Today was Bessy's lucky day.
She met Celeste, university professor of fine arts, who brought her to the University, showed her around and gave her useful contacts for MST. Then she drove her to the new apartment.
Yes, Bessy is moving in tomorrow, in a very posh appartment in an upper class neighborhoud of Salvador, next to the beach. Her flatmates are 2 girls, a Brasilian and a Spanish, both students.
After one week in Salvador, things seem to settle...
An indefinite transportation strike brings all buses of Brasil to a standstill and Bessy stuck to Salvador. Therefore no "assentamentos" visits yet...
However, tonight there is an "olodum". Every first and last Tuesday of the month samba performances are taking place in all squares of Salvador :):)
Sunday evening out for coffee with Andrea, journalist, 25, then to the movies to watch a cuban documentary in the geological museum and ending up out for crepes where a girl in an MST t-shirt was serving.
Monday the first interview at the MST headquarters and meeting with the Argentinian documentary maker.
Tommorrow leaving for visiting the first assentamento 6 hours in the west of Salvador. 3 more to follow. Will not return to Salvador before 2 weeks.
Finally, the project is on...
The Italians Katerina and Ruben are the new friends of Bessy. Unfortunatelly they are soon leaving Brasil.
Today a lot of rain and a first visit to the city-center Pelourinho.
There is only one problem: in the whole Salvador there is no trousers with side-pockets.
Bessy claims it's on purpose so that tourists are easier robbed!
Have a nice weekend...
Bessy was all prepared for her first interview but the person didn't show up. Was not even in town, welcome to Brasill....
A lot of shopping, many mosquitos and still with jet-lag.
New number: +557181175516
Here is our planned route in Brasil... so that you know where to find us if you want to visit. Dates and destinations may change any moment during the trip :)
May-June
24/5: Bessy arrives in Salvador, conducts interviews with MST and visits acampamentos and assentamentos in Bahia and Vitoria
23/6: Stavros arrives in Salvador
- Festas Juninhas in Salvador
- Bahia
- Chapada Diamantina National Park
July
- Recife
- Porto de Galinhas
- Olinda
- Natal
- Geripabu
- Fortaleza
- Canoa Quebrada
- Jericoacoara
20/7: Fly to Sao Luis
- Lencios Maranhenses National Park
- Sao Luis
24/7: Fly to Campo Grande
- Pantanal
29/7: Fly to Sao Paolo
- Sao Paolo
August
- Sao Paolo
2/8: Fly to Porto Alegre
- Porto Alegre, stay in MST acampamentos
- Florianopolis
- Curitiba
- Belo Orizonte
- Ouro Preto
- Rio
Bessy is safe in Brasil.
"Everything is new here, it's a whole new world", was the first thing I heard from her.
She has a room with a balcony on the Atlantic, where she treats herself with fresh juices.
Still with a jet-lag and ready for her first interview.
Soon with a Brasilian mobile phone.
Bessy has left Amsterdam this morning.
Full of stress, uncertainty and a lot of emotions...
Train to Brussels, flight to Lisboa, taxi to the Hotel and McDonalds for dinner, watching football at the hotel room.
Tomorrow early wake-up call and fly "al otro lado del charco"...
Have a great adventure Bessy....
