Salvador da Bahia (I): essence and heritage of Brazil

We return to trips and memories... a different trip with tropical, African, colonial, European and, of course, Brazilian airs. A unique mix in an emblematic city with its own personality, with its own culture. An architectural heritage that surprises and a gastronomy that captivates us. Let's go through it again through memory and many photos.

To begin with, it is a city with a very different charm from the rest of the country, it is different from the most famous Rio de Janeiro and has nothing to do with the great city of São Paulo, nor with the south of the country. This is São Salvador da Bahia de Todos os Santos. This is the name given to it by its Portuguese founders, and from there it became the first capital of colonial Brazil and the city with the highest percentage of black inhabitants.

It stands out for its joy, in fact that is how it was called, "city of joy" for its people, environments and colors of its houses, although over time this city has lost some importance compared to the other cities that we have mentioned, but it maintains its essence, the essence of another time and of a cultural mix that is difficult to imitate.

From the sea you can see its buildings, where two draw your attention, on the one hand the Mercado Modelo (Model Market) an institution in the city where you can buy artistic objects and eat something inside, and the Elevador Lacerda (Lacerda Elevator), from which for very little money you can see the panoramic view of the Atlantic Ocean (a bit cloudy that day but very warm sure), the colonial fort and the marine port with sports boats and ferries that will take us to a nearby paradisiacal place (in the next chapter).

Little by little we go deeper into its streets and its history, European and colonial-style facades with a lot of native life (and just few tourists), people live the whole day on the street, in their world, between sloping cobbled streets, souvenir shops and crafts and incredible, authentic and relaxed local restaurants, where you can enjoy that Afro-Brazilian gastronomy with all your senses, such as acarajé, a bean fritter, fried in palm oil. Because at times, it seems like Africa in its purest form, that heritage impregnates this entire area like nowhere else.

We arrive in the old area, in the neighborhood known as “O Pelouriho”, the authentic heart of the city and a historical site “World Heritage” by UNESCO. Upon arrival, we are struck by its squares, very colonial in style, and the church of Nuestra Señora del Rosario de los Negros and the most impressive church in Brazil, the baroque church of San Francisco, beautiful on the outside and impressive on the inside with all its decoration in “gold leaf”. An ornamental profusion that accompanies outside with its stone streets and colorful facades, uphill and downstairs. Such is life here.

And from higher up we contemplate again the views of this environment with so much history, hard and at the same time prestigious, that recovers its dignity with the music and dances of its people in any corner and of course, with "capoeira" (that "kind of dance" originated by African slaves, who used it as a method of training for fighting without it seeming so).

Now we move away a bit, we follow the coast, to the well-known "Praia da Barra" which also inspires songs and where everyone goes to cool off, drink beer and play with the ball, although with very very little space since it is very small the sand space, due to the stone wall, probably from an old defense. And of old use, the Lighthouse da Barra that right there indicates the end of that side of the city, which also leaves us with fantastic panoramic views and a calmer and more relaxed afternoon. It only remains to wait for the next episode, to catch the ferry and embark on a fast adventure through the sea to some dream islands... I say no more.

A kiss from Bahia for you! (that's what is written in this t-shirt).

Thanks so much for reading. Have an unique and happy day!

The text is mine and the photos are mine too ©Duvinca

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