Ilheus, Brazil

Finally a day late we reached Rio. too late to see anything but, wonder of wonders, our bags also made it! I could have kissed them. It was so obvious the airline peoplewere not going out of their way to find them. All in all though we found American Air to be great.
We got on board the Veendam to find our room, 219, located on the aft with a large balcony with 2 chairs and 2 large loungers. As close to heaven as you can get!
Our departure from Rio was a little late so it was dark. One of the 10 most beautiful ports in the world. Still great even in the dark. Onnnnn the 26th we had a sea day. I attended lectures on digital photography.
Today we are in Ilheus. a city next to the most beautiful beaches with 222,000 people. Quite lovely. the home of the famous author/Jorge Amado author of Dona Flores and her 2 husbands among others. At his house we were happy to run into a great older man who was a storyteller. He acted out the story of the city.From its begininngs as a cacao plantation site with its colonels and their slaves. A women from the ship happened to be there and she animatedly translated. It was the highlight of the day. Very funny.
The temp is at least 90 with similar humidity with relief from some breezes. The people seem quite affable. the internet is cheap at about a dollar an hour. We are just wandering around enjoying ourselves and taking it all in. This is just what I would want in a Brazillian city. Tomorrow Salvador. It will be Palm Sunday so maybe interesting. Outside here on the plaza the young men demonstrate capoeira which is a form of fighting and dancing. Almost looks like martial arts.