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We arrived in Salvador Da Bahia Brazil yesterday. This area was first discovered by Vicente Yahex Pinzon who landed a bit north of here in 1500. Pinzon was also the captain of the Nina (from the Nina, the Pinta and the Santa Maria fame with Christopher Columbus). Next to arrive was Cabral who landed at Porto Seguros (or Safe Port) at what is now the town of Porto Seguro. He landed here to claim Portugal’s rights to the territory and called it Ilha da Vera Cruz (Island of the True Cross) thinking he was on an island rather than a continent. Oops, slight miscalculation!
Next, Amerigo Vespucci arrived in 1501 AD and he came into the huge bay on which Salvador is located and, because he arrived on All Saints Day, named the bay Bahia de Todos os Santos (Bay of All Saints). Later his name was given to the entire continent (first South America) via the latinized form of of his name by a mapmaker in 1507. He must have had a good PR person!
Founded in 1549, Salvador was the capital of Brazil until 1763 when that status was granted to Rio until the baton was passed on to the modern day capital Brasilia. With nearly 3 million residents, over 80% are classified as Afro-Brazilian, due to the huge influx of 1.3 million slaves coming from Africa until slavery was abolished in 1888. The original Caete Indians were converted to Catholicism but also died of various diseases or fled when the third governor approved a “just” war against them after they ate Brazil’s first bishop (yes, that’s right — they “ate” him…or, a good part of his with the remnants being buried here). The imported black slaves have had a lasting effect on this area as they brought their colorful religion, culture and customs with them and they exist up to this day as they do in their sister city on Africa’s West coast.
Today, Salvador da Bahia is still the capital of the capital of the Northeastern Brazilian state of Bahia and is also known simply as Bahia. Surprisingly, it is the third most populous Brazilian city after Sao Paulo and Rio. The historical center of the city, called Pelourinho, has beautiful and colorful colonial architecture and is a UNESCO World Heritage site. There is no shortage of Carnival action in this city and there were still signs of it as we toured the city.
The city is divided into an Cidade Alta and Cidade Baixa or Upper and Lower Town and since 1873 an elevator has connected the two sections of town with the “Elevado Lacerda”. Theold elevator (now abandoned) is above and the new elevator is pictured below.
A quick reason for the title of this blog entry… we almost didn’t even get off the ship. First, we decided not to take the bus tour (we are “bus toured” out for the moment) and then Margaret took a nap that ended up turning into, let’s say, a proper “sleep”. At 4 pm I finally decided to just go out and explore for a bit on my own. In the end, I found a tour guide named Ernesto (pictured at bottom) just outside the terminal and I took a 2 hour tour with him, partly in his van, but a lot more walking.
I was amazed at the vibrancy in this city and enjoyed it quite a bit despite the heat and humidity. Hey, once you’re sweating profusely, how much worse can it get?
I was really excited about the colors and angles in the city and the result are some pretty interesting pictures (if I don’t say so myself!). A number of them, in full resolution, came out looking more like watercoloror acrylic paintings than photographs. That’s art!
I was treated to a beautiful sunset as I went down the new elevator complex to return to the ship. While I have some traditional views of it in the Picture Gallery, I thought that this view reflected in the elevator complex’s windows was unique and visually arrested me (I was immediately released on my own recognizance, of course, although no one seemed to recognize me!). Seems that I’m developing a photography style (and writing style?) 2/3rds of the way through this trip and one of them is to take pictures reflected in windows. We’ll see where that gets me. Hopefully it will at least get me to Ft. Lauderdale!
Salvador, Brazil Picture Gallery: http://travelwithdm.smugmug.com/Travel/South-America/Salvador-Feb-25-2010/25177926_xXk4Wg#!i=2065119033&k=qJfXMVC