Salvador da Bahia
Last day in Salvador.
We stay at the campsite to rest and maintain the camper.
We had a crush on this city ... The beauty of the various neighborhoods, the cultural richness and the atmosphere make us attached to it.
Salvador da Bahia
Since our arrival it ‘s very hot : 35° during the day and 21° at night plus high humidity ... it’s quite tiring.
We return to the center to visit the neighborhood "Bonfim" and more particularly the a" Basilica Nosso Senhor Do Bonfim.
It is the most representative monument of the inseparable philosophical religious system of Salvador de Bahia.
Built in the 18th century, its architecture and decoration are classic, which makes it its originality,
The multicolored ribbons (fitas), sold locally, but also throughout Brazil, have become one of the symbols of Salvador. These memories of Bonfim must be bound around the wrist with three knots, which represent as many wishes, which will be granted when the ribbon breaks by itself. It is especially important not to cut it, otherwise not to see his wishes be granted
Of course we buy these little ribbons and fix them on the gates of the basilica by making wishes.
Lunch break to enjoy other specialties of Bahia.
Then direction the lower town connected to the upper town by the Elevador Lacerda and two funiculars.
We take advantage of being in town to go to the hairdresser ... It’s not a good idea ... Our respective cuts are not the work of a professional!!
Before leaving the city, we return to the main squares to attend some parades of music schools in full rehearsal.
We are not yet tired of them!!
Salvador da Bahia
Today we return to the tourist center but late in the morning.
The morning is devoted to the website and video.
Our "Uber" drops us off at the "Largo Do Carmo" in the upper town. This neighborhood is beautiful with its sloping cobbled streets and colonial houses of the 17th and 18th centuries of all colors. The vast majority of the houses are home to restaurants, pousadas and other small shops for tourists.
We have lunch on a terrace of a restaurant overlooking the port and the bay.
We then return to the center stopping to visit the "Igleja Da Orden Terciera Do Carmo".
The original church, destroyed by fire in 1788, gave way to a rococo construction (1803). The jewel of this church is a dead Christ (1730) in cedar, inlaid with 2,000 drops of ruby blood and the work of slave Francisco Xavier das Chagas.
On reaching the main square we attend rehearsals of music schools. A small crowd gathers around and dances to the rhythm of the drums. Superb atmosphere.
We learn that preparations for the carnival begin after New Year’s Day. (installation of scenes, decorations and rehearsals).
We take a taxi to the "Museu De Arte Sacre".Housed in the former convent of Santa Teresa d'Ávila, it preserves an important collection of works from the 17th and 18th centuries. Numerous wooden statues, paintings and cult objects, all of great beauty, constitute this remarkable and extraordinary collection.
This museum is located in an area very far from the historic center and it is inhabited by homeless ...Atmosphere not very pleasant ....
Salvador da Bahia
We took the advice of the campsite in terms of security and we left in "Uber" for the historic center located 35 minutes with as little valuable as we can.
We only have on us our bags for cameras and video that we carry across the shoulder, a bank card and some liquidity and the guide of the backpacker.
Nicknamed the Black Rome or Mecca of Negritude, Salvador da Bahía has become one of the must-see tourist destinations.
The city was until 1763 the capital of the Portuguese Crown in Brazil,
The Historical Centre, known as "Pelourinho", was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985 because of the profusion of historical buildings it contains, testimony to the grandeur of the city in colonial times when Brazil was occupied by the Portuguese.
We started our visit with ' The Terreiro de Jesus ' whose official name is" Praça XV de Novembro ". It hosts a colourful mix of people: groups of tourists zigzagging between the different churches, and crowds of onlookers around capoeira rodas. (Afro-Brazilian martial art)
We immediately see the impressive police system put in place... The safety of tourists is a topic not overlooked by the authorities.
* Catedral Basílica: Built by the Jesuits between 1657 and 1672. It has a facade in liais, a stone with very fine grain that served as ballast on Portuguese boats. The interior combines baroque and rococo styles.
* Museu Afro Brasileiro: It is dedicated to African culture in Brazil. Between the 16th and 19th centuries, some five million Africans were deported to Brazil, mostly Bantu from Angola, Congo and Mozambique, and Yorubas from the Gulf of Guinea and Nigeria. Some rooms are devoted to the history of candomblé; you can see 27 cedar panels by the Argentine artist Carybé (1911-1997), Bahianais of adoption, representing the orixás.
* Igreja e Convento Sao Francisco: It is nicknamed «the gold church», a masterpiece of the early 18th century. Carved woodwork of a thousand patterns and gilded it is a profusion of baroque style that adorns the interior. The paintings on the ceiling, by José Joaquim da Rocha, as well as the sculpture by Manuel Inácio da Costa depicting Saint Peter of Alcantara, are admirable. Tiles adorn the cloister.
* Pelourinho: Largo do Pelourinho is located on a street in old Salvador. So called because of the pelourinho (pillory) that was there in colonial times, it was the place where slaves were punished before the crowd.
Lunch break in a restaurant where we discovered one of the traditional dishes of the region of Bahia la « Moqueca » ( kind of pot au feu de la mer) ... a treat!!
In the afternoon the streets come alive as the hours go by. Drum formations repeat either parading or stopping. A crowd of all ages dance with them ... It’s a taste of carnival.
Salvador da Bahia
Before starting, small mechanic work for Christophe.
We noticed that the left gimbal bellows was damaged. When the ball bearings were being repaired, the mecanic fixed the gumy protection by stretching it on the axis instead of installing it tied.
Turning to the left the bellows split releasing grease.
Our " Mac Gyver from Dieppois " peddles the bellows a little while waiting to find a garage.
We have an impression of "déjà vu"!!! and it becomes tiring ...
We reach Salvador 160 km on a well maintained road network.We land in a huge sports club belonging to the Banco do Brazil that accepts motorhomes on its accommodation part in a chalets.
We are in the middle of three swimming pools, indoor gym, several football fields, restaurant.
At the reception the host warns us about security in Salvador and strongly advises us not to walk out of the complex.
Welcome to Salvador Da Bahia.
Anyway there is absolutely nothing around!!
We prepare our programme for the next four days.
ROAD BOOK 170
MAVROS ODYSSEE
