Feng always recommends that I “take it easy.” It’s his top advice, along with “don’t worry about it.” And if there’s something actually worrying, the third piece of advice would be “Just go to bed and try to sleep.”
It must be ancient Chinese wisdom.
But I’m European.
“I’m not supposed to ‘take it easy’!” I joke on my way to the gym. “I’m going to a cardio box class!”
“Okay. So… don’t worry about it?”
Mind you, it’s wise advice. I do worry too much and I should take it easy once in a while.
And I was going to “take it easy” in Salvador on my last nine days in Brazil. I was really relaxed after a week in Itacaré because Itacaré is this kind of place—so much hippie vibes that I was almost not worrying about anything without Feng prompting me.
Anyway, Salvador was probably coming down from the high of Carnival.
But Salvador wasn’t quiet, and as usual, Salvador gave me energy.
I got caught in a whirlwind of activities and festivities.
I did not take it easy.
When I arrived, I noticed Salvador was still busy taking down Carnival stages and reconnecting street lights. Fair enough, it takes a while to go back to normal, whatever normal is for Salvador.
Except that the city wasn’t taking down stages—it was setting up new ones for the city’s 476th anniversary. My timing was accidentally perfect; I would spend the week celebrating the Festival da Cidade with a full program of free activities.
I went to the big concerts twice, on Friday and Sunday nights. The main stage was next to the Elavador Lacerda, right before the Pelô, so it was the chance to explore this part of the city after dark.
I visited several museums for free last Saturday.
I went to craft markets, special exhibitions and more.
And of course, I spent time in my favourite neighbourhoods between Barra, the Pelourinho, Santo Antônio Além do Carmo, Comércio, and many in between.
And I still wish I had done more and seen more.
But now I’m busy packing because at one point, I do have to leave the Southern Hemisphere and go enjoy spring in non-tropical places.
I suspect I’ll never be done exploring Brazil.
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