Our final port of call in Brazil was Salvador – the original capital of this magnificent country. It’s a city not always on the main tourist trail, but one that most definitely should be always included as part of your Brazilian adventure! Salvador is vibrant, colourful, traditional old world, stunning and a place that captured all our hearts.
This city has a strong Afro-African influence and the streets are bursting with happy, lively people, loud music, dancing and bright, souvenir shops. The cobbled streets are quaint, the buildings are bright, colourful and feature spectacular old world Portuguese architecture. Cafes, bars and restaurants welcome you to try amazing culinary delights, intoxicating cocktails and strong coffee. Souvenir shops are filled with drums, clothing of all colours of the rainbow, exquisite jewellery, artwork, bright hats and sarongs.
The main square was filled with bustling market stalls offering international foods, handmade shoes and handbags, churros and drinks, and the constant loud music and beating drums captures everyone’s attention… it’s all so much fun!
The sights were plentiful too, a new harbour area, old world buildings that are now home to museums, castles, forts, a lighthouse, churches and beautiful traditional village squares. The main town area is home to an amazing ice creamery – a real taste experience with many unique flavours, I’m certain they said 120 in all! – and the picturesque scenery is filled with mountains, bright, colourful favelas and a different type of urban ‘sprawl’.
Close to Salvador itself are beautiful beach areas with stunning resorts, modern shops/streets (not dis-similar to what we have here in Australia) , restaurants and also a Turtle Sanctuary; all within an hour’s drive of Salvador itself.
But without doubt, it is the traditional ‘historic old town’ part of Salvador that will etch itself in your heart, and where you will want to spend most of your time – it really is unique, vibrant, fun and a myriad of textures, colours, amazing people, beautiful streets and buildings. You can spend hours exploring the small streets and alleys, sipping caipiroskas whilst watching the world go by, or enjoy a fabulous meal whilst people-watching, just taking in this amazing area.
We were fortunate to stay in the luxury Pestana Convento do Carmo , an old convent converted into a boutique style hotel, perched at the top of the ‘historic old town’ area. The views over the bay and stunning sunsets were perfect from this area, and the hotel itself was amazing.
We were also fortunate to enjoy a ‘New Year / White Party’ as guests of the hotel which was fantastic… think Latin music, saucy ladies, sexy men and flowing cocktails (they really love their caipirinha and caipiroskas!) all set in a traditional, old convent – it really was a night to remember!
Saucy, sexy Salvador should be on everyone’s bucket list, it’s a city unlike any other and very special part of the world.
Caipirinha Cocktail (thanks to Wikipedia!)
Ingredients: Half a lime cut into 4 wedges, 2 Teaspoons brown sugar, 1 2/3 oz Cachaça
Preparation: Place lime and sugar into old fashioned glass and muddle (mash the two ingredients together using a muddler or a wooden spoon). Fill the glass with crushed ice and add the Cachaça.
Served: On the rocks; poured over ice
Standard garnish: Lime, Sugar cane