I wake up early, jetlag has still got a grips of me and I head down for a swim at Leblon. It is literally a block away. Perfect location/localização perfeito.

Praia do Leblon – not a bad place to be.

A good dip in the water is ruined by the incessant blowing of the whistle. I didn’t think too much of it, til the lifeguard ran up and ordered me to get in. I found that strange as the waves, nor the rip or current were too strong. Back to the hostel, I grab an água de coco.

In the hostel, I have some food, and my coconut water. I get talking to James and Laura over breakky. We then decide to head down to the beach for some sun and sand time. Its still the same conditions as before, just more people out. Though there are some more ‘closeouts’ going about.

After lunch, and a chill at the hostel, we head back down for round two. Its beginning obvious why I am here. A Cidade Maravilhosahas some of the best city beaches and scenery in the world.

Praia do Leblon – this was our view on the beach.

Back at the hostel, a few beers are consumed and a meal had at down at Frontera (a good local per quilo restaurante but pricey) with some lads. Its a good feed, and it goes down well.

I catch up back with James and Laura. We head over to the nearby bar to have a few drinks. But jetlag finally kicks in and decides its time to declare a winner.

The ride to Leblon was quite quick, and the music in the taxi reminded me why I loved this place so much.

Checking into Lemon Spirit Hostel was a breeze. They already had most of my information and just needed to give me my linen and showed me my room. There was a bbq party in full swing down below, but after 17 hours on a plane, it was time to shower properly and let the parents know I arrived safely.

Downstairs, and I met a few English boys on tour and start chatting. A few skols and caipirinha’s are downed. Not to mention some pretty tasty meat.

Its then into a few cabs and down the road to Ipanema to Emporio. A small bar that I came to last time but didn’t even realise at the time. It’s a neat place, but its packed. So we head to the bar across the road that is just as busy but with some room.

The group at Emporio

The night ticks over and over, with more and more beer flowing freely. It’s a nice little night out to starve off jetlag. Though the walk home sucked.

Straight through immigration, and to find something to eat in this colossal place. I settle for a juice bar, but the muffin there sucked. The juice did rock though. I found a breakfast kebab, then waited for my flight.

I didn’t get upgraded for this flight, but I got the next best thing, a free seat next to me.

Things take a turn for the worse. We go to runway, about to head off, and we return to the airport. There is something wrong with the plane. 3 hours of sitting on the airport tarmac.

We finally get going and its off to Rio. The flights not overly bad, but its not the wonders of Business class. Thats life I guess.

We get to Rio at about 6:30pm, about 3 hours past our expected arrival time. The lines for immigration here, were absurd. They had about 3 people working the immigration desks for about 4 plane loads of people. It was incredible. And this is where the olympics and world cup are being held, it better see an improvement.

I get my stamp and I’m through and into Brazil!

Emirates also gave me a free hotel and meals for the stopover, so onto the Copthorne Hotel (about 5 minutes down the road). A quick shower, a feed and then its off to explore Dubai.

Metro’s here are a little bit fancy.

I head off on the Metro to go to Jumeirah mosque. Though from the Metro it doesn’t look far, but on foot is another story. Its FAR. So a quick taxi and I’m at a very Grand Mosque. Its pretty intricate. Though I get yelled out for wearing socks (apparently they looked like shoes).

Jureimah Mosque

From there I walked along the beach to the Burj Al Arab….then realised its too far. Taxi! And then a brief walk to watch sunset at the most luxurious hotel in the world.

Burj Al Arab. Dubai’s Hotel for the rich and famous.

After that I head to the Dubai Mall. I go to get the metro. But apparently they don’t like building metro stations close to tourist attractions here.  That was a mammoth hike.

Dubai Mall. A bit extravagant.

I come with the intention of heading up the Burj Khalifa, but the lines for ‘at the top’ are ridiculous. So I choose to watch the Dubai Fountain. Every 30 minutes there is a Dancing Fountain display. Its literally packed, and is rather hard to find a spot. But snaked a spot right in front of the Burj Khalifa for some good shots.

Dubai Fountain.

Back to the hotel, an all you can eat buffet gets devoured, then to my room to crash for the next flight.

The Burj Khalifa. Tallest in the world. But for how long?

Checking in was a breeze as I did so the morning before, so all that was required of me was to drop my bags at the check in counter.

Upon my baggage drop I was told that my bags would go straight to Rio and I was being upgraded to Business Class for the first flight. Score! I’m the first one of my family to be upgraded.

After immigration, where there was a bit of a cock up with my passport (its apparently now water damaged).

Then came heaven, Business Class on Emirates. Champagne as soon as you sit down, comfiest seats and a big flat screen tv. The tv was huge.

Take off was smooth, the service was exquisite. I got a decent sleep without any interruptions. And it helps that you can fully stretch out.

The food. Oh my the food was incredible. Various selections of breakfast food, snack foods and lunch options. I’m pretty sure it was one of the best steaks I’ve had on any airplane ever. Not to mention the fact I could drink Moet whilst chowing down on food. An absolute delight.

And the little toiletry bag full of goodies was a god send in Dubai for my stopover.

Seriously, if I had the money or points I would try to take this option on long haul flights. As you actually arrive fresh and ready to explore. I didn’t feel jetlagged or any sort of tiredness.

Amazzzzinnnnng. Well done Emirates. And thank you for the upgrade.

On route to Bom Despacho, we go through a few places and after about 4 hours finally make it to the ferry port.

From here, we cross the Bay of All Saints (Bahia de Todos Santos)and then get to Salvador. It doesn’t seem like the ‘best’ part of town. So I grab a taxi as I have no idea how to get to the hostel.

Though the taxi seems to find my street address (taken straight from the hostel website) as confusing and I end up at some mega fancy hotel. Obviously not where a strangly looking backpacker is staying. And shortly there after he finds the hostel, tucked into a corner of the Pelourinho.

Check in, and I find out I’ve just missed Caipirinha time. Oh well, I settle down with Matt (a jolly old englishman, ok maybe not old) and we crack a few cold ones (its a bad system when the fridge is open 24/7. OK its not bad at all). And we drink and shoot the shit. He’s waiting for Pilko Jnr (named after Karl Pilkington). We head out to see whats happening, but theres not much or its just finished.

Resende at dusk

Things roll pretty solidly in this place. Its really about exploring the beaches. And there are some fine beaches. Most days we hit up the usual spots: Praia Tiririca or Praia Resende. These are the two closest beaches. Plus they seem to be better then the other two. Always a pit stop at the Acai place. And then a few drinks over dinner and at the bar.

Jumping at Resende

On other days you can explore nearby beaches. Maxi takes us to the Idyllic Prainha. You have to walk past the 4 main beaches, then follow a track for about 50 minutes.

Trilha to Prainha

But boy, do you get a beach that is worthy of a postcard. And you basically have this beach all to yourself. No one is in sight. Palm fringed and deserted (ish). Its good to chill here, cut a few coconuts open and swim/surf. I even have a bit of a nap.

Prainha

Its a bit of a big night when we get back, its a persons birthday, so it requires a few litro cervajas. And a decent one at that. Its then on down the road to Favela.

Barnana at the hostel. Slightly less packed then the big night out.

The street outside Favela is packed. Its literally hard to move. Inside is also pumping, the floor is hardly holding up to the masses dancing on top of it.

I do see one of the funniest things, Ben (a hostel buddy) nearly gets picked up by the manliest looking transvestite I have ever seen. This guys Adam’s Apple was bigger than my balls. It was quite hilarious seeing the awkwardness of the situation though.

And thats Itacaré in a nut shell. Its a beach side place with not a lot to do; sit on the beach, drink a few coconuts and caipirinhas, have a feed, and a few drinks. Life is not complicated here.

After a few hours chill time (checking mail, news, chilling out, shower, and checking in) I head off down to the beach for some chill time. In Itacre, there are a few options, but I decide on the 2nd beach as most people from the hostel said they were going there.

Praia Tiririca

The road out to the beaches passes a golden ticket: Self serve Acai.After a bowl of that delicious goodness, its back on the strip to the beaches. I make my way to Praia Tiririca. Its the main ‘surf’ beach and has a lot of surfers about. I find the others and chill out for the afternoon at the beach. There really isn’t a lot to do here.

Tiririca

Back in town, we hit up the Falafel joint and have a few beers. This continues on at the hostel bar for a while before the long ass trip before catches up with me.

I book my ticket to Vitoria. And catch that bus after a day of chilling out. Waking up the next morning to Vitoria I go to find the bus company that goes to Itabuna/Ilheus yet there is none. I look at the Tourist Information Centre to realise its Vitoria, Espirito Santo. Oh Shiiiiiiiiiit!!!!

I scramble about to find a bus that leaves shortly to either city in Bahia. But the earliest I find is 8pm tonight. I wander around and find another one, it leaves at 2pm. So I grab a ticket. No to kill 12 hours.

I go in search of an Internet Cafe…which seems easier said than done. Its a long long search, through some bad smelling fish markets before I set foot in the internet cafe. I don’t think I’ve seen an internet cafe with worse computers, but it does the job to send through an email to my hostel in Itacare.

The bus ride to Itabuna is absolutely horrible. It is packed to the brim, the bus has no a/c and its ridiculously hot. I sleep in sweat for most of the evening. Fun times! Arriving in Itabuna, I go in search of my sleeping bag (I take it on bus rides as the a/c is always turned to ice cold) its no where to be found.

Arriving in Itacare, two days after I left Ouro Preto is just a big sigh of relief.

Ouro Preto’s Streets.

I start off at Praca Tiradentes, the place where Tiradentes decapitated head once stood to ward off other revolutionaries. At one end is the Museu Inconfidencia and the other end is a Mining Museum.

Down a small side street I go, and head one of Aleijandros masterpieces (alot of the magnificent churches here are his design), Igreja de Sao Francisco de Assisi. Its an Baroque church that is incredibly grand to look at. I head on inside, and despite not being able photograph inside, its astounding architecture.

Igreja de Sao Francisco de Assisi

I escape the heat in a cafe and try to grab some food, but the power is off and nothing is working. So across the road to grab a ice cream and chill out with a nap.

After my midday nap, I head off down to another great church. On the way I pass by the Museu da Inconfidencia. Just down the road from here is the Theatro Municipal. Its not as grand as the ones in Sao Paulo or Rio, but its small and full of character.

Theatro Municipal

Down the bottom of some seriously steep cobbledstone streets is Matriz Nossa Senhora do Pilar. It has a very bleak facade. Step inside though and you are taken into a lavish church with over 1000 pounds of Gold and 900 pounds of Silver. Its a definite work of art. Its a shame no one can take photos in here.

Gateway to Minas

I head to the Escola de Minas, but it costs a bit to get in, and as interesting as it is I decide I’d rather an Acai than a museum especially after shelling out 20 reais for the churches. Its a shame one can’t take photos in there.

Praca Tiradentes at night

That night, after a cheap burger feed at a small boteco, the street comes alive with Carnival Processions and practices. Its full of massively oversize people and drummers. Its quite a site.  And after a few beers and watching its time for bed.

Carnival Practice