Itaparica
Itaparica island is about 12 miles from Salvador. In the morning Günter and I visited the Capitania to buy a large scale chart of Baía de Todos os Santos. As a security measure we had decided to travel in convoy assuming that the banditos would more likely to attack lone vessels.
With one thing and another we were not ready to leave until 16:00. This put us off Itaparica in darkness and while the marina approach is pretty straightforward it was complicated by numerous buoys, beacons and structures which were not on our new charts. Not to mention many anchored yachts without lights.
We crept in and moored alongside at Itaparica marina at 19:20. A turkish restaurant in the marina complex served excellent steaks.
4th April
Behind the marina there is a fresh water spring where lovely mineral water is available for free. The marina staff said the water supplied on their pontoons came from the same source. Günter and Schatzi went off sightseeing while I spent the day flushing my fresh water tanks and refilling them with mineral water. Unfortunately to avoid all sorts of things growing in the tanks I had to add some bleach to the water.
Spring water filling point constructed in 1842.
Leaking fresh water tank purchased new in 2006. Until I can repair it Kiriwina's water capacity is reduced by 30%.
Marina pontoons at Itaparica.
Marina shore complex including offices and restaurants.
5th April
In the morning we dinghied out to a nearby sand bank for a swim and snorkel. The water was not very clear with visibility only 1-2 meters and probably not unconnected with the multiple rivers which drain into the bay.
In the afternoon we caught a freelance mini bus to a nearby beach. These are VW Kombis or similar and pickup/drop passengers on request.
Itaparica has a completely different feel to Salvador.
For the first time I was able to relax and walk around normally. Attacks on gringos are quite rare here compared with Salvador.
Praia de Areia - Itaparica
With one thing and another we were not ready to leave until 16:00. This put us off Itaparica in darkness and while the marina approach is pretty straightforward it was complicated by numerous buoys, beacons and structures which were not on our new charts. Not to mention many anchored yachts without lights.
We crept in and moored alongside at Itaparica marina at 19:20. A turkish restaurant in the marina complex served excellent steaks.
4th April
Behind the marina there is a fresh water spring where lovely mineral water is available for free. The marina staff said the water supplied on their pontoons came from the same source. Günter and Schatzi went off sightseeing while I spent the day flushing my fresh water tanks and refilling them with mineral water. Unfortunately to avoid all sorts of things growing in the tanks I had to add some bleach to the water.
Spring water filling point constructed in 1842.
Leaking fresh water tank purchased new in 2006. Until I can repair it Kiriwina's water capacity is reduced by 30%.
Marina pontoons at Itaparica.
Marina shore complex including offices and restaurants.
5th April
In the morning we dinghied out to a nearby sand bank for a swim and snorkel. The water was not very clear with visibility only 1-2 meters and probably not unconnected with the multiple rivers which drain into the bay.
In the afternoon we caught a freelance mini bus to a nearby beach. These are VW Kombis or similar and pickup/drop passengers on request.
Itaparica has a completely different feel to Salvador.
For the first time I was able to relax and walk around normally. Attacks on gringos are quite rare here compared with Salvador.
Praia de Areia - Itaparica