Friday 11 January 2008

Nearly There...

Well that's it folks!
The latest 'Bear on Tour' trip is nearly over. I say latest and not last because I can remember a conversation between Steve and I, probably two years or so ago, Africa was still fresh in the memory, we were quaffing wine and looking at some photos from his time there. That had been his last trip and he had hung up his back-pack up and said "enough is enough and it's about time I blah blah blah..." He mentioned that he'd not been to South America but quickly dismissed it as expensive, a long time off from work (which was changing for him at that time) and probably a couple of other excuses. I knew at that very moment he was going, even if he didn't. We said no more about the Americas, opened another bottle of wine and moved on, but I knew.
Time passed and South America wasn't mentioned. He was in touch with his long time buddy, Pat whom he'd met way back on his first trip down under. Pat got Steve into photography and passed on his passion for travel. A two week holiday from work was taken and, where most of us would book a jaunt down to one of the Costa's or the Greek Islands, a quick dash round The Middle East was on the menu for these two.
The trip was a great success on what can be achieved on annual summer leave. And for a while Steve convinced himself that all was needed to visit 'closer' destinations was a couple of weeks off work. The photos taken on the trip were stunning. The bug was back.
Pat had introduced Steve to digital photography but there was much iffing and aahrring about buying a digital camera. "Why should I spend all that 'hard earned' on another camera when I've already got a decent one? Anyway going digital is selling your soul to the devil!" I pointed out that going digital would be essential when touring South America...
Within a week he'd been on the net, sold his soul to the devil and called various places trying to find the best flight to The Americas!
He was going.
And, here we are twelve months after departure. Lots of countries and places visited, loads of photos and I'm damn sure, a helluva lot a stories to tell. So all that remains is, to wish 'The Bear' a safe trip back to Blighty and to thank you all for checking in from time to time to check on the progress of The Bear's LATEST trip...

Tuesday 8 January 2008

Crimbo and New Year on a paradise island... bears last post

I have to apologise for the amount of time between posts, what can I say? It's hard work kicking around beaches all day! Well since the last time we spoke I moved down the coast of Brazil from Fortaleza to Natal. While in Natal I stayed in the beach area of Ponta Negra which was a good spot with plenty of bars to keep me busy. A plus here was meeting a few English guys to go out on the lash with. On the last night in Natal we went to an all-you-can-eat meat and sea food restaurant, which was amazing for the price. As you all can imagine, we left there with very full bellies and smiles on our faces. Even managed to be staying in an amazing hostel which was basically a massive castle. When I first arrived and it was all lit up I thought the taxi driver had dropped me off at the Ritz!
After Natal I headed a few hours south to another beach resort called Pipa with one of the English lads. Again another nice spot and good beach with plenty of bars. On the last night here we got very drunk especially looking at the photos and video clips my mate Rob took, oh dear! From Pipa we took a bus for 23 hours to Salvador not helped by a group of drunken Brazilian blokes singing and dancing all day and night.
Salvador is an OK city especially in the historical centre which has lovely colonial buildings and cobbled streets. Mind you its also crazy in Salvador, most of the people here are quite mad its like an open air asylum. From Salvador its a couple of hours by catamaran to the island of Morro de Sau Paulo and what a lush place it is. There are 4 different nearby beaches to keep you busy that are full of bars and restaurants. The weather was perfect, red hot and clear every day. What can I tell you I was there for just over two weeks and I did not a lot, apart from kicking around. Christmas and New Year were great to spend on the beach especially New Year. It was the holiday season for the Brazilians and Argentineans so over crimbo and new year it was packed. New Year was cool sitting on the beach with a beer watching the fireworks go off to bring in the new year.
At the moment I am back in Salvador where I will take a flight to Rio this evening and then the flight on Thursday night back to blighty. Christ where has the time gone? Mind you the trip has been a good one which I have enjoyed sharing with you all. Thanks for the comments and the words of encouragement. A big thank you to my buddie Coops who has done an amazing job managing the blog, without him it would have been well pear shaped.
See you all back in blighty soon... the bear