up with it good until our friends arrived. They stayed 42 seconds on the boat until they couldn't handle it anymore. The warmth took the overhand. They where in the marina water quicker than a snitch in a harry potter quidditch game. Jonathan and myself finally took the chance to cool down as well and the days went on much easier since then. Even though Diesel smell after a good bath is not the real charming perfume. But hey, at least it smells like we're working hard...

Jonathan did break however, but not until we got to land. Smells as good as it looks!

We got to meet some great people that helped us out with some boat issues, that were no real issues at the time, but we both knew that it would be at one point. So we got it fixed. And we got it fixed good and quickly. Half price as well once we traded our old Dinghy and some old blocks for the help. Love trading! At least when we can trade away stuff we don't really need.

Gabor found out how to take photos with his phone! Look at him smile!

Then we got to sail. Four people sailing in a small boat in Brazil. No long stretches but within a quite big bay. We were going out early morning and wow(!) did we sail. Not a single wave and 14 knots of wind. Might not sound all that much. But when no waves are around we were flying in about 6-8 knots and loving it. All the way from Salvador town to Isla bom Jesus. And once we got there and finally got our "ankardramm"(Norwegian "anchor well in place"-drink) the sky opened and it rained for days. Not just a small little tingling feeling rain. But a rain that made Noah start preparing. We didn't really mind and I was, and still are, quite surprised over how well our new crew handled the situation. We were all swimming and showering in the rain. Like it was nothing. We even filled our water tanks with rain water. all buckets, pans and pots were used. Amazing. The world provides as any old hippie would have said.

Anchorage in Isla bom Jesus. Extra tarp mounted to keep the water out. Did just help a little!

From there we went to Itaparica, another island in the same bay. And just as any other place we've been so far. Only friendly people and amazing hospitality. We've even got to try some genuine Brazilian chocolate. Before and after whatever magic is used to have them done in that dark, mysterious and wonderful way!

Locals in Itaparica. Were not so chatty and seem to be in a hurry!

Feels weird that these slimey withe seeds can get all brown and amazingly tasting. But they can. I know. I saw it for my self!

Then we got our new crew to really try it out for real. A real sail, over night from Itaparica to Ilheus. A full day, and a full night sail. And all went incredibly good. All were doing shift and all were making it without puking overboard, even if it was close at some point there. But an amazing night sky with starts and moon and shooting stars made us all just humble ourselves towards a new destination. We've been here now for way to long. We've missed the checkout from the state to the next and we've been doing the best out of it. Rented car and going to neighboring towns, checking out waterfalls, eating good meals, eating bad meals, laughed about long nightly discussions and laughed about the not so good meals. We've been re-anchoring a couple of times as the anchoring here are not the best. But the humor and morale of the boat have never, and I really mean it, have never even slightly dipped. Something that myself have not been able to keep up as I've ruined both a reading pad for E-books as well as a phone. Just because of landing on the jetty here are REALLY NOT GOOD! Which is really sad, as the place by it self are amazing. Like all places so far.

Neptune welcoming you to the Marina in Ilheus!

Anchorage buddies! No other sailboats anywhere to be seen. With the anchorage kept in mind. I understand why!

Small town of Itacaré - amazing small beach views!

I wonder when Brazil, sized like all of Europe are going to disappoint. Not yet anyways! The friends, both named "Gabor" (called, from now on, Gabo and Gabi!), have now left the boat. We are getting ourselves ready for another 6 days sail to Rio De Janeiro then we'll see what happens. Winds are crooked and back and forth. We'll hope to have some good sails. But with our luck it will most likely be a lot of sail changing, rethinking and swearing until we get there. But we are still well on schedule and all feels great. Less warmth, more wind and less rain and we'll be all good! We've also checked all formalities and nothing was actually needed. So we can just head out anytime we want to!

Started walking through this to find a "waterfall"!

Nice to see that safety comes first!

Easily accessed resting spot. Perfect... ehm.

Gabor doesn't seem to see the end to the hike!

But when you find it - You really find it!

First fresh water shower for a while!

Hmmm... Did we just order steak?

Wine in Brazil has been a disappointment on the other hand.... But maybe Brazil only does good expensive wine? I miss the cheap "good" wine of Spain/Portugal... Rom is not really good either. We'll... We have some powder juice mixes. Amazing fixes to anything.... Will buy more soon! Juice powder that is...

Rio the Janeiro next up! Hopefully! Maybe... We'll see! We're sailing soon at least! That is always something. And should take us further south at least!