It started in Mucugê, the day before I left Chapada Diamantina, which was Saturday, 25th October, the day before the Brazilian election of their new president. There had been some loud music on Friday, but on Saturday everyone took to the streets, following a trailer mounted with about 12 big speakers, waving banners, cheering, and dancing. …
Author Archives: Mellamadness 2
26 Oct 2026 Chapada Diamantina
I met Ale in Argentina, on my first trip to South America seven years ago, where we were both working as volunteers in Sauce Viejo, 450km from Buenos Aires. He is from Uruguay, but has spent most of his life travelling. He and his girlfriend, Mell, work in Sweden during the winter and spend the …
22 Oct 2026 Bahia
Bahia, at last! Salvador, the coastal city and capital of Bahia, is a vibrant and exciting city, the epicentre of the Afro-Brazilian culture. It is a big city with a historical centre known as Pelourinho. Unbeknownst to me, I had booked a hostel in that area for the first night, so I was pleasantly surprised …
15 Oct 2026 City to Small Town
A few days ago it was the celebration of life ceremony for a good friend of mine in Hermanus, Jakes, who passed away on the 7th October. The service was livestreamed, so I could follow the proceedings and feel a little more connected, but it is difficult when one is so far-away. May you rest …
08 Oct 2026 Awestruck
Monte Alvão – a paradise created by Iara, my Workaway host, near Caeté in the province of Minas Gerais in Brazil. The farm was bought by Iara’s father after his retirement from local politics, and she took possession of a section, developing it into what it is today in just a few years. The house …
21 Sept 2026 Bad start, good ending
My plan was to fly to Belém (Brazil) from Flores and work my way down to Sao Paulo, from where I fly back to SA on the 28th Nov. The flight would have been 32 hours, compared to 13 hours to Rio de Janeiro, so I changed everything and flew to Rio, without preparing myself for …
10 Sept 2026 Grand finale
The minivan trip from Antigua to Lanquin, 270km, was a 9-hour trek up- and downhill, through mountain passes, curves and narrow roads – very beautiful forested landscape. Sometimes the road was unpaved, or there was construction, and we would just ride in between the construction vehicles as there was no room for bypasses. In every …
04 Sept 2026 Charmed
“The God of the Universe is charming you!” my daughter-in-law, Adéle said on the phone the other day. I had sent them pictures of my experience of Volcán Fuego, the active volcano near Antiqua, which had had a scary eruption on the 3rd August, the day before I arrived in Guatamala. It has regular eruptions, …
25th August Eruption
This blog has to start with una experiencia excelente I had two days ago. But first a very big thank you to all of you who are reading and commenting on my blogs, it is very inspirational, and I thank you with all my heart. Sometimes the going gets tough and I feel discouraged, and then …
22nd Aug 2026 Guatemala
A friend sent me a WApp the day I was leaving Costa Rica: “Stay far away from the volcanoes!” she said. I couldn’t understand why she would say that, until I looked at Google Maps to follow the route we were flying to Guatemala City that afternoon, and saw a red star and inscription close to …
