Salvador has an energy and unadorned beauty that will remind of New Orleans in many ways. Once the capital of Portugal’s New World colony, the city has always been the Afro-Brazilian jewel. It's like a museum of 17th- and 18th-century architecture and gold-laden churches adjacent to decaying hostels and home that are covered in beautiful graffiti. More importantly, Salvador is the nexus of an incredible arts movement. The residents of Salvador (Os Soteropolitanos) are always close to reasons to have a festival and, as a result, they happen frequently, with drum corps pounding rhythms against the backdrop of colonial buildings almost daily. At night, capoeira circles form on plazas but they are pretty touristy and should be avoided; instead try find a capoeira club, "donate" and watch them practice. While the scent of acarajé (bean and shrimp fritters) and other African delights fills the air be wary!!! A lot of the cuisine is made with palm oil, not olive oil, which for many western digestive systems means a punishing experience within a bathroom during the morning after any festival. Elsewhere in town, Salvador is dream retirement and second-home location for many Brazilians; which means outside of the historic Pelhorinho, high-rise hotels and condominiums are sprouting everywhere.
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Adrian AntaoI have taught High School English in the South Bronx for the past four years and have been a teacher for ten years. |