A place to return to

We drove around all day visiting various caves, rivers, waterfalls and the beautiful countryside of Chapada Diamantina yet it was very apparent that we saw only a fraction of what this incredible place has hidden in the crevices of its existence. Every site we laid eyes on was unique in its own way, it felt as though we had entered Pandora’s box; if you attempted to discover everything in Bahia’s national park you would die trying.

It was our last day in this magical place and I was not ready to leave. Our time here was jam-packed full of memorable moments and wonderful discoveries; it felt as if we had spent at least a week here and not a meager 3 days. It is always impressive to me that despite all the natural wonders we witnessed here it is the usually the most simple of exchanges that remain tattooed in my mind for years to come. A complete stranger on the street gifting us popsicles through the window as we sat in a hot bus stranded on the side of the road, laying in a hammock at night in the jungle listening to the rain pour down around me like a surround system of tranquility, enhancing my foreign language skills by attempting to translate Bob Marley’s lyrics during long road trips, these are some of my favorite memories from our time spent in the mountains.

I fell completely in love with this place, its people, its food, and of course the magnificent landscape. I hope one day to return,  and if it were not so far from the sea I do believe I could stay there forever.