Life is a beach on Ilha de Itaparica

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We are now very close to Salvador, staying on an Island Ilha de Itaparica at a place called Sacatar in a town called Itaparica. To get here from the airport after our 2 hour flight we got on a bus and stayed on there for a VERY scenic trip into Salvador which took at least an hour and a half, went down a VERY cool elevator (Elevador Lacerda) that has at least a 100m drop that leads onto the point where we caught a wooden boat for about 45 mins across the waters to the Island.. from there we jumped into a combi van (the local budget taxi service) to the town of Itaparica which again was at least another hour before arriving at our final destination. We were met by Mitch and Taylor who are friends of Owen's fathers and run Sacatar.

Sacatar is residence that hosts artists for a couple months at a time and with the stunning surroundings and tranquility that this place provides it is no doubt that it also provides inspiration across many mediums of work for those that were blessed with creativity. It is set on a whole block with its own beachfront, gorgeous gardens with coconut trees (which just recently after a collection provided more than 500 coconuts!!) a couple of artist studios, one on stilts with amazing views out to the water and the actual residence.. all with a rustic meditteranean feel that is relaxing and VERY quiet.

Itaparica is only a short stroll away along the beachfront and has beautiful architecture. The houses and business fronts are largely painted white, however this is equalled by those that are covered from ground to ceiling in decorative tiles (some that could be found as a feature tile in many bathrooms back home) or painted in bright colours... shades of pastel however seem to be a favourite. Itaparica is pretty quiet at this point in time, having just past the peak season and the Summer season but it is hard to imagine the cobblestone streets full of cars and people as at the moment it is practically deserted.... which is absolutley heaven after the hussle and bustle of recent (and expensive!!) Rio!.. although suprisingly i think the silence at night is contributing to the difficulty I'm having with sleep! (very different from the last 6 months in London with a street facing room!).

ps.. for a different perspective on this leg of the trip.... Owen´s blogsite is owenoleary.blogspot.com .... you will find many of the same photos here due to the misfortune that his camera ran into.

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Photos

along our beach
a couple little fellas racing to get to back into the water

Owen...
we finally found him a pair of Brazilian coconuts he could get his hands on

goal posts provided
following on from the last shot..... however it may be a little more difficult as the tide comes in!

beautiful sunset
nothing better than the sun setting over the ocean!!... something we are spoilt with back home.

pretty facade
one of the colourful housefronts

very well camoflaged
spotted this one a few metres off the ground in a big tree..

now on the ferry to Ilha de Itaparica
can see the elevator on the left....

translation.....
basically... meal by the kilo.

Comments

[Bob]

Nice pictures
I've been to Itaparica and love the island. I walked down the street where the Sacatar Foundation is located and along the beach as well. Very nice places.