Another quick update...

Sorry for another update before I post about Porto Seguro and the visit to the Candomble terreiro, but I am heading to Recife this weekend. Sarah and I are leaving first thing tomorrow morning and will be returning to Salvador Sunday evening. Not quite sure what all we're doing there, but I'll let you know when I get back! Only 36 days until I'm 'back home again, in Indiana', take care all! <3 Becki <3

oh goodness, where to begin... Chapada

Hey there everyone, a huge apology for taking so long to write again! I have been traveling and then really busy with work here. In order to keep each post more digestable, I'll just break this into trips/ topics. I am also working on getting my pictures online (finally, sorry!), they are on flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/57878648@N00/ 3 weekends ago (April 28-30) I traveled with 2 friends (Sarah & Gabriela) to Chapada, which was a mining area and has tons of waterfalls, mountains and caves. Our bus left Friday night at 11:30 from the Rodaviaria (bus station) in Salvador, and we would stay on the same bus until we arrived in Lencois at 6am the next morning. It would have been great to pass the time if I could have slept, especially because I don't pass well on the bus (sorry, portuguese translation), but every time we hit a pothole (which was very often) the window across the aisle rattled so loud it sounded like it was going to fall off! Lencois is a city in the Chapada area where all the pousadas and hotels are for the tourists (like us) that came to see all the natural beauty. We were able to check in to our pousada at 6 when we got in town, slept for an hour & half, ate breakfast, and headed out for our day trip. We traveled by van and then hiked a little to see Poco ('posso') do Diabo (a smaller waterfall), Morro do Pai Inacio (a mountain that I took pictures from the top) and a large cave (the only light in the cave was the gas lantern the guide was carrying!). The second day we decided to go on a more strenuous hike and to see the famous Fumaca, this waterfall is so tall that the water evaporates before it hits the ground down below. We took a van ride for 2 hours until we arrived at a park that marked the beginning of the trail to the top. Then, we hiked for 2 hours, sometimes up steep rocks and other times across pretty flat, sandy land. When we finally made it to the top, the view was absolutely breathtaking! We were up so high I couldn't believe it!! You could look over the edge to see the waterfall better, but you had to lay on your belly with the guide holding onto your feet. When I told my boyfriend about this he asked if there were ropes or anything to keep you from the edge; I laughed and said no, if you went too far you would just fall the couple thousand km to the bottom and splat. After we hiked back down the mountain, the guide took us to a small waterfall that had a pool for swimming at the bottom. It was really pretty, but I forgot to bring my bathing suit to Chapada! I took pics of my friends sitting under the water, take a look! The last day we decided to go on a walking tour by ourselves, and the lady who ran the pousada drew us a map on a napkin. We hiked some more, and saw more waterfalls. I know the description doesn't sound that exciting, but the pictures are beautiful! All 3 nights we ate at restraunts in town with incredible food! It wasn't any more expensive than regular restraunts in Salvador, and the food was awesome. We ate at a nice Italian restraunt, a Mexican place called 'Santa Fe' (picture of me with the sign because it had my tattoo on it!), and a joint that has food from all over the world (the owner has traveled all over and has collected her favorite recipes). The pousada we stayed at was really cute, there were hammocks (redes) all over the place! I swear, I have to bring back a 'rede' to remind me of my time in Bahia! It was so nice to get out of the city for the weekend, I know my heart lies in nature & greenery, not cars & pollution!

sorry, quick update!

Hey everyone! Sorry it's been so long since I've posted, but I've been busy and travelling. As soon as I get some time, I'll be sure to post and update you on my adventures. Also, I am formating my pictures on the laptop so I can put them online with Yahoo photos. As soon as I get that done, I will be sure to let you all know. Everything's been going fine, just been stressed and in the middle of life here and planning to come home in 52 days. Take care everyone, look for more soon! Beijos, <3 Becki <3