Wherever we go, the people here are happy, laughing, love their music and are VERY helpful and watch out for each other.
Last example: we were entering a bay to anchor over night, looking for the best way to enter it as most of the bay is very shallow. The book gives two waypoints, the map does not give enough information. So we follow the instructions from the book and drive slowly, closely watching the Sonar. A fisherboat came up to us while rolling in their net. We weren’t sure why they were heading towards us. It turns out they came to give us signs to follow them on the way in. We were on the wrong course. They smiled and were happy – and friendly. That was so sweet and so unusual in the world I come from. That is the second or third time this happened to us on this trip here in Brazil already.
A second example: here in Salvador Alita is fixed with the lines quite far from the pier. So every time I want to go onto the pier I have to jump and wait for the right moment and/or pull one line as close as possible to minimize the chance that I go swimming in the harbour right next to the boat. When I am standing there on the boat or on the pier waiting for my moment to come usually the closest guy who sees the situation comes running to the boat and pulls the line. Happened today and constantly happened last time we were here – on the other pier. The guy jumped off his boat 4 boats away, came running and helped me. A couple of times. That was so amazingly sweet. For me this is something very special. For them it’s normal.
The only ones not so friendly usually are waiters or waitresses. They are rarely amused that a guest is coming whom they have to serve. The work just keeps them from hanging out, talking,…They are not really unfriendly, just very often not happy to work. So they don’t smile at you or help you with questions. You feel really bad that you disturbed them in whatever they were doing. That puzzles me a bit because it does not fit into the picture of the friendliness. But maybe I have to look at it from the working point of view. Some Brazilians themselves told me they are not really the working people. Of course in the big cities that is not so true anymore. Very many have great education and work hard like everywhere else. But the average seams still different. Everything takes its time, no hurry, don’t work if you don’t have to, no long hours. On the other side that has charme, if you come from a stress world. Why stress out if you don’t have to. Better for your heart. Jaimy had told us that the social system here gives everyone who needs it (who is not working) 250 reáis a month. That’s enough to live on outside the cities in the country. So why work. It drives the working people nuts. That welfare money is paid forever, as long as you need it. That explains why there are always that many people out on the street and on the beaches, hanging out. And why still the majority of homes does not look really nice. Maybe you saw some of the “luxury” apartments in my blog pix, old, rotton homes without windows and doors. But a TV running.
Brazilian seem very open, welcoming people. No matter who they are or where they come from, they welcome everyone, no matter who he is or where he comes from. They love to party and invite the new ones. They love loud music, dancing and drinks. Now still like 30 yrs ago, when Horst arrived to Morro de Sao Paulo. Fun people, a wild mixture of origins. Black and white, from many countries in the worls. All proud to be Brazilians. And all speak Portuguese. That’s the way it should be.
Traveller’s and sailor’s stories
When you travel, you meet other travelers. When you sail, you meet other sailors. You meet them “on the road” (or on the water) or stranded. They all have stories. Stories of experiences they made and the story of their life. The last stranded sailor whom we met was Horst, the german guy in Morro. He came to that place 30 years ago, fleeing from the regular and (in Germany) organized life at home. He found a paradise, at that time with no electricity and no flowing water. But he found happy and friendly people who loved to party and took him with open arms. He stayed. And invested smart. This lonely place with its beautiful, deserted beaches became a famous tourist attraction. Of course he loved the wild nature before, but he went with the development. So he opened his pousada and later the yacht club. He might have thought to get away from work at home. Now he works hard again. But in a natural paradise and he is happy – like all Brazilians. Wonderful to see.
His story is an example for all the stranded people we’ve met. Like e.g. the English who took over the bar in Maio. It seems commonly known that people who get away from their country without a plan and get stranded in a place either end up working hard but in a fun, new business or end at the bar. The latter ones usually being the ones with more money. At least I heard that quit often and Marcus has already met sailors where this is true. The reasons why people of all ages leave their home are different, but they all come to enjoy life and nature. We heard from some younger ones they left because of a missing perspective in their country. Some because they already inherited so much money they don’t need to work. The older ones are often retired and start their second life. Some few ones do it as a job – dream combination, like we do.
I love meeting these people and listening to their stories. Most interesting if the people have been alone for a long time. Stories get longer and longer and more dramatic over time J. It’s a fun way of exchanging information though between equally travelling people. Just don’t believe everything you here and make your own picture. Just because someone say a place is not beautiful does not mean it is not beautiful. It’s just of no interest for him. But it might be for me....
So I am
very much looking forward to the next places where we meet new faces. Anything
interesting will be posted here….
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