Morro de Sao Paulo

I spent this past weekend on a beautiful island just off of Salvador called Morro de Sao Paulo.
After arriving home on Friday at 12:30 pm from our placements all 12 of us voulunteers (who started together) rushed to leave so that we could make all of our connections. We first took taxis(30 minutes in traffic though Salvador) to catch a Ferry Boat (for a 45 minute crossing)then took a bus (for 1 hour 30 minutes)though beautiful countryside to the next town, Valenca, then a Launcha Rapide (fast boat for 30 minutes) to Morro de Sao Paulo. This travelling was not that hard, but was quite an adventure since none of us are fluent in Portuguese. We also had to make sure we got to Valenca before the last Launcha Rapide left at 5:00 pm. We made it and the Brazilian people took care of us all along the way - taking their time with us while when we bought tickets, while we were trying to ask questions and confirm we were in the right place etc. We also luckily met up with an English speaking local woman who helped us get the bus to stop before the station and conviently let us off. Considering we are 12 people who only met a week ago we travelled amazingly well together.
We arrived on the island at about 5:30 pm just when it was getting dark. I beleive that toursism is the main industry on the island and they were well prepared for it. We each had to pay a tax (about $4 CAN) and a guide helped us navigate to our Pousadas (hotel/bed & breakfast). There are no cars on the island so we carried our stuff and walked through the neatest little town, then to Beach 2 where we wanted to stay. Since there are no cars, there were alot of men with wheel barrows who are the taxis and delivery trucks.
My roomate at the Home Base (Liliane) and I decided to stay at a fancier Pousada and the rest (the 20-year-olds) stayed at a hostel. Everything was right on the beach, and they were just two doors down from us. Once we were there we really didn´t need our shoes and basically went barefoot the rest of the time (glad my tentenus is up to date).
At night we all ate dinner together on the beach and walked up and down the strip of bars along the beach stopping for interesting fruit and alcohol dinks (that they make you right on the spot)and talking to locals. During the day Liliane and I went for long walks along the beaches (there are 5) and then sat by the pool (which is on the beach) reading and swimming. We also walked around the town and shopped.
The island was very friendly and safe. The beaches were not crowded I guess because it is now fall and they have 2 months when tourism is low (May, June) but there were alot of Brazillian people there. The beaches were also not topless or clothing optional, but there was a heck of alot of butt cleavage from both genders.
Overall the weekend was not expensive I think all included I spent about $200 including travel, Pousada for 2 nights, and meals out.
We may go back!