Blue Skies, Beaches, Architecture, Cuisine, People
by NedHopkins
A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Pelourinho ('old town') has the largest assemblage of colonial–era buildings in the New World. Especially notable are its several baroque/rococo cathedrals.
Live music performances are presented most nights; among the bands that play is the world–famous Grupo Olodum.
The people are friendly and the local cuisine — heavily influenced by the African roots of 80 percent of Salvadoreans — is delicious. Marinated and sugared lime rinds at Uauá, where I had a small dining room all to myself — the very same room both in January 2002 and in July 2003. (See restaurant 'tips.')
Baianas
by acemj
Baianas are the women you'll see dressed in the traditional white hoop skirt, lace blouse and African turban. They represent the cultural impact that bringing slaves from Africa has left on Bahia and Brazil on the whole.
Many of the traditions that the slaves brought with them still persist to this day. The religion of Candomble was brought from West Africa and then blended with Catholicism as slaves got creative while their masters attempted to forced them into practicing Catholicism.
Capoeira, the dancing, kicking, spinning and wildly athletic martial art practiced all over Brazil, but more prevalently in Salvador, is thought to have been brought by slaves from Angola.
And of course, the music in Salvador and all over Brazil is largely influenced by the drum beats and rhythms of African music.
Morro de Sao Paulo
by susanloew
A 2 hour catamaran ride into the Atlantic Ocean can take you to a place entirely different than Salvador. When the city beats of Salvador start to tire you, head to the Islands of Morro de Sao Paulo. No cars, small pousadas, good food, and wonderful beaches. A must-see place to live a different Bahia.
Various
by acemj about Pelourinho for Souvenirs
All over Pelourinho, you'll find souvenir shops where you can buy local crafts, clothing, postcards and the like, however, you might find the quality of the local crafts will be better in some of the finer shops or even at the Mercado Modelo in lower town.
Don't Miss The Fresh Seafood 2 !!
by schurlif about Barravento again
This is, as announced before, the second sea food tip for the phantastic Barravento restaurant which I thoroughly enjoyed.
This time around we're having lunch at 4:00PM, I'm not really hungry but with a tremendous appetite, so I order the 2 cheapest seafood items on the menu because all I really want is a good snack and this I got.... First the absolutely out of this world delicious "Caldo de Sururu", a typical northeastern soup that always comes in small amounts because it's heavy business.....
I have no idea how it's prepared but it's basically the reduced and intensive broth left over from boiling the fish, they add some starch, I believe and lots of spices and I always ordered it with toasted bread and the special mayo sauce of the house which they serve with a variety of sea food dishes.
Well, while in Salvador I became a sururu junkie... If I didn't have at least one per day I got the "cold turkey".... Price for the "daily dose" U$ 4.50
Next came a plate of lambreta mussles, much cheaper than the black long ones that every sea food connoisseur likes.... I was intrigued to see how cheap they were like U$ 7 and tried to figure out with the waiter what exactly they were and why so cheap.... He said these were very common easily found and retrieved mussles that usually are not given too much appreciation to by the patrons....
What ??? Did I hear right ??
They were a whole new experience of their own, no exageration, they were deliciosos !!!
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Barravento on the sea
Meet the locals
Hotel pool (from website)
the menu
