We are now anchored off a little jetty near the town of Maragojipe a few miles up the river Paraguacu. As we arrived we were met by a canoeful of young men who were making a great deal of noise over our arrival. Visions of Captain Cook’s demise came to mind but they turned out to be a happy bunch and probably more interested in viewing a blonde Michaela than anything else!

 

Last night we had dinner at ‘Gringos’ so now we have met the complete clan of South Africans (as they are at the moment) – It was Robyn’s daughter Natalie who married Daniel of the chocolate factory fame and Willem’s son who has opened Gringos a little further along the street from Dad’s Amigos BBQ. Another generation along the line and the South African flag will very likely be flying over Itaparica!

 

We continue to struggle with debit and credit cards. My debit card got blocked the first time I tried to use it as did Michaela’s. Liz’s cash card also got blocked. I managed to get cash on my credit card whilst in Salvador but now even that has been blocked. I tried calling the bank this morning to get at least one of the cards unblocked but after spending several minutes going through an automated call system I got cut off just as I got to talk to a real person. So frustrating. Anyway, we were in a hurry not to miss the tide for the Paraguacu river so I abandoned the cash cards in favour of the tide leaving the card business to be revisited when we get back to Itaparica.

 

We’ll stay on the boat tonight and go and investigate Maragojipe in the morning. In the meantime we are watching the fitter inhabitants of the town jogging to and fro along the jetty whilst Michael serenades us with his guitar.

 

P, L and  M & M.