Salvador

26.05.-01.06.11

When I arrived at the airport in SALVADOR on Thursday, 26.05.11 the weather was just perfect…..24 degrees and sunshine!!! Que lindo!!! I took the bus to PITUBA where I could stay with AMAURY, a 33 year old Cochsurfer who could host me for two nights. As we agreed by email the Security guy let me in his flat where I could change and leave my backpack. I was impressed about his flat at it was located in an apartment building right in front of the beach with a beautiful view on the beach.

I changed quickly into some lighter cloth, had a bite to eat and took the next bus to PELOHRINO, the old city in Salvador with a lot of nice churches and its cobble stoned streets. The first day I just strolled around town and really liked the African influence which I could notice everywhere. At 6pm I took the bus back to PITUBA where I met my Couchsurfing Host Amaury. Amaury is a very nice, polite and interesting guy who took me straight away to a restaurant where we met his girlfriend and his colleagues for dinner…..and for the first time in my life I tried "fried pig skin"…..and if you believe it or not it was actually really tasty!

On Friday morning I went for a view strokes in the swimming pool on the roof top of the apartment building and took some great photos from there. Later on I went into the old city again where I just wondered around and required some information about my trip to "MORRO DE SAO PAULO". At night Amaury and I went for dinner in a restaurant not far away from his flat where we enjoyed the delicious but little meat of two CRAPS! It was interesting to talk to Amaury as he has travelled a lot around Brasil and therefore could give me some tips regarding my next destinations.

On Saturday morning, 28.05.11 I left Amaury's flat at 11pm and took the bus to BARRA where I had a reservation for the "Barra Guest House". After I had checked in I went straight to the beach as it was a beautiful sunny day. At night I went to the Jazz Festival with some of the other Backpackers. The venue was outside in front of the Yacht harbour and the atmosphere was fantastic.

On Sunday, 29.05.11 we all went to the "Playa de Puerto Barra" which was packed with locals….BUT it was good fun as there was so much to see and locals where selling food and drinks. At 4pm I caught up with SANDRO another Couchsurfer. He was so nice to drive me to the "CHURCH OF BONFIM" and to the lighthouse over there from where we had fantastic view to the skyline of SALVADOR. Later on we had dinner where I tried again some local dishes recommended by Sandro. Sandro is such a nice guy and so interesting to talk to as he studied Tourism and lived in London for a few years.

The next few days I went to a Massage Therapist as my back was very stiff and sore and in the afternoon I just relaxed at the beach. Unfortunately the weather changed and is was overcast but at least it didn't rain and it was still quite warm.

On Tuesday, 31.05.11 I decided to go to the hospital to see a specialist to check my ears. My right ear was terrible sore for a few days and as it didn't get any better I saw an "ear doctor" at the hospital who prescribed me some ear drops. So I stayed for another day in Salvador which I didn't mind as I was staying at a very nice hostel and I could join the other Backpackers for the TUESDAY NIGHT STREET PARTY in Salvador. Even though that my ear was quite sore from the noise BUT it was absolutely worth going there and seeing the DRUMMERS performing in the little alleys around the old city and listening to the band who was playing at the bottom of the staircase. Wow…what a great atmosphere and everyone was just dancing and having a good time.

As I felt much better on Wednesday (01.06.11) I decided to leave for the Island TINHARE! First I had to take a speedboat to the "Island Itaparica" where a mini bus was waiting for us. The bus ride took two hours and then another 15 Minutes by boat to the beautiful Beach Resort of MORRO DE SAO PAULO.