Yellow fever vaccine hunt

21.06.2016

When I arrived in São Luis it was about 5 am and no one knew how to get to Luiz, my host's, house by bus. They kept telling me to take a taxi but i knew it was far and not really worth it because it was only for dropping my bag off anyway.

So I took a shower in the rodoviaria and swear to god, hopped on the first bus I saw and said I NEED VACCINE in Portuguese and the bus driver nodded and told me to get on.

Maybe a half hour later I was in front of some clinic downtown. I saw the sign for vaccines and waited for it to open. At 8 an angry woman popped her head out and told me the vaccine clinic is closed I have to go to the hospital next door.

Oh my! It was so hot and so busy. I waited behind some ladies with babies who all wanted vaccines, I recognized them from the last clinic. A very nice nurse gave me a paper and told me to come back at 10 and that I didn't have to pay anything. Excuse me what? You don't. Have. To pay. What. I couldn't believe it! These shots are sooooo expensive at home. What amazing healthcare! They are rewarding me for being lazy and stupid... I'm sorry Brazil. In addition to this, when i came back, they threw in the flu vaccine for fun, on the other arm. Sure thing buds.

And just like that, I had found my vaccine before lunch! After only hatching this plan yesterday! How efficient! After that I had to wait 10 days before going to the Amazon. That suited me just fine.

I found out I was just down the street from the historical district so I wandered down there into the main church and then it was time for lunch. I wanted to celebrate with a fancy meal at the culinary schools restaurant (SENAC) and it was delicious. The meat was dry but there was a cheesy piano player and amazing desserts.

Soon after, Luiz messaged me and said he was going home so I could go home too. I hopped on a bus and he met me on his bike as I was walking to his house.

He had to go back to school later for drum band practice and so I bought some sandwiches for us and took a nap.

When he got home I woke up and we ate the sandwiches and went to bed. Sounds boring but I was still sick.

Medical clinic!