Day 80: Salvador,Brasil and Beyond

We left Salvador 2 days ago. It was all prep aside a very good visit. We were the first voyage to have no acute injuries and no reportable gastro problems. We ahve been commended by our medical ship crew as they have big headaches when there's reportable diarrhea. I,however, got to deal with all of the non-reportable diarrhea/vomiting as they returned to ship the last day. Lesson: try never to be on call on the last day in port! All that aside, and apologies to the non-medical readers, let me tell you about Brasil.

The people are beautiful and very friendly. More than accepting of our poor attempts to communicate. As we were told many times Carnival is the biggest reason for problems but it is also the most joyous of times. I did not go to the big Carnival celebrations that involved many bodies crammed together and dancing, drinking until wee hours. Hear tell from the students that it was a blast. I did get to participate or rather observe what is referred to as the Traditional Carnival. This is same thing on smaller scale, involving families and held in the old part of Salvador. Music was loud enough for me, groups were entertaining to watch and you could not help but move to the rhythms. There are small groups of individuals that gather and dress and perform a theme. Often there is a switching of genders. One of the pictures shows a group of men dressed as catwoman. Per our orientation and guides Carnival began as a way for the poor people to act at least for one night w frivolity and to be equal to those w money.

A few of our students were relieved of cash and cameras, some by knifepoint but no one was physically hurt.

The city has a beautiful outline as you come into port. After a tour though, I learned that the jagged outline that follows are the middle class followed by the favellas or slums. Middle class is not as we define it and to us seems a step above slum. People literally build on any available plot of land and then on top of those buildings. Most people earn about $200 month and that is considered good income. They seem to be trying to make inroads into the poverty, lack of education etc. Right now school is mandated till 6th grade and parents are paid a small amt to send them but in the favellas especially the children are generally kept at home to earn money. Administration is not strict on follow-up.