#again. big thumbs up for sete asks

[batsplat]

in a way valentino did himself a big disservice by undermining sete as a rider and a rival. like he pretty much erased that rivalry from his narrative and sete is now (mostly?) remembered as that one bloke that vale overtook in the last corner at jerez. like come onnn valentino now ppl think you raced against some very mid guys 😭. but that rivalry was great actually! love watching their on track battles. also it’s such a great foreshadowing for vale/marc and the marc/dovi parallels…….valentino was really doing thee most in terms of interesting feuds and narratives, always years ahead.

sadly the same anon so there are still only the 3 of us.

complete agree on everything in this ask. thanks anon it's fine if it's still just three of us. the growth will be organic I #believe. anyhow I find it funny he does this shit but it also drives me a little crazy. like... it's so obviously not self-serving... and gives you a real insight into his priorities. you see this stuff all the time... ah, sete was mid, valentino didn't rate sete (or biaggi) at all, it was such an easy rivalry for valentino which proves he competed in a weak era... terrible pr move, you'd think! such a fantastic on-track rivalry! why wouldn't you stand by it! and even if he did truly think sete was an unworthy rival, it would still be in his interest to give that man a little hype. you would genuinely be forgiven for thinking the 2004 title was basically wrapped up after welkom, which!! my man!! that's literally your best season, what are you doing!! istg you are making it HARDER to get people into what is straight up the best era racing-wise in modern motogp because half the fandom saw one clip of you calling sete mid and have based all their opinions on that. work with me you twat!!

it's also just so obviously not true. how valentino behaved over the course of that rivalry is not what you would do against someone you don't see as a serious threat. the massive reaction after sachsenring 2003, everything about that early 2004 trio of races (especially the last lap of assen), everything about his reaction to qatar, the targeted cruelty of the sepang celebrations, taking all those risks at phillip island, his panic at the idea of losing in 2005 at jerez, the ferocious determination with which he set about preventing sete from winning again for the rest of that year... sure, some of that is personal animosity post-qatar, but it's personal animosity that was in large part because valentino was spooked by sete. this was the guy who dented valentino's impeccable reputation in one-on-one duels, who actually managed to make him bleed when valentino wasn't expecting it - the first time somebody had managed to do it with anything approaching regularity at a bit of the season where it still mattered for the championship (though shout out to barros for motegi/valencia 2002). genuinely the first time it felt like somebody had valentino handled in direct duels since, y'know, 1998 harada when vale was a teenager. valentino may have fought for the title with biaggi in 2001, but in actual duels it was very one-sided. there's a pretty decent argument that sachsenring 2003 is the single wheel-to-wheel defeat that stung the most until phillip island 2015? like that fucked with him! it prompted a bigger reaction from him than any individual defeat inflicted by casey or jorge! (not that valentino ever really lost duels against jorge but that's a conversation for another day.) he was determined to NEVER fuck it again like he did at the sachsenring! he did this whole reclaiming the spirit of his teens at brno! he AGREED TO SIGN FOR YAMAHA! this was SUCH a massive turning point

he was struggling!! he was seething!! he's exceptionally good at not being a sore loser on a race to race level (always been more of an 'attack from a position of strength' type by disposition) but this is. genuinely. as close as you can run him this decade. maybe assen 2001 is the other one where the mask does slip a little. but apart from that

which objectively makes for a better rivalry! sete being that good bothered valentino, he really hated losing to him even before they were enemies! and the thing is, right, valentino is aware that great rivalries make great stories - that his opponents being strong makes him look stronger by reflected glory. he knows this! it's an own goal that he's just rolling with this tactic! it's so personal he's gonna take the reputational hit! it's night and day when you compare it with, say, the casey rivalry. basically the biggest most obvious tells valentino actually harbours personal animosity towards someone is if he a) blanks them, like just straight up ignores them unless he absolutely has to, and b) starts fucking around with his career narrative where he excludes them from his story in some way, even if at times it's to his own detriment. it's quite straightforward! that's why the moment you cut away all the noise, you can tell he never really had anything against casey - complete competitive happenstance, casey was just there. (you can also tell this how you'd be hard pressed to find anything particularly mean-spirited valentino has said about casey after, like, mid-2013, but that almost feels too simple.) valentino loves to yap and valentino loves to tell fun stories about his career. if he's not yapping with some bloke and he's not including them in his stories, you know it's something special

anyway obviously the fact that sete doesn't get rated also means a lot of people do miss the pretty glaring dovi parallels lol. like they're right there. here just again for reference:

sete never quite got valentino to a title decider, but 2004 is basically almost as close as 2017 and then 2003 is more of a title challenge than either 2018 or 2019, though 2005 isn't one at all... point is, these are broadly similar levels of threat vale and marc face at literally the same age. sete and valentino were closer on a personal level than marc and dovi ever were, but apart from that you've got two rivalries that immediately stand out because of how much more 'respectful' they were than what directly preceded it. I supposed marc does better pr for that rivalry because he doesn't dislike dovi and because it also did him a world of good to be able to point to a more 'respectful' rivalry in his resume, as a kind of 'oh look I can do that too, I'm not the problem' type thing. vale was very image conscious in the sete rivalry, but more in a 'oh I can use how image conscious the other guy is to suffocate him'. and I reckon that's one of the biggest differences between the two rivalries... because losing to sete was a real reputational hit for valentino, like that was a net negative, got the italian press calling him washed and all that shit. whereas marc and dovi... I honestly cannot recall people giving him too much grief for all the last lap duels he was losing? which is odd, in a way, but meant that broadly having dovi around was a good thing because it was almost like a built-in way of making those dominance years watchable. adds a little spice if there's always the threat marc might at least lose a last lap battle, even if unfortunately that might be the only competitive tension you're getting that season. for marc, just having the dovi battles was beneficial. for valentino, the only way he could benefit from the sete battles was by winning them

[oh-for-fic-sake]

Under His Eye

Masterlist

You and Henry move in to your new district and Henry wastes no time in putting his foot down these commanders need to know who the new boss is around here!

Warnings: Swearing, handmaids tale patriarchal bullshit, BDE Henry? A/N: so here is the first of my Handmaids tale au, just for reference your driver is Jai Courtney, guard is Chris evans. This is more to set up the story a bit of info ect mostly just seting things up! I took some liberties with the new Gilead arch-types I hope they make sense...Any way enjoy Taglist: @promptandpros​ @isitmine​ @runawayolives​ @two-unbeatable-beaters​ @thatgirly81​ @angelofthor @iloveyouyen​ @sofiebstar​ @thefangirlsblog​ @tinabean37​ @viking-raider​

You sighed looking out the window as your driver-Jai moved the large black car through the streets two black moving trucks and another three cars holding a Martha- Molly and your handpicked guard for the household Chris then just a few of Henry's loyal soldiers who would help oversee the district followed drawing the attention of the locals. Handmaids ,Martha’s ,Aunts, wives and guards alike they all looked. All wanted to see the newcomers. They couldn't the windows were blacked out, for your privacy Henry had said but It wasn't, he liked getting the first look not them. It was rare someone moved home in Gilead. If they did it was because they either got in trouble...Or they got a promotion. Not you, not your husband. Henry was a commander, a son of Jacob but he was more then that he was what they now called an apostle. An elite commander who had proved to be the best of the best on and off the field, he had been an angel- one of Gilead’s best soldiers and was pulled from the front lines after yielding incredible results, not that he really believed all of this shit! God no he did what everyone did in the god forsaken place. He survived. In doing so he worked his way up into the top ranks there wasn't many above him in Gilead now. He was used to bring order in to unruly areas, unruly commanders. And he wasn't idle no he spared who he could ,saved who he could usually women...He spared you saved you from a fate worse then death. You looked from left to right down the road and Henry moved a large hand to yours on the seat between you. He gripped it lightly smoothing his thumb in circles across your skin. You sighed again at him. Curling your slim fingers around his weakly, you hadn't wanted to move not again you wanted a home to settle and just live. "Love...Stop worrying everything with be fine, I'm sure you will make friends here...We will be here for years this time not months" you looked over to him and rolled your eyes at him making his lips twitch in a grin revealing his immaculate teeth. "Friends you mean the lesser wives? Who have probably never seen a Royal blue? And will want to scratch my eyes out at the sight of me?" He laughed a deep baritone sound at your little jab. Yes it was true being a royal blue wife was rare and the regular Teals didn't like it. A fertile wife of an apostle? Yes there was only four of you in Gilead. You were called Royal blues allowed to wear darker and brighter blues then your teal counterparts, darker to show your higher ranking and brighter to show off your fertility...Red was taken. Henry turned to you taking you in he knew how you felt about the move. You didn't want to leave again but it was necessary this district had it all! And the powers at be had enough for so many sons of Jacob this district was in all honesty taking the piss. Suicides? Bombs? Handmaids going insane?, wives reading? Sex out side of the ceremony? To many infringements in such a short time Henry was here to cleanup house and he started with the top. These commanders had no idea that he was coming this was his turf now and he was going to 'tear shit up' as they used to say. He smiled leaning over to his staring little wife kissing her cheek making her blush and go shy. He pulled back and spoke. "Well if they were ever stupid enough to do such a thing you know I'd handle it y/n" you cast him a shy glance and smiled at him you'd be the first to admit you were lucky to have your husband. He was a fine man even with that fuzzy face, the kingstach hid a perfect jawline and dimpled chin strong and defined. His bright blue eyes that were always playful and warm when he gazed at you, yet cold and biting frightening to others. He had his curls looser today one or two skimming his forehead. You couldn't help staring at him...You did at least once a day still in awe of the man. He was masculine strong in every sense of the word he had not dropped his training since being and Angel of the faith he kept it up going for a run and works outs each day. The training he had kept him wide and built more so then the eye's and guards he was just...An incredible male to behold. "My little wife you wouldn't be over come with sinful thoughts now would you?~" you giggled looking away blushing as he teased you bringing your hand to his mouth kissing your palm. "Sinful husband? No I am merely appreciating the good lords handcraft. You are an angel~" Henry scoffed at your teasing and moved his hand tickling your side making you squirm and giggle batting away at him. "Come here you~" you squeaked as he pulled you over to his lap still tickling you before moving in to kiss your lips fully. This is what you loved to the world he was a big scary Apostle but to you? He was your big teddy bear how you had found the love of your life in this wretched place you didn't know but you were thankful for it! You were treated as an equal in the comfort of your own home, sure you followed the laws....Well you did follow most; you didn't read ect but he was adamant that ha healthy sex life determined a healthy marriage and since you had proved fruitful you had no real setbacks now, which was a god send. Henry as it turns out was a randy boy~

Your car rolled to a stop in front of a huge house a gated courtyard it was the largest on the street. It looked light and airy like one of those house posh people had on reality tv...Then again you supposed you were posh people now? You looked seeing a few wives come out into their gardens deciding now was the perfect time to inspect there precious flowers whilst stealing glances to the convoy. "I'm afraid I have to get to work right away...Introduce myself to the local government...I hope you like the house I had it cleaned already and it is mostly furnished hand picked by me of course~" you laughed at him as he wriggled his brow. "Mix and match then my love? Tell me will anything match of do I have to go shopping again?" Henry frowned at you playfully and swooped in for another kiss deepening it cupping your face molding your lips together in an obscene twist of tongues drinking one another in. You moaned softly as he moved crouching over you getting far to invested not that either of you cared Jai didn't he just sat there looking back rolling his eyes at the two of you hand on head. You grunted when he finally pulled away he had a shit eating grin as you whined embarrassingly and pouted at his teasing. "You are lucky we are in the car my love~" you moved up closer breath ghosting his lips taunting him and raised a brow. He hummed a quiet chuckle at you as you kneeled up beside him to be level with his eyes twinkling in amusement. "Luck is that what they call it now Mr Cavill?" He laughed wrapping you up in his arms moving to tuck his face into your neck groaning as he took a breath your scent was of the clean rosemary infused soap you'd began using. He loved the fresh scent just as your fingers began to wander he pulled back with a soft grunt. "Oh come now love your audience awaits we can't get away with having sex in the car...Jai wouldn't appreciate it~" Jai scoffed laughing from the front. "Don’t mind me Henry! Closest thing to action I'm fucking getting, by all means plunder away little hanky panky don't do me no harm ~" you rolled your eyes at his sarcastic reply you kicked his seat making him groan with a laugh you crossed your arms at the two chuckling men. They were close made brothers on the front line Henry had pulled him out as soon as he could he was a very loyal man and you cloth called him family. "Well you'll be pleased to know there is a jezebells here...Just don't fuck around be mindfull-" Henry began to warn Jai waved him off. "Henry fuck man! Consent is consent shit I don't need that lecture besides I will walk in there and have them biting at the bit to see my goods...They will be climbing the walls to let me in theirs they’d be-" "Alright Jai you have a penis well done!" Henry smiled as you cut off the sordid ramblings of a horn dog. He relaxed he knew that Jai would never force himself on a woman its why he hired Jai and Chris like minded men who protected women when they could.

Jai got out placing sunglasses on and moved to the door to let you out. The neighbors held there breath a you were helped out of the car. The bright blue of your dress was the first thing they noticed. You cringed a little at the titters and hisses of the women around the street, you knew what was going on they were asking each other why you were decorated in such a bright color. A lot of women didn't realize even wives had ranks well not out here anyway and as far a ranks got they didn't get higher then you hence why there is only four of you even apostles had to use handmaids. You tucked your hands in front of you demurely just as you'd been taught and turned to the car smiling. "Go in grace husband I eagerly await your return~" you finished with a wink that made him roll his eyes and shake his head at you. It always gave him a chuckle watching as you fell into the Gileadian wife so easily. You stepped away smirking as Jai closed the door and entered the car pulling away fro  the curb. You watched for a few seconds then subtly scanned the street that now had quite a few people outside. It seemed everyone wanted a look at the newcomers. You twisted on your heel your long flowy dress swinging delicately the blue satin almost shimmered making you stand out especially against the dreary back drop of the autumn street. You took a deep breath and stepped to the house making your way to the gate which the other guards had opened and was already carrying things into the house. Molly came and stood next to you as you looked up at the house. "They are staring" she said casually making you sigh closing your eyes feeling the envious and curious stares of your new found neighbors none approached you. Either to shy or frightened no one would come near you yet it wasn't done. Women do not make freinds with other women...Well not the elite anyway, teals were bitter they all had a belief that they would not be held to the same laws as the others and were very put out when they realized just what they had to give up. You held no sympathy for them, they helped create this world they made there bed they can lay in it! "Yes they always stare...Anyone I should be wary of?" She hummed nodding and moved alongside you tipping her head subtly to motion to the street as you made your way across the court yard to the house. Taking slow steps being sure to let the local have a good look, get there fill so they can gossip to one another because really gossip is all women had now. "Well not much in the way of neighbors...Only two you need be concerned about....Mrs Putnum across the road, nosy old bat just had a baby- well handmaid, her husband lost an arm fornication with said handmaid ...Blowjob literally cost him arm haha..Well half an arm at  any rate I just hoped she swallowed at least." You smirked Molly was another of your family though to the word you were the perfect household ruled by a strong patriarchal commander and his iron fist.

The truth was you were all a family you ignored each others slip ups and were free to do as you pleased within reason. You played your silly Gileadian roles, Martha, Wife, Husband and so on but you did not think you were better then anyone none of you really believed in Gilead or its ideals but abided by them on the face of it. Molly moved to look at you letting you enter the house first and continued talking quietly. "But seriously Commander Warren Mrs Putnums husband will probably try to kiss ass with Henry terrified of getting another reprimand...He will be a good tool for him...Watch out for her though because she is stuffed up the local matriarchs ass...One Serena joy Waterford...Up until recently she thought her husband ruled the roost...Snippy she is a shell of the woman she once was reduced to a angry frustrated baby obsessed house wife....She has a baby on the way...Again a handmaid" you nodded as you entered the home it was dripping in marble light and airy just as you'd thought it would be you smiled and turned to Molly. "Lets get begin shall we?" She smirked nodding ready to 'set up shop' as it were you left her to the kitchen and moved through the house alone eyeing the rooms appraising them. Henry had listened this time in selecting your home the rooms were classy and airy nothing really needed to be changed whites and accents of black and gold ran through the house some rooms had pale blues and pinks. It was nice elegant and free you liked it much better then your decadent yet dark home in the capital. You nodded and took a seat On a dark grey velvet love seat in front of a large open fireplace in the small den needing to take the weight off your feet for a few minuets the house was very large and it had taken you a good half an hour to really get your bearings. This would do, you could make this home.

Henry strode into his new workplace dreary old government office posh and smelt of old git, Jai smirked walking beside him he loved this! Henry knew he did its why he brought him Jai liked front row seats to these things. Both men argued over who got to come sadly one of them had to stay and guard you Chris was taking a back seat. Henry nodded to Jai and they both slipped into the 'court room' that in his opinion looked like they had read a bit to much harry potter. Henry stayed in the shadows watching them bicker they had the typical uppity cunts thinking they owned the place, the sniveling cowards who simpered choosing to be neutral in every debate and decision. Then the few who honest to god believed in Gilead regime...There were three one was about to get a very abrupt wake up call. He was going for particecution today under Henry's orders he scoffed watching as all the men panicked amongst themselves a few he knew by name. Warren little weasel of a man already had the fear of god...or more correctly Gilead put into him, Lawrence who had made an unusual appearance he was the only one who knew of Henry's arrival and a close friend...Well close enough that neither ratted each other out. Then there was Cush, well what can we say the man is another weasle used Gilead to gain wealth and fame...Very close to the Waterford's even before the war and then the other one he recognized one of the main reasons he was here. Waterford an original son of Jacob but all bark and no bite...Henry couldn't tell if Fred Waterford actually believed in Gilead or if he just wanted a title without the leg work but yes. Waterford was the one to watch one of Gilead's poster boys that was now pretty much obsolete now that the regime was up and running.Much like his and wife Selena pretty little thing, the perfect image of the perfect woman useful spreading the ideals but now fucking useless waiting around for her prize; A baby.

Henry smirked crossing his arms nodding to an older male a seat away from Waterford. Commander Feaver he was fighting with the Eyes and guards that were taking him to his very own cell ready for his salvation. Death by handmaid particecution. Hanged by the ones he had wronged and raped. A fitting end. "You can't be serious! Who? Who ordered this?!" The desperate man twisted screaming out for anyone to help him explain to him what was happening. But no one knew. Henry did. They didn't. The smiled creeping across Henry's face was wicked and sinister. He watched as others began getting nervous. "The orders from Commander Cavill Apostle of Gilead's righteous ruling government" The room went silent as Henry's name was mentioned, it seems his reputation proceeds him. The commanders looked panicked to one another Waterford was the first to speak. "What?! From the capital?! He's here why wasn't we told of his arrival?!" Henry smiled tucking his hands into the pockets of his woolen coat and placed a foot on the wall behind him as they now spoke quickly and panicked amongst themselves. "And what is he doing poking here-" Finally when a few of the  Commanders stood trying to speak hurriedly wanting to be out Of the building before Henry arrived and that was his cue. "Because as of now I am the one calling the shots in this district..." he spoke loud and clear there was a deafening silence no one moved or breathed. Jai followed casually behind zig zagging across the floor.the only sound was the clicking of his shoes on the polished wood floor as he slowly made his way down to the 'podium' he rested the heels of his palms on the wood leaning forward with a predatory grin

"Gentlemen you have all failed to maintain order! And as a result of your failings you are now all under my jurisdiction" "you?! They called you in?" "Yes I am an Apostle, a messenger here to teach and enforce his word upon all those in this rebellious district... I have a perfect track record of cleaning up the unruly districts...The capital decided to call in the Cavillry as it were~" he chuckled at his own play on words scanning the men now shaking in their boots looking to one another they were used to being the fish fish and now they all looked like fucking tadpoles! Henry took another breath moving around the podium shoving his hands back into his pockets. "I like any good leader start with the top...For those of you not aware of what that means well it is simple you are all in my district..As of now I'm running the show and in my districts we as commanders lead by example or you don't lead at all...bare in mind gentlemen the colonies are always looking for strong laborers and failing that the wall here is very bare~!" Now that caused a few shocked faces he smirked up at the old toffee nosed pricks and made a slow sweep immediately picking out those who looked a little too panicked he would have them looked into. Fred stood up trying to placate Henry with a man to man type of reasoning. "But surely Mr Cavill there should be consetions for us...Diplomatic immunity so to speak" he finished with a laugh he was confident. He shouldn't be. Henry tipped his head back and made a huh. He turned looking to Jai. "Waterford?" He saw the man flinch in his seat, Waterford did not like being known by name by this Apostle. Jai nodded to him with a sly smile fuck he loved being able to watch Henry shit shaft these cunts. Henry nodded humming then pointed a finger at the nervous man sitting on his little 'throne' "Well commander Waterford I’m not sure what kind of Gileadian circus your running here but I’m not her to play a fool, you are to refer to me as commander because that sir is what I am...I'm your commander, your apostle and you now answer to me am I understood commander Waterford?" Henry smiled he could feel the others tense as Henry slapped him down a few pegs swiftly dominating the 'bravest' in the room Henry tipped his head 'politely' to the furious man who swallowed harshly and gave a stiff nod. Good he can learn to behave. Henry opened his hands and clapped loudly pacing from side to side before them. "Gentleman this is how exactly the type of thing we need to stamp out Gilead would fall to ruin if weak willed leaders were left unchecked and that is my job...To remind everyone of their place...These types leaders of have no place in Gilead's elite, we are to lead with strength and honor obey the laws! obey his word and he will reward us..Those are now our values...I suggest to anyone here that believes in the cowardice of hiding behind diplomatic immunity step down as a commander immediately...This is your only warning because as of now there is no place to hide, you will find very quickly that your childish games will not get very far with me..." A hush fell over the room again Jai had to bite his lip it was the best bit! When they began to realize that the rumors were true Henry took no prisoners he came in and dominated he treated everything like a war, every room was a battle field and he was always armed. Not with a guns but with knowledge, he had balls of steel and he didnt mind swinging them around either he was untouchable and everyone fucking knew it. "But a particucution? For sleeping outside of the ceremony?" Oh? Waterford was going for round two? Trying to save face no doubt Jai had to look away as Henry smiled unamused but secretly thrilled. It was rare he got a second go at one Fred really wanted to be a big boy. Henry stood pin straight staring evenly to the now anxious commander. "She was pregnant and lost the child! Tell me is the death of and unborn child not the greatest sin! Would you allow that to go unpunished?" Fred was taken back and flicked his gaze to commander Feaver and frowned before slowly looking back to Henry. "I...we did not know that detail" "You wouldn't have commander information like that is above your pay grade" Henry snipped making another hit on Fred’s ego. His attention was brought back to the sniveling Commander Feaver whining and begging with the guards..Oh how the mighty fall~ to say Henry didn't love this would be a lie, in many ways he was like these men but he made the guilty pay not the innocent. His drive to have those in power that make the laws follow them was unshakeable its what got him here. Gilead central government mistook it for loyalty it was..They destroyed his home and he would make them pay for it until he took his last breath! "She wasn't pregnant! She wasn't! I swear!" Jai rolled his eyes and shifted his feet waiting for a more desperate man to go toe to toe with his brother in arms. Henry sighed and blinked slowly looking up at the restrained man. "She was at the Drs two days before there was a delay in the blood tests she had to do them again did she not?" Feaver nodded whimpering and went to speak but Henry held up a hand silencing him. He was trembling Henry wouldn't be surprised if the man pissed himself. "And these results showed that before your sinful coupling she was pregnant! After your Martha found you with her she was tested again and found to be not pregnant...Your fornication terminated her pregnancy! And for that harm the penalty is death!...now does anyone else have anything else to say?" Henry looked straight at Waterford he was daring him to speak up, the others watched slowly moving sitting back in their seats looking thoroughly fucked. Henry smiled and clapped his hands again this was going to be fun at least half of them were guilty of something he just knew it fro  the terrified looks on there faces. No? Good now take him away, we have other business to attend to!"

[bertiep42]

Sete cidades

We left Jeri around midday, despite aiming to get up early and possibly hitchhike to our next destination. As soon as we boarded the coach we could tell we were the only tourists, the coach was very dirty and run down and clearly full of locals headed back home. We arrived in Granja, which translates literally as "farm" after an hour or so, and then enquired about the bus onwards to Sobral, the next stop on our way to Piripiri, which was the town closest to the national park. There were apparently no buses but after a bit more searching we were lead to a minibus stand by the kind lady who also sold us malaria medication without the necessary prescription. We piled into the hot and sweaty minibus, there were only now one or two seats remaining which were quickly filled, we waited for the door to close and us to leave but more people were getting on and standing by the door, and more and more. Finally the van departed, more than fully laden, but soon stopped again, and even more people got on. I wondered if we were attempting to break some kind of record. At the peak we had 29 people in this small minivan. We drove on for an hour or so more through beautiful Atlantic forest, huge cloud shrouded mountains and hills passed us by as we sped, at a slightly jaunty angle along the dead straight road. We arrived in Sobral only to find we had just missed the bus, and the next one didn't leave until almost midnight, so we headed to the only place where we wouldn't get eaten by mosquitoes, or mugged, and would be open late, the mall. Malls in Brazil are big and American and full of fast food, expensive clothes and silly security guards on segways with safety helmets on. When our bus arrived in Piripiri it was 2 or so in the morning, nothing was open, apart from a seedy rodoviaria (bus station) motel. A topless man greeted us at check-in and handed us our keys, we fell asleep almost immediately after we hit our pillows. Early the next morning I headed into town and left Jana asleep, there were no buses running to the national park, no guides, nothing. I returned with some food and we decided to hitch, it was only 20km or so. After about 5 minutes we were picked up by a lovely local mother, she drove us all the way to the park hotel, despite it being at least 30 minutes out of her way ! When we arrived at the hotel they told us they had no water or electricity, and didn't expect we would want to stay there. As it was the only hotel near enough to walk into the park we didn't really have a choice. As well as there being no water or electricity, there was a frog and frogspawn in the pool, and plenty of leaves. But we enjoyed our stay and our room was huge. We rose early that morning to meet our guide at 8, unfortunately we didn't know that we were meant to meet at 8 at the visitors centre, not the gate, so had to walk another 4km into the park and were a bit late. We payed 180 reals for a full tour of the park including going to a waterfall on a motorbike I would get to ride! Sete cidades means seven cities , that's because there are seven groups of strange looking huge rocks dotted throughout the park, each had its own name, from the turtle, to the elephant, the monkey and the arc de triumph. There were also a series of cave paintings across the park, against the rocks, apparently dating so far back that the history had to change on when man first spread to the Americas. Later, after remembering how to ride a motorcycle, and getting used to carrying a pillion, we went to swim in the waterfall. On the way back we saw a snake, which Jana took in her stride, probably helped by the fact she had already seen one snake that day, a tiny one, only about 5cm long, on the walk to the park. We rode on ahead of our guide, all the way back to the visitors centre, then I remembered we had only seen 6 of the 7 cidades, and asked our guide if we could see the 7th. We turned around and drove all the way back, apologizing to our guide and following her. Then it started absolutely chucking it down, Jana remarked that if it wasn't for me then we would have all been dry and warm and to be honest once you've seen 6 big clusters of rock 7 really doesn't matter that much. She was of course right, the seventh was if anything less impressive, but i enjoyed riding the motorbike nonetheless. We returned home in the back of someones pick-up, who saved us from the walk back in the rain. I spent the rest of the day making whirlpools in the pool in order to collect the dirt into one area and fish it out with a chip pan attached to the end of a pole, that had been supplied to me when I drew a picture of a net and showed it to reception. Unfortunately the way out of the park was a lot harder, the taxi was rather expensive so we decided to brave the 8km walk down the road with our backpacks in order to find a lift. We had decided, still pleased with our success 2 days prior, to hitchhike all the way to the next national park. After 20 minutes or so in the blistering sun an ambulance picked is up, unfortunately he wasn't going quite the way we wanted to so he took us to his turnoff and dropped us there. The sun bore down on us, we tried to find a morsel of shade under a small tree but it was midday and the shadow was too small, we waited and waited, but the road was completely empty. Roughly every couple of minutes a car or lorry would speed past us, making us have to hop up onto the verge and completely ignore our stuck out thumbs and smiles. After an hour of this we decided to throw in the towel and go and get a coach, one had already passed us, refusing to stop, and we were worried there would not be another. Incredibly our luck was much greater heading back into town, I guess the locals are more trusting than the truck drivers. We were picked up as soon as we stuck out our thumbs, and then it started to rain, what luck. Three hours later we were in Ubajara.