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"Salvador da Bahia" a Salvador da Bahia Travel Page by NedHopkins

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"Salvador da Bahia" a Salvador da Bahia Travel Page by NedHopkins

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NedHopkins   


Real Name: Ned
Lives In: Stockton, US
Member Since: Apr 17, 2003
VT Rank: 1345

 

Page Views: 3,555            Last Visit to Salvador da Bahia: July, 2003      

Salvador da Bahia

by NedHopkins - last update: Nov 22, 2003

Africa in the Americas

Salvador: the Old Town (Pelourinho)
Salvador da Bahia -- or Salvador, State of Bahia -- bills itself as 'the most African city in the Americas.'
That's true if you exclude the Caribbean: Port-au-Prince, Haiti, for one, looks and feels a great deal more like a West African town.

Still, Salvador's claim has merit:
+ Four out of five Salvadoreans claim some 'African blood.'
+ The superb local cuisine, featuring a generous use of dende oil, is derived from Africa.
+ Many customs, including religious practices akin to vaudon ('voodoo'), are derived from Africa.

None of that is surprising. Salvador was Brazil's first national capital (1549-1763) and was the entry-port for most of the slaves brought to Brazil for over three centuries.

Located on a bay as beautiful as Rio de Janeiro's, with some of the country's most beautiful colonial architecture, Salvador also has year-round sun, friendly people, great music, and a well-developed tourist infrastructure.

All the same, see my 'Warnings and Dangers.' In 50 years of foreign travel -- on five continents -- Salvador is the only place I've been assaulted.

INTERESTING TRIVIA

Visitors are always enchanted by the colorful buildings in the old city, the Pelourinho. They generally assume the many hues reflect an artistic sensitivity.

The reason for the colors is prosaic.

In colonial and early imperial times, buildings did not have numbers. Government officials -- notably tax collectors -- identified their targets as 'the red house on the north side of such-and-such street.'

It was therefore illegal to have any two buildings on the same block painted the same color.

Artful tax-dodgers did sometimes arrange to have their homes painted a different color the night before the tax collector was due to visit.

> Add to your Custom Travel Guide [What's This?]

Pros:"Setting; sun and beaches; colonial architecture; tourist facilities"
Cons:"Poverty; safety concerns"
In A Nutshell:"Go to Salvador! It's a jewel."
NedHopkins' Salvador da Bahia Travel Tips

OverviewThings to Do
Tips: 1 - Photos: 1
 
Restaurants
Tips: 3 - Photos: 3
Hotels & Accommodations
Tips: 2 - Photos: 2
 
Nightlife
Tips: 1 - Photos: 1
Off The Beaten Path
Tips: 2 - Photos: 2
 
Tourist TrapsWarnings Or Dangers
Tips: 1 - Photos: 1
 
TransportationLocal Customs
 
Packing ListsShopping
 
Sports TravelGeneral Tips
Tips: 1 - Photos: 1

NedHopkins' Salvador da Bahia Travelogues
Title [Click to view]Travel YearPictures
Rising in SalvadorJuly, 2003 2
Churches and MoreJuly, 2003 7

Comments for NedHopkins about Salvador da Bahia
andrea.d Wed May 26, 2004 12:38 UTC
 Nice page! Greetings from Serbia.
AnjoLuci Wed Sep 17, 2003 16:46 UTC
 Salvador... Oh My!! You sure like Brazil! I just missed not have traveled as much when I lived there. Excelente paginas!!!
acemj Mon Aug 25, 2003 00:15 UTC
 Oh my!! Those marinated lime rinds sound heavenly. I'll try them in October (I'm staying at the Hotel Marazul too!). Great page, thanks.
pepples46 Wed May 7, 2003 04:05 UTC
 the Lacerda looks still great, fine page on Bahia

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