Arriving in Bahia
Topic: Brazil
The bus to Bahia was great - cool, clean and comfortable. There were lots of films, unfortunately in Portugeuese but with the help of my iRiver MP3 player and a copy of Nicholas Nickleby, time actually went pretty quickly.

We arrived in Bahia at dusk and checked into yet another crummy hotel, the Maridina in Pelorinho (historical center). The funniest thing about this room was the shower with the electrics dangling dangerously above it. The only plug socket was in the shower and, of course, soaking wet. Dad would have loved it. I didn't bother plugging my hairdrier in.

The owner of the hotel was Spanish and very friendly. We asked him if it was a dangerous neighbourhood and he seemed offended. He said it was very safe and that the guidebooks exaggerated the violence in Bahia but just to be sure, don't go out wearing watches and don't take much cash. We weren't planning to anyway.

Pelorinho is very lively at night. Music coming from all sorts of places, people selling food and drink in the squares. The old buildings have been beautifully restored and the place has a very nice atmosphere. Even the smell of pee on the cobblestones or the grubby urchins can't take away its charm.