Much like Cape Cod, the Bahian Coastline of Salvador (Bahia) has sand dunes built in height and width from the action of coastal trade winds. The winds pile up sand into dunes many meters high, where drought resistant vegetation grows. Our group had a walk on this 'wild side' slightly off road about 2 hours from downtown Salvador... We were impressed with the mounds of very fine sand and abundant vegetation including pretty flowers and the African palm oil trees (Dendê) used in preparing the delicious fish stew we had for lunch Just beyond, we found coastal ponds with tea colored waters and wetlands with rainwater accumulated during the rainy season. Amongst the adaptations to such an extreme environment we saw a true botanical parasite happily thriving over a shrub. Its yellow color gives away - no chlorophyll production here! 'Just let me feed 'intravenously' on someone else! No leaves needed !
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