“You will never be where you are right now for the first time ever again. Please remember that as you leave the city, travel further out into the country and watch your surroundings change, ” a friend said to me in a facetime video as I waited for the big 99 tour bus to arrive to take the group to Lencois for the weekend. I was internally excited and anxious to get to the destination so I could see everything beyond Salvador. Traveling to Lencois is a 6 or 7 hour ride by bus, but it was worth it. I sat for hours watching the scenery go from green and lush to brown and dry, then back to the former as we got closer to Morro da Pai Inacio. I’m not sure about anyone else, but one of the most exciting things to me about traveling by bus is being a part of the scenery and watching nature change. As we arrived at Morro do Pai Inacio, I was ready to climb! The journey up the mountain was steep which was expected… But once I reached the top, I was rewarded with one of the most beautiful and breath taking views. It was slightly overwhelming because looking down into the valley’s and crevices below reminded me of just how small I was being so high up and standing on a huge rock. I felt free and peaceful. It was reflective and very personal, especially emotionally. I felt close to the sky. These are one of those times where I am so grateful to have legs, eyes, arms and a love of nature.
Aercio, who was our tour guide for group trips in Lencois, did an exceptional job of explaining the background story of the mountain and events that took place there. The journey around the mountain was also another experience I’ll never forget. The group was able to visit Salao das Areais coloridas, which is where different colored sand is produced by the elements. Artists from around Salvador and other parts of Brazil use these to make little ornaments and trinkets in bottles and other artwork. From having to play hopscotch over rocks to get to the waterfall (I did it barefoot because how many times will I ever get to do this again in Brazil?) to being able to say I actually felt a part of my surroundings when the group arrived at Hotel de Lencois, was very magical.
With all sincerity and gratitude, thank you Dr. Stauber, Dr. Ramsey-White and Clara Ramos for giving us students these memories to share. I’m sure we will all cherish them for eternity.
