"Salvador de Bahia: african roots are... " a Salvador da Bahia Travel Page by ludogatto

My first time in Brasil was 3 years ago in Bahia State.
Salvador de Bahia is the first capital of Brasil, full of colonial building of the slavery period.
The African culture is a big part of this city and of this region, Candomblè is the mixed 'religion' growned up during the 500 years of slavery in Brasil.
Pelourihno: is the ancient district of Salvador, the colonial center, heritage of Unesco, with little and colored house, beautifull ‘barocco’ churchs with precious portuguese ‘azuleios’, the Jorge Amado museum and a lot of restaurants, pousadas,nigthlife... In Pelourihno you can find free show in the street, like drums bands or capoeira circle. In the square of Jorge Amado museum, near a beautifull church there is a foundation to learn a job to young ‘not rich’ boys and girls: they can learn brasilian cooking, became weiters or learn about music and traditional dancing, so every night you can taste in a good ‘all you can eat’ restaurant a lot of brasilian dishes made by themselves and see a beautifull show about ‘orishas’ of candomblè, capoeira and the slavery history......but they speech only portughese!
Another chance is Balè Folclorico da Bhaia: rua Gregorio de Matos 49 - 55(71)3221962 www.balefolclorocodabahia.com.br
In Pelourino there is carnival ciruit, the most traditional, with drums and brass bands.
Elevador Lacerda: it’a a liberty style elevator that bring you from the Pelourihno to the port of Salvador, take care in this area because there are some thieves, but from the panoramic balcony you can see a perfect view of the harbour ‘Bahia de Todos Santos’.
Mercato Modelo: in front of Elevador Lacerda you can find this handcrafts market, a litte bit more expensive than little family shops, but in the same place you can find tipical regional goods, like women crinolin shirts, crochet works for the table or similar, capoeira trousers or birimbao instrument, wooden crafts, brasilian bikini or wonderfull amaca - ‘rede’ ( amaca is a brasilian way of life, Brasilian put amaca in the patio of a big house like in the balcony at the 12th floor, like in the hotel room or under a palm on the beaches). In front of Mercato Modelo there is the turist pier where you can find ferry or fast boats for the most popular place of the Bahia de Todos Santos, like Itaparica, Morro de San Paolo.......don’t stop to the first ticket counter, but ask price all over, so you can find good bargain price!
Nossa Senora de Bonfin: the most important church for the condomblè people! It’s alonge the way of Orla Maritima road on a little hill: there is a good atmosphere because you can feel the mixture between catholic and candomblè religion. Outside the children want to put you a little coloured braclet with this words: lembranca do Shenor do Bonfin da Bahia. If you want it leave some money to the childs and put it in the wrist with 3 knots, every knots you have to express a wish, when the braclet breake out your wishes will come true.
Barra:is the tip of the peninsula upon Salvador is located. There is Farol da Barra, a lighthouse between Atlantic ocean and the entrance of Bahia de Todods Santos.
Ondina: is a redisential neighborood with hig-rise condos and several hotel,famouse for is city beaches where all the 'povo' go to take a cerveja in a 'barracas' (beach cabanas) listening to music.
Campo Grande and Praca Castro Alves: it's the center.....people came here for shopping, it's the administrative office area, but I like it because you can stay in the middle of the real life in a safe place, like a bahiano, not like a tourist.
There is the Castro Alves Theatre that offers good quality shows like concerts of the most important brasilian singer ( Veloso, Jobim, Djavan....)
If you have a car you can drive all Orla Maritima, a beautifull road along the harbour, whatching all the bay, but you can also see the different way of life beetween poor or rich an luxury quarters, the differnce between the schools, the shops, ......but at the and the brasilian people have everytime the want to smile and to enjoy themselves, they are always friendly.