Tag Archives: Natal

Rampant inflation in Brazil or special prices for visiting sailors?

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Too expensive to catch the train?

While in Salvador I made note of Michel Balette’s correction of the daily mooring rate in Natal. Previously listed as 8 Real per day after 3 days “gratis”, it was increased to 35 Real in the corrections supplement.

By the time I’d sailed to Cabedelo, the price had risen to 42 Real per day irrespective of boat size (confirmed by a couple that had driven to the marina from Jacare). Approximately 20 Euro a day to use your own anchor and a quintupling of the price in just 2 years.  You’re not even allowed to use the swimming pool!

Apparently the Yacht Club of Natal (Iate Clube do Natal ) has priced itself beyond the budget of most visiting international yachtsmen. No one that I know plans to stop there.

I’m no economist and assumed I was finding myself in more expensive cities with each stop, but now that I’ve been forced to retrace my steps, I’ve witnessed the doubling of prices on everything from train fares to restaurant meals in a period of less than two months!

I suggest sailors visit Brazil before it’s no longer affordable.

Confessions of a disgruntled train commuter

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train

The commute to Brussels

It’s 8am, as I listen to a chorus of nose blowing from the train-load of commuters traveling to Brussels, I am miles away in my thoughts.

I loose myself in the pleasure of anticipation, mentally manipulating potential sailing itineraries.

It helps block the revulsion I’m feeling for the passenger opposite me as he starts mining his nostrils to pass the time.
I have plenty to smile about… good grief there he goes again with the end of his pencil!!… should I say something?

And people wonder why I like sailing solo….

Back to more pleasant thoughts of itineraries.

atlantic-route

Hypothetical sailing route

I still have a lazy summer to pass in the Mediterranean, island hopping through Greece but bearing ever so slowly westward via Italy, Malta, Tunisia, Mallorca and Gibraltar. Then it’s through the legendary “Pillars of Hercules” and on to the Canary Islands by November.

Should I follow the “milk run” to Santa Lucia? No… I want to see South America… Natal Brazil via Cape Verde, and the Island of Fernando de Noroha sounds much more interesting…

At this point my plans are subject to change on a whim, but I’m surprised to discover numerous constraints governing my choice of travel destinations. Natures timetable of prevailing winds and currents, or the likelihood of storms including hurricanes, impose limits on my decisions.

If I sail to Salvador it will be three months before the winds are favourable to continue north. If I travel west to Aruba or on to Colombia I’m stuck until the trade winds gentle in April leaving precious little time to reach Bermuda.

The train stops… Two new passengers make themselves comfortable beside me, and in what appears to be choreographed synchronization they take out their handkerchiefs to trumpet their arrival. Does everyone have a cold today?

How I wish I were sailing…