Today, I woke up in the port of Ilheus, Brazil, and went on an escorted coach tour to see Ilheus and the Tijuipe waterfalls. Unlike yesterday's tour in Salvador, this was a brilliant day.
Ilheus.
I booked a trip today to see Ilheus and the Tijuipe waterfalls. I was up early and went downstairs to the Atrium bar for a coffee. While there, I saw Rosa, who had cancelled the tour, and Gail, who had decided to go for a walk around Ilheus.
When it was time to leave the ship, I walked down to the departure area and was soon on the coach for my escorted tour of Ilheus and a trip to the Tijuipe waterfalls. I was sitting on the coach when a passenger from the ship that I had met a few times joined. I spoke to Gary briefly before he found a seat, and we were off.
Our first stop was a short drive from the ship, and we had a look around a square in Ilheus, where we were shown a statue of Ruy Barbosa, who was a Brazilian polymath, diplomat, writer, jurist, and politician. He was a defender of civil liberties and fought for the abolition of slavery in Brazil. A short walk later, we were shown around the Church of Sao Jorge before continuing our walk to the San Sebastian Cathedral. We were told the history of everything we saw, and it soon became apparent that our two guides on this trip were a hilarious double act.
We had to wait for our coach to return for a while for some reason, and I was beginning to think this could turn out to be another poor excursion. Still, when the coach did return, we were soon driving through Ilheus, and our tour guides continued their interesting and funny commentary about everything we passed. After a short drive, we stopped at an artisan market and were given 40 minutes to walk around. I decided to have a look around and was impressed by the goods available in the market but didn't buy anything.
Tijuipe Waterfalls.
When we left the market, we drove through Ilheus and headed out of town and along the coast. The coast road was beautiful, and I spotted lots of beautiful beaches along the roads. As we drove further away from Ilheus, we passed many small groups of houses on the beaches. They looked fantastic, and I imagined myself living in one or more of these beautiful and peaceful places.
As we drove through the countryside, we stopped at the Serra Grande Viewpoint, which looked down at the beaches below and the beautiful coastline. I looked at the house on the beach surrounded by palm trees and thought that these were probably as close to my idea of an ideal home as I have ever seen. I will have to continue to keep buying lottery tickets and hoping for a winner.
After a short photo stop, we continued on the short distance to the Tijuipe waterfalls. We pulled in at a small layby and began the very steep walk down a very rough mud and rock track through the trees to the waterfalls about ½ km below. The walk was hard work for me, but I was determined to get to the bottom and swim in the waterfall.
I saw Gary on the way down, and we agreed to video each other while we were swimming in the falls. When we got to the bottom, I walked straight to the falls, took my shirt off, climbed across the very slippery rocks, and lowered myself into the water. I swam a short distance across the pool and sat directly under the waterfall, which cascaded down onto some rocks below it. It felt beautiful, and I just sat there relaxing for about half an hour before I swam back across the pool and clambered back out.
Just as I got out, Gary arrived, so I took his phone and videoed him as he swam across the waterfall and back. As he climbed out, I climbed back into the pool and swam back to the waterfalls so that he could take a video and photos of me. After swimming back, I climbed out and walked through the jungle area. I dried myself off on my Costa Favolosa towel and sat down at a table near the open-air restaurant there. Gary soon arrived with another Englishman from the cruise and asked us both if we wanted a beer.
Gary was soon back with a bottle of beer for each of us, and I asked how much I owed him. He told me that he would get it and that he had also bought us all something to eat. I assumed he meant crisps or nuts or something, but the waitress soon brought us out three steaks, a plate of roasted potatoes and some rice. The steaks were the best I have eaten anywhere, and the potatoes tasted delicious. We were joined at the table by an American man from Ohio who was also on our coach trip from the ship. We sat there chatting until it was time to walk back up the steep slope back to the coach.
Gary, myself and the other Englishman all climbed back up together. Gary was fine, but the other Englishman and I both had trouble with the climb and had to stop a couple of times on the way back up. We weren't the only ones, though, and we saw many of the people on our coach struggling up the climb or sitting down to rest. After we sat down for a short rest, I pushed on to climb the last 100 yards, but it took it out of me, and I was breathless by the time I got back on the coach. It took me about 20 minutes to get my breath back, but I was so glad I had made the trip. I would recommend visiting the Tijuipe Waterfalls to anyone who is travelling nearby.
Photos from Tijuipe waterfalls.
When everybody got back on the coach, we drove back toward Ilheus. The only stop on the way back was at a chocolate factory, but we only stopped there very briefly to let people sample and buy chocolate. I think this stop was made because the tour guide got free chocolate to bring in a coach load of customers. I thought the chocolate was overpriced and didn't buy any. When we left, we retraced our journey along the coast road back to Ilheus and to the port, where we boarded the Costa Favolosa.
Back on the Costa Favolosa.
When we got back to the Costa Favolosa, I went back to my cabin for a shower and a change of clothes before going for a beer and then going for dinner at 7 pm. When I got to dinner, Rosa asked if the trip was good, and I hated having to tell her how good the trip was as she had cancelled it, but she was glad I had a good time. For dinner, I had a shrimp cocktail, chickpea soup, braised beef in red wine with mashed potato, and sautéed vegetables for my main course. For dessert, I ordered all three choices. I explained to Rosa and Ann that I was hungry after walking so much and swimming in the waterfalls, so Rosa shared her dessert with me as well.
During dinner, Rosa and Ann talked me into singing in the karaoke bar with Marcus. After dinner, we went down, and Marcus and I put our names down. I told Marcus it didn't matter what we sang, so he let the DJ choose. We were joined by Gail, Dwight, Tessa, Keith, Regina, and Darrel, who sat with Rosa, Ann, and I, supporting us when we sang. When Marcus came back, we didn't have to wait long, and we were soon dueting, don't go breaking my heart, by Kiki Dee and Elton John. We sang our hearts out, Marcus danced around the dance floor, and I stumbled around on my walking stick. We may not have been the best singers, but unlike so many people who sang, we did get to finish our song, and at least our little group of friends and all the other English and Germans onboard gave us a round of applause.
There was only one more singer after us, and we all then left to see whatever we wanted to see afterwards. Darrel, myself, Ann, Rosa and Gail all went to the ´White Party´ around the pool where there was hog roast as well. When we got there, it was packed and we all managed to get separated.
It wasn't my thing; I do not like loud disco-type events with hundreds of people pushing and shoving everyone anymore, so I decided to leave and go to the quiet bar near the piano bar. Ann came with me, and we sat down, drinking and chatting. We had been there a while when Gary came and joined us. He was a little high and very loud, but he was funny. Unfortunately, he had apparently been a little rude to the staff a few times before. As Ann and I were sitting there, we had nearly finished our drinks, so I went to get us a couple more Bahama Mamma cocktails. The barman saw me walking towards the bar and asked me what he could get me. When I got to the bar, the barman had just got two glasses to begin serving, and Gary asked him for a drink. The barman turned to him and told him he was sorry, but the bar was already shut. He then continued to finish the two cocktails for me and Ann and refused to serve Gary anymore. Gary left, and I returned to Ann with the cocktails. We sat there chatting until we had finished, and then we both returned to our cabins.
Gary, if you have ever read this, get in touch. I want to see your photos and videos.