We are planning to take a trip up to the old town today and see some jewelry before we leave. We still have not purchased those blue topaz gemstones that we crave. We have an idea to have our very own Crazy Horse ring made to remember the adventure. We may just purchase the stones here and have it made back home. The stones are cheaper here but the silver and gold are very expensive here. So we will go shopping today before we leave Salvador and get some estimates.
Many of the boats will leave today or tomorrow to go to Sao Paolo or just start moving up the coast toward Recife. We would like to be in Recife for the rendezvous on Feb. 28th. But first we want to check out this most beautiful island of Sao Paulo.
Yesterday we went to a convent/church that was made into a hotel/restaurant/spa. It was quite magnificent with tall arches , a vast shaded courtyard. This was the first and largest built convent for the former Carmelite Order of Nuns. The Jesuits ran the church. Now the convent has been abandoned by the order. But the church next door is still in operation.
Some of the crews from Chessie, Jeannius, OJ, and Crazy H went there for a really long arduous lunch. That was not the plan but as it turned out. Of course there was the language issue but we managed to use all of our resources including sign language and pantomime to get across our message. It was just slow but there really was a feeling of relaxation and peace in the air. I tried to explain that these nuns did not talk but spent their day in prayer and service to God. These days it is hard to understand that kind of dedication and isolation. The food was wonderful and the presentation a form of art expression by the chef. Everyone had a good time but we had to remember the pace of eating is not like we know in the states or in Europe.
The other day Matt and I went to the Perini market to purchase our food for the trip. It was a wonderful, clean, store with lots of food that we know the brand names. They even had Uncle Ben's rice that we have not seen for so long. Matt managed to sneak some Goldfish into the cart that were 14 reais a bag. I was appalled when I spotted that price on the bag back at the boat. So the price was high but you could get all of the food one craves from back home. When we reached the checkout and they had finally finished packing our food and giving our credit card back with the bill, the cashier kept saying something in Portuguese that Matt and I couldn't understand. The manager was called in. She went off with my bill and I thought, Oh no , now I am in trouble. But it turns out that we spent so much we got two containers of free ice cream. I don't know the flavors they gave us but they look good. So we were relieved to know that we were not going to jail but getting free ice cream, WOW!
As I said before one never knows what will happen on this trip.
Rosemary, Bill and Matt