It feels like a déjà-vu—last Friday I was also packing, also promising myself I’d sleep early, also trying to do just one last thing before eating dinner and sleeping.
It feels like déjà-vu, plural, even though there is no plural form (I just checked!). I lost count of the number of times I was packing and going through the whole going somewhere routine. I don’t mind it, I’m used to it. I’m not going far tomorrow, just moving to another Airbnb back in Barra, my last Airbnb for this trip, actually.
However, sometimes, I feel like my head is going to explode. As my Brazilian friend put it, I’m on three continents at the same time—physically in Brazil, but also mentally in Canada with Feng and Mark (and work), plus in France because of family. I speak three languages every day—even four, if Mark starts quizzing in Mandarin, like why, your dad’s name is Feng and he is right there!
Still, it’s worth it. I’m never bored and I feel better about the world when I’m travelling. It’s actually a hell of a lot nicer, kinder and normal than on TV or in the news.
This week, I always seemed to end up in the Pelourinho, Salvador’s most famous historic neighbourhood. Okay, maybe “end up” is the wrong word, it takes some effort to get there, it’s a 60-minute walk uphill… but it’s a fascinating place with dozens of churches, colourful houses and amazing architecture from the colonial era. Plus, there’s always something going on in the Pelourinho.
The cobblestones streets have seen the darkest pages in human history—this was the location of the first slave market in the Americas, and “Pelourinho” means “pillory”. No memorial here, but the celebration of a thriving Afro-Brazilian culture, which I think is the biggest “fuck you” ever to History.
And a bit further, a bit higher is Santo Antônio Além do Carmo, just as colourful and historic, but quieter with an amazing view over the port.
This is why I travel and sometimes do too much at the same time—to see the pretty and positive side of the world.
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