Wow what an amazing expierience..Carnival in Brazil. One week of continuous party, dancing on the streets ..I lost count of the number of girls I met and the number of times I had sex.

I timed it well ..precarnival in Salvador then I saw the big carnival spectaculars in Recife and Olinda..and then I went finished up in the small carnival of Joaõ Pessoa where I danced with the localsNOT 

NOT actually..I didn't find what I had hoped.

Usually the music was very slow and uninspiring ..the only time I got near to dancing was to a heavy rap group in Recife. There was no feeling of joy.. There was a lot of people trying to get excited..

There seemed to the world street selling of beer championship in Recife.. (I think the beer companies have managed to hijack carnival in most cities) But most of the time was spent waiting for something to happen then there would be a float for about 15 minutes the street was so packed with people you couldn't do anything. And I screwed up my guide book had the wrong times and route in ..So when I saw a few floats going past I thought it was just the precarnival not the actual thing.

Olinda -- resembled a student drinking festival ..the narrow streets were crammed with 14 year olds armed with water pistols. Usually you couldn't move. Only when I left did I see the back streets of the Amparo district had an altogether different atmosphere.

Joao Pessoa - When I got there on Sunday I found that their carnival didn't last the full 6 days and had ended on Saturday.

I have seen much better. I remember when Coventry won the FA cup in 1986 I said it was like Rio de Janeiro carnival and it was ..real joy dancing on the streets etc. The Notting Hill Carnival in London was much better organised. And the gay Mardi Gras in Sydney much more of a spectacle.

So moved onto Brasilia ..Like Milton Keynes with sun. They say it is interesting if you know someone there.

Then a 22 hour bus ride to Salvador , Bahia. Pity the bus was so bumpy. Stayed one night in the Youth hostel there. There was quiet a lot of precanaval music on the streets of the old town Pelourinho. I found I had lost my airline ticket somewhere along the way.

Tuesday...Maceio and Marchedo Deordoro, Praia Frances ..nice beach aren't they all ?

Wednesday ...Recife and Olinda. I had intended to go to João Pessoa, but I went out to the Brennand ceramic art museum..pretty interesting . On the way back the bus didn't have any change. I spend 30 minutes going round shops to get change. Then when I was on the next bu, I realised that in the confusion I had left my guidebook on the first bus. There are about 10 different bus companies ..so I spent six hours trying to track it down ..but in the end I did. Then it was too late to leave. So I stayed in Recife Thursday (found the old town was reaaly nice saw th beach...

Brazil is Miami every city beach looks like it , Friday ..The Carnival began in Recife I saw alot of floats bout ..but no continuous parade...clung on the back of the bus to Olinda !

Saturday... saw part of what turned out to be the main parade , but I didn't realise

When I got to João Pessoa on Sunday they said that the little Carnaval they have there was over. So on Monday I went back to Olinda for the day . Then took a night bus here to Fortaleza.

Tuesday Saw more of a real carnival parade small but authentic ...still didn't grab me so much.

Wednesday... walked around took the train then set out to contact the English schools ..but my phone card didn't wrk so I went to get another.. then found I had lost my notebook along with the photocopy of my lost plane ticket !!!

I don't know what I will do now ..I only have 50 Real left.. I'm sure I will go onto San Luis. But it seems difficult and not so interesting to go any further. I'm sure I'll work something out.

Thursday 16 hour bus to São Luis

Tuesday Alcantaria ..bus to Belem