Tag: Brazil

The flight to São Paulo from Zurich took twelve hours on an overnight flight. I slept a little, as best as you can in a packed economy class seat. We landed early in the morning. Then I had a layover of about three hours, which usually is sufficient, but in the case of this large airport, definitely not. Clearing customs was pretty easy and quick, but the luggage was released onto the belt in dribs and drabs and took well over forty five minutes. What followed were queues, the likes of which I have very seldom experienced, to exit the baggage halls to the main airport, where I had to re-check my bags in a different terminal. In the end, I had walked eight thousand steps from arrival to my new departure gate, which I arrived at by the skin of my teeth.

I learned very quickly that there is no order in this country, or certainly no obvious, visible order of the type that I am used to. You have to adapt quickly. Step out of queues and push and shove your way forward, asking for clarifications everywhere. The louder you shout, “where is the baggage drop for the flight to Salvador?,” and the more confidently you push your way to the front, the greater your chances. What I also observed is that the pace is slow; time is different here; people don’t mind being late, amble, and take everything in their stride. No one gets upset or irritated, which is often the case in airports; instead, there are smiles and happy faces everywhere. Despite my rush and concerns to make my connecting flight to Salvador, I was gratified that I was amongst such openness and happiness.

My great fortune is that I speak the language, albeit it the continental version. Many words are different and I am often not immediately understood, and vice versa.

What immediately struck me about Salvador, from approaching the airport from the skies where I could see the sprawling city down below from my window seat, to the taxi driver taking me to my hotel on a ride of about thirty minutes, was the great expanse of extremes. Modern high rises and shopping centres, favelas, green spaces, lakes and rivers, people of all skin tones, vehicles of all types, haves and have nots, jungle-like flora, city-like flora, you name it.

And, it was hot. Very hot. I was overdressed, having worn comfortable, warm clothing when I left home in wintery Switzerland and I could not wait to get changed. The taxi driver was extremely friendly and helpful, smiling all the way. Brazilian music was playing quietly on the radio and I was thankful for the air conditioning. I really could not believe that I was finally here. Much like arriving on St Helena, I had not been here since 1982. 

Dates: February 2026