The island of Itaparica used to be a sort of playground and weekend beach spot for Salvadorians, and retains much of its charm even if a bit faded. There is a Club Med complex about 15 km south and there are certainly many bars and restaurants. In fact we had really excellent pizzas there in a restaurant run by a South African couple.

 

 

It’s also famous for a natural spring which yields bottle-able drinking water to which people come from far and wide to fill canisters

 

But it being Sunday lunchtime locals were enjoying the beaches

 

And Awelina can be seen lying peacefully at anchor. Plenty of swinging room.

 

Lastly we met

the world’s smallest dog (it’s drinking from a small disposable plastic cup)

 

and we bought the world’s largest avocado!

 

It’s now Tuesday 8th March and we have completed paperwork to exit this state and proceed direct to the town of Vitoria nearly 500 miles to the S of here, a passage of about 4 days (about the same distance as across Biscay from Falmouth to La Coruña). We expect to set off fairly early tomorrow morning from Bahia Marina where we are at present: the staff here being as welcoming and helpful as ever and so we recommend it to other yachts visiting Salvador. We have had a wander around the area of the other yacht station, and while it’s much more in town and has banks and restaurants and several chandleries and similar shops close-by it’s a lot less secure, quiet or clean.