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Published: February 26th 2008
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Brazil
Natal - Ponta Negra I was back in a hostel for the first time in a while in Natal. After checking in I wandered the few blocks to Ponta Negra beach. I was immediatley pleased that this would be my home for a week. I strolled along the shore down to the southern end of the beach taking in the mix of tourists at luxury hotels and locals enjoying the beach. Upon reaching the southern tip I was disappointed to find the giant sand dune that towered over the beach was fenced off and was sign posted as military property.
I returned to the hostel and chilled out with a few other guests. I had a reasonably early night and went to bed about midnight. After lying down for 10 minutes I had an unexpected urge to spew my guts up. I selected the 'better out than in' theory and didn't fight it, thinking I would feel better for it. Big mistake. I was like a packet of Pringles and couldn't stop throwing up every 5 minutes. It was the worst sickness I've felt to date. My whole body was in pain as I rejected everything inside me. Although I was in a 5
Brazil
Natal - Ponta Negra bed dorm I had the room to myself. Luckily a Brazilian couple in the room next to me could hear me through the wall and after a while of me keeping them awake they came and checked on me. It was a relief just to know someone knew I was sick.
After a while they made the decision to call an ambulance for me. I took my first ambulance ride to the hospital and got injected with a couple of drugs to settle my stomach. They said it was most likely food poisoning or something similar. After about an hour at the hospital I got the OK to go back to the hostel. We took a taxi around 7am back to the hostel where I did my best to sleep.
I took it easy for the next few days. I ate only fruit and slept a lot. I read my book on the beach and in the hostel hammock.
Once I felt I was healthy enough to venture further from the hostel I met up with some locals who took me to a beach south of Natal. The weather wasn't the best so we just walked along
Brazil
Natal - Ponta Negra the beach and had lunch. They were a great group and I hung out with them for the rest of my stay in Natal. They showed me the river and the other beaches in Natal. We also had a couple of fun nights out at some bars in Natal and to the south.
Natal is a nice place but from what I've been told the best beaches are outside the city, and people use Natal as a base to visit them. If I hadn't been sick I would have used that time to visit those beaches such as Pipa and Genipabu.
I went next to Salvador which translated means 'saviour'. My first host there picked me up from the airport and we stayed the night at his friend's holiday house at a nearby secluded beach. It was a similar setting to the house in Porto de Galinhas where the backyard was the beach. Though this beach was private and exclusive to those in the gated community.
I changed hosts the next day and spent the next few nights in Itapua, a beach in the north part of Salvador. The weather was great and we went to a
different beach each day for some sun, surf, and of course a few beers. One night we went out to dinner at a Brazilian BBQ restaurant, and another to a cool area called Rio Vermelho for some drinks. I saw the first full moon of 2008 on Flamengo beach in Salvador. It was big, yellow, and magnificent as it made the water beneath it sparkle.
I returned to my first host and stayed at his house in Barra at the southern tip of Salvador. He gave me a guided tour of the city centre. We walked through the many pretty squares and charming streets. Salvador was the first colonial capital of Brazil and is full of beautiful old buildings and jam-packed full of churches. We went inside the Church and Convent of Sao Francisco. The courtyard displays traditional portuguese tiles with illustrations depicting pious messages. The inside of the church is lavishly decorated with gold. The altar, the walls, the pillars, the roof, all covered with gold finishes.
We spent some time at Barra beach and saw an African music concert in a public park. It was amazing. Both the musicians and the audience had so much energy
and were dancing their hearts out in the summer heat.
I spent my the last two nights in Salvador at my host's friends house. He showed me some more beaches, and being in the army, took me to the exclusive military club of Salvador. Here, family and friends of members can enjoy the natural and man-made swimming pools and other recreational activites on the private stretch of beach.
Salvador is a great city with both beautiful beaches and an interesting centre, rich in history. It is definitely a must see city in Brazil.
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ames
non-member comment
wow
Hey Dane, Brazil looks absolutely devine!!! Never thought of ever travelling there, now i want to go!! Sucks you were sick, but i guess you can't travel around the world without atleast one trip to hospital!! :P Stay safe, love ames and Rosey