About a third of the balconies visible from mine have hammocks suspended from hooks fixed to the walls. My balcony has hooks too so if only I’d have packed a hammock I could’ve been even more slothful this vacation.

But getting a hammock into my suitcase would have been as challenging this morning’s exercise of getting everything put back in plus the souvenirs of my journey. It’s like playing Tetris, except in three dimensions and with mostly squishy blocks.

I am going to miss this weather, the near constant temperature in the mid-80s, regular rain followed almost immediately by sun. I have not needed the air conditioner in the apartment at all and haven’t spent very many hours under artificial climate control in public. I gather that will change once I return to North Carolina. None of the Brazilians flinch when I talk about the heat but they can’t imagine water freezing outside.

I am more going to miss the friendly folk of Salvador. I have had plenty of people go well out of their way for me even though I can barely speak or understand their language. They have been wonderful hosts.

It’s raining again. I’ll head out to balcony to enjoy it on last time. If all goes well, my next post will be from Florida sometime tomorrow.

Tchau, Brasil!