Day 1 in Brazil and we’re straight into that “real life, not tourist brochure” vibe. We head down to what we learned is Elbow Beach (Praia do Cotovelo) in Bahia, and honestly my first impression was how clean and chilled it felt—uncrowded, local, and with that humid, near-the-equator feel that reminded me a lot of Bali (even though we somehow brought “warm rain” from the UK with us). Vee’s Auntie Lynn gives us the proper local lowdown too—like being careful with your bags, and even why white pillars end up stained from wind-blown sand. We spend the afternoon beachside watching surfers, kite surfers, and local fishermen casting nets, and we spot signs for turtle conservation. What I loved most is how natural it is here: when turtles lay eggs, locals cordon the area off and leave it alone until they hatch—then it’s announced so people can come watch without interfering. Food-wise we go full “try everything” at a beach bar: carne de sol (meat of the sun), frango a passarinho, farofa, and I even give acarajé a go—yes, including the vatapá that I called “baby poop”… and I’ll admit it tasted pretty good. To finish the day we accidentally walk into a proper pre-Carnival street party (absolute chaos in the best way), then hunt down what might be the town’s best ice cream. No big plan, just taking it as it comes—proper budget adventure style.