3rd February – Tuesday

Happy birthday first grandson!

Today is my bitter sweet day. I already cried for my dad on the day of his passing. Today was the day we cremated him, I have not cried for him today. But I did shed a little tear last night on the bus. For the first time since Jay passed away I managed to listen to whole of Pink Floyd’s The Wall. It was hard, but I needed to do it. It is the album that we used to play really loudly while sitting on his balcony, drinking beer and watching the world go by. His favourite song being Vera. Fuck, I miss that man, I still cannot believe he has gone. I fill with tears just thinking about never seeing him again – the day I heard he had died my heart truly broke.

The bus journey was long, thank god we took the night bus. I changed my seat three times before I settled, first I sat in my designated seat, then I moved to an empty seat next to Manu, got paranoid about the rightful seat owner boarding so moved back to my seat. I then decided I was being silly so moved back to next to Manu – lol – we then stopped and the rightful seat owner boarded so I moved. She was so lovely and said she was happy to swap – LMFHO – so I moved back to next to Manu and this time stayed there for the rest of the journey.

Our tickets said we had to change buses at 11:50 but we didn’t. However the driver did stop for food. By now Manu had fallen asleep, she claims she was only dozing but she was sound asleeo and didn’t hear the first call to get off the bus, When she woke she was in a foul mood, and even though she had previously said she was hoping we stopped for food, she didn’t want to get of the bus and eat, but the driver insisted, I think it was so he could lock the bus up and have his dinner in peace. The system in the cafe was that you order your food, go pay for it and then return with the receipt and pick your order up, easy, yes? No, Manu was not happy, but if this is their system, then this is their system, getting moody over it is not going to change anything. I’m beginning to get the impression that nothing here happens the way she would like it and that she is finding it hard to accept the differences which means she is not enjoying the experience.

Anyway the rest of the journey went smoothly. Well, it wasn’t actually smooth, it was so the bumpiest ride I have ever endured. Most of the roads were red grit or else full of pot holes. I did manage to doze but was constantly woken by the clutter of the bus due to the road conditions. The driver, and there was only one for the whole 26 hours, did stop a couple of times to get some shut eye, or at least that is what I presume. It was during these two stationary periods that I fell into a deep sleep and had a couple of really mad but fun dreams – I so wish I could remember them now.

We arrived in Sao Luis an hour late and sat and had a coffee before getting an Uber. I have no data so we had to use Manu’s Uber, she told me she didn’t know how to change it to cash, it took me a while to work it out as she has an Apple Phone, and when I went to show her how to do it she angrily told me that she knows. I really cannot win, she then told me that she does not like the fact that I am always telling her she is wrong! I really don’t, but if I know something she doesn’t, then of course I am going to explain it to her and I hope she would do the same for me.

I am not enamoured with Sao Luis. Our hotel is in an awesome location. From my bedroom I can see the lagoon to the left and the river to the right. And the beach is fabulous. We took a little stroll to it on our way to the supermarket. However, we are surrounded by high rise hotels, it is like a Spanish coastal holiday resorts for Brits, but it is not full of Brits – thank god. I think Manu is feeling the same – nice location, shame abut the built up surroundings. The jungle and less affluent area of north east Brazil were amazing compared to here, but I do love a bit of rustic and living roughly – there is so much more to gain from it and I love having my life experiences broadened.