Salvador

Salvador, Bahia was settled by the Portuguese in 1549 and is the third largest city in Brazil (Sao Paulo being the largest and Rio de Janeiro the second).  The city has influences from the Portuguese, African heritage, and the indigenous people.  Salvador was the first slave market on the South American Continent.  

The views in the city are incredible!

View from hotel balcony!  The weather is hot and humid here!  It is a beautiful view running by the Atlantic Ocean.

At the hotel pool around sunset

Pelourinho is the historical center of the city.  Suprisingly, as I am looking in one of my guide books, discovered that Pelourinho means "whipping post," but somehow I had not heard this before on our tour of the city or while visiting the area several times in the past few days.  Several of the churches I wrote about a few days ago were also in this area.

Theatre where we watched Bale Folclorico da Bahia, of Bahia performance, which involved music, dances of the Candomble (African religion where music and dance are part of it), and Capoeira.  Capoeira is an African fight that was brought to the country by slaves, they would do this with music as a way of staying fit and being ready to fight their masters.  It was illegal to do as a slave, so they made it appear similar to a dance.

Historical buildings in Pelourinho.

Before the folklore show

Anne, Cynthia and myself at dinner.

In Pelourinho we saw Teacher's brand of whiskey...It grabbed our attention!

Church in the middle of the town square.

City is decorated for the June parties.

Beers being sold for about .50 cents USD in the historical square.  (Not sure if this is only during the June parties or all the time!)

Our group had the privilege of visiting Projeto Axe, in the heart of Pelourinho.  The program helps children stop living on the street by agreeing to go back home or with a family member and attend school, assist the families as needed, and has the children to participate in a visual or performing arts activities.  The students participate in dance, music, art during the session they are not at school and are given two meals daily.  Sometimes these are the only meals the students eat. Over 1,000 children and families benefit yearly from the program.

Students from Projeto Axe.

Art project students created.

Forte de Santo Antonio, a light house built in 1535, then strengthened again in the early 17th century to help defend the city from the Dutch.

Behind the lighthouse.

View of the Mercado Modelo (the large building in front), built in 1861 as a customs building and slave trade building.  Now it is used as a market for merchants to sell their goods and souvenirs.  Off to the left you can see the Elevador Lacerda built in 1873 (yes it has been updated!) connects the lower part of the city to the upper part.  

Sidewalk in Vitoria area

Mosaics on the walls in Vitoria district.

Statue in the middle of a park in Vitoria which is the indigenous people stabbing a snake (which represents the Portuguese).  Statue is beautiful and rather symbolic.