Profile
Blog
Photos
Videos
Salvador...... what a contrast to Rio! All we expected and more. Bustling streets filled with music, dancing, laughter, local people on stalls selling crafts and homemade food filling the air with delicious aromas (we have yet to sample due to language barriers and their love of meat!)
Our journey from Rio was a hefty 28 hour bus ride with a 1 month old baby in the seat behind us crying every hour! As well as the air conditioning which was kept on throughout the night without any blankets for warmth except each other. On arrival we were suffering with sleep deprivation and hunger so we were both weak and Dal was close to passing out. This required emergency measures in the form of a cornetto ice-cream (´just 1 cornetto, give it to me......´) Maz feeling like popeye and Dal like the Hulk we caught the local bus to Pelourinho, the historical centre in Salvador. This is a popular backpacker hangout as it is right in the centre of all the action (good if you want to party - not so good when you want to sleep!) Our first night here there was a mini carnival in the town square but because we´re such party animals we were found asleep in our beds!!! Little did we know that a drumming procession would be passing our hostel.....the beats were energising...but unfortunately for this night, an earthquake could not have removed us from our beds (think the other backpackers were amazed at our non-involvement of the festivites) we presumed this occurred every night...we were mistaken.
Were staying in a mixed dorm (with smelly boys), still showering in cold water! Fresh fruits and smoothies for breakfast, few strange backpackers but we guess thats what comes with travelling!
Whilst trying to navigate our way through the city to Lake Tororo, a wrong turn took us into a run down area of the city, a taxi ride quickly carried us out and to our destination. This experience highlighted our vunerability as our language skills are diabolical and hand gestures are our only way of communicating with natives. We suppose unless you know areas they can easily look threatening, following our intuition is a powerful tool that we rely on, its a shame we can´t try to at least experience life of the more deprived Brazillians.
Locals here are extremely poor, beggars roam the streets asking for money, food and can be seen washing in sewage waters.
Despite the poverty Salvador is a really beautiful, upbeat city that has somehow managed to retain its traditions with some amazing architecture that dates back to the 17th century. There are 365 churches in Salvador, one for every day of the year. A fact that Hugo (a local couch surfer) shared with us who we met for a drink. We tried a local fruit known as Áçais which can be found in the Amazonian rainforest. Alot of the Brazillians eat this after a workout for it´s energising properties. He showed us some of the sights including cottaging! Which was just as much of a shock to him as it was to us but made us all laugh. We took a midnight walk along the beachfront which was illuminated by the lighthouse.......a quick drink accompanied by traditional brazillian folk music at our table :)
Last day at hostel, feeling more relaxed, will be visiting a renowned church in the Bonfim,hope to experience local religion known as Candomble, which is a fusion of chrisitanity and African religions.
Salvador is known for its largest absorption of african slaves, therefore providing a high afro-brazillian population, resulting in a wonderfully diverse culture and activities including capoeira which we regularly sit and watch ( a martial art used by african slaves which was incorporated into a dance form).
So to sum up our experience of Salvador so far, a thumbs up for us. Still to stay with Hugo and his family so we´re sure this extension of his kindness will only improve our thoughts of Salvador.
- comments