Olinda, Day 32

Back on the trail again. Today has really reinvigorated our travels in so many ways. First things first we left the nightmare hostel and found our way over to Olinda to meet the Spanish girls, it was to be our last night all as a group which was a little sad. However I don't think any of us can really complain, such is life.

As soon as we saw the girls and dropped or stuff at a new pousada we were off again, this time walking and bussing to a local lady's flat for a fejoida and drinking day. Jamie had mentioned this Sunday tradition; eat loads of heavy beef and beans and get really drunk. The day was brilliant, just loads of different people (English, French, Spanish, American and Recifenses). We just nailed loads of caipirinhas and beers and samad round for hours.

The atmosphere was great, everyone buzzing from meeting each other, or new people, or just all being together again. Also the lady who let us all into her house, along with the hostel staff who came, couldn't have been better to us. Can't thank them enough for how hospitable they were, just the idea of letting a load of random drunk foreigners into a house at home would be unfathomable at home, let alone letting them dance around all day. Great people, typical Brazilian attitude.

The best thing about the fejoida party was how whole thing was played out in a completely relaxed atmosphere; it wasn't too hot, there was plenty of booze and even more food. Also there was a cute little baby, giggling and bumping his way round the room, for the girls (and mabye the odd guy) to coo over and practice with. Catarina, the American girls we met in Sao Luis, was at our hostel as well. Really pleased that her and Alex met up again, especially in such an unplanned manner, theres something special between them.

In the early evening we made our way back to town to go to a few parties. Typically we just ended up in a few different groups traipsing our way around town trying to find this reggae party. Our 'guide' first took us to a different party full of kids, next to a church service, bit strange watching a church service next to this heaving mass of capoeira and teenagers. Eventually found everyone though and had a great night, wheeling round the town, going to bars, meeting people. The atmosphere in the whole town was just alive and really friendly, hundreds of people just enjoying themselves, Brazilian and travellers. In Brazil you just naturally meet people and have a grea ttime, its a giving culture.

Walking all over Olinda at night may not have been ideal, but at least it sobered me up a bit and we were able to see a lot more of this pretty old town, similar in its colonial feel to Sao Luis. Not enough time to explore or even observe all the old buildings properly. I guess its yet another place I'll have to return to. One particularly distinctive old church sits, decrepit, at the top of an overgrown hill near our hostel. It has the classic facade of a Brazilian church but run down, almost to the point of toppling over. But it doesn't and instead presides over the lower part of the town, hidden amongst a variety of trees and reminding everyone of the old splendour, now modern character, that is sprinkled all over Olinda.