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INTRODUCTION || GETTING THERE || TOURS || EATING OUT || GETTING AROUND || CALENDAR || NIGHT LIFE || BAHIA INTERIOR || BAHIA COAST || ELSEWHERE || TALK ABOUT IT || PHOTOS || MAPS || ATTRACTIONS || BEACHES || SAFETY AND TIPS || ARTS & CULTURE || INDIAN CULTURE || AFRO-BRAZILIAN || NGO's || GAY AND LESBIAN || LINKS WE LIKE || MARKETPLACE |
  Today,
Salvador, the capital city of the state of Bahia, is considered a
renowned center of Afro-American culture and spirituality. The list of
Salvador's fastest growing exports should include Capoeria, Candomblé
and Carnaval, three products for the soul which refuse to be bought and
sold like traditional goods and services. Like most art forms, they
succeed best when you first give to them. A pilgrimage to this City by
the Todos os Santos Bay is a great place to start. Salvador's
Carnival is arguably now Brazil's biggest. The ability to fully
participate in high energy events as well as a complete integration of
the city's rich and central Afro-American art, culture and music means
Salvador's hotel rooms will sell out before Rio's for the Carnaval
season. How the huge Rio Carnaval responds to this challenge can only be
good news for us. While year-round spontaneous joy and celebration is a
natural consequence of the Carnival culture, the summer months of
December through February offer many special ceremonies and festival
highlights for visitors. A new Salvador Carnival encore festival occurs
six months later in October. Journey
from the lower district to the historic Upper City in the morning on the
Lacerda elevator, enjoy a bounty of beautiful sights, return to the
water in the afternoon before you immerse yourself in the alchemy of
Bahia culinary and cultural treasures for the evening. Remember, Bahia
is the land of happiness and unforgettable discoveries (particularly for
those who plan well).Also
consider before and after Carnaval, there are many beautiful beaches
calling your name. ||
Coconut
(north) coast || Dende (just south) Coast
||
Cocoa (Ilheus) Coast
||
Discovery (Porto
Alegre) Coast Not
going for Carnaval, consider getting into the rhythm with another Bahia
Event.As
the first capital of Brazil, from 1549 to 1763 Salvador is the gateway
to the early and most compelling history of the blending of the cultures
which best defines the Americas. No state of Brazil has a greater
treasure of history and ecology to protect according to
UNESCO's
World Heritage list for Brazil
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| Best City Guides |
  bahia-online.net
featuring the insightful commentary of local Randy
Roberts Helpful partnerships for booking places to stay and abadas for
trios electricos & tickets to camarotes should keep bahia-online a fresh
deep visitor resource for years to come. Good forum for year round event
info. |
|
OFFICIAL
The Rest |
| Getting There TOP |
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carnaval.com/bahia/airports Airport "SSA Salvador, ....The City is over 30 km (45 minutes) and a taxi is fixed at US $28 the executive bus marked Praça da Sé/Aeroporto bus is less than than US $1. Main Bus station or Rodviária is 5 km from the city centre and costs about US$4.50 by taxi from Praça da Sé. It is next to Salvador's largest shopping centre Iguatemi. There
is further info available from Bahiatursa at both locations![[F]](../../../belgium/bahia/events/topic.gif){kind=small}
Bus Companies of Bahia (Salvador locations)
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| Tours TOP |
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Private Guides: At
the Pelourinho you will experience many private guides who will be
showing you their ID cards. Silvia
Vannucci Chiappori is President of Guide Associantion.of Salvador
phone: 245-2047 fax 235-2047Offering
several tours w\ hotel pick-up inc.\ beaches and historic Tatu Tours Conner
O'Sullivan's agency specializing in cultural and spiritual tours, boat
trips and countryside excursions phone 247-9322 fax 237-7562 Avenida
Centenário 2883, Edifício Victoria Center, sala 105, Barra. They rent flats for Carnaval tooLR Turismo Largest
agency w\ 9 types of multilingual tours phone 247-9211Itaparica Turismo Avenida
Manoel Dias da Silva 1211, Pituba (Tel.: 248-3433) Amaralina Viagens Barra (Tel.: 336-1099) Itapemirim Avenida 7 de Setembro 1420 (Tel.: 321-6633) Tapoan Turismo Campo da Pólvora 21, Centro (Tel.: 321-0141) Turbahia Avenida Estados Unidos 60, Cidade Baixa (Tel.: 243-8598) |
| Where To StayTOP | |
Salvador, Bahia by
brazilinfo.com |
 |
| Food & Drink TOP | |
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FOOD has had a central place in Bahian culture since colonial times when
the Baihianas, who now proudly display their freshly made dishes on
street corners, dominated the kitchens of slave owners. Bahian
cooking uses an abundance of West African ingredients like palm oil and
potent peppers. Look for Vatapá: a kind of porridge made from rice
flour, ground nuts,, ginger, mint and palm oil or Xinxim: chicken
prepared with onion, garlic, shrimps and pumpkin. Bahian dishes are
plentiful and served w\ side dishes like forofa de dendé : manioc flour
fried in palm oil. Moquecas (stewed fish, shrimps and other
sea foods very spicy), bobó de camarão (stewed shrimps with
manioc sauce), sarapatel (made with little pieces of pork)
are some of the most famous dishes served in specialized restaurants.
You cannot miss the chance of eating a delicious acarajé, typical
delicacy from Salvador. With their cooky sheets placed in the sidewalks,
baianas prepare this little cake with beans paste, vatapá, shrimp and
hot pepper.
Restaurants by
agendasalvador.com.br &
Baianas de Acarajé
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| Getting Around TOP |
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Orienting
yourself to Salvador's hilly narrow one-way streets is not an easy task.
There is a good bus system which your hotel host may help you to use.
Know where your hotel is located, so can always use a taxi should you
become inclined. Acquiring a Map is always a good idea. The
Lacerda Elevator connecting the high and
low City runs daily form 5am to midnight. There are 2 others Bus: Rodoviária or main bus station is 5km from the City center. Praça
de Sé is the busy bus stop near
the Pelourinho
center at the top of the Lacerda you will get to know.
Praça de Sé
is also the name of the bus to take to visit the Atlantic Beaches as far
as Praia Famengo and Avenida da FrancaTaxis: Are plentiful as is the usual advise about negotiating in advance if you don't see or trust the meter Renting a car is best left to the locals unless your doing a day trip. /bahia/airports/ is our transit guide page for both state & city. |
| Calendar TOP |
A
TARDE ON LINE
Includes a listing of venues w\ phone hombres and addresses.
carnaval.com/bahia/events/ Our guide to annual events |
| NightlifeTOP |
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In
the evening, Salvador's cool winds and outdoor cafes become most
inviting. The Pelourinho, in particular has
tremendous variety of night time activity....The folkloric shows here
are more authentic with very talented musicians and dancers....It is
easy to bar hop in the Barra and some of
the most happening spots will be on Avenida
Setembro de 7. One of the best
places to see contemporary bands is the beach neighborhood of Rio
Vermelho.
Teatro Castro Alves
is home to the Bahian Symphony
Orchestra and the Balé (ballet) de Castro Alves and the occasional
concert.
Teatro Vila Velha is a famous
place to catch a show.
SEX
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| Bahia Interior TOP |
|
Diamond
Mountains ||
Chapada Diamantina Maps & Guides
Estado da Bahia (Official
State web site) |
| Bahia Coast TOP |
State of Bahia
enjoys Brazil's longest coastline
and includes some exceptional beach resorts.
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| Elsewhere in the Northeast TOP |
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The nine states of the
Northeast are: Pernambuco || Piauí || Rio Grande do Norte. Northeastern State of Sergipe by Lonely Planet for brazzil.com Located
519 miles north of Salvador w\ the NE's major International airport
the city boasts a spectacular high-rise beach resort of Boa Viagem
and further out are the unspoiled beaches of Tamandaré, São José da
Coroa Grande, Maria Farinha and the famous Porto de Galinhas. Recife.pe.gov.br O Povo produces an excellent www.carnaval.com/brazil/natal
>
![[F]](http://www.aforum.com/Images/i2/topic.gif){kind=small}
Natal
Cleanest air, closest to Africa, growing international community and miles of deserted sandy beaches to dune buggy.
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| Talk About It TOP |
 Brazil
Forums at Frommers
Bahia Travel Questions at virtualtourist.com
Salvador, Bahia, Brazil Aforum |
| Photos TOP | |
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Manfred's travel Pictures from Brazil on geocities
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| Weather TOP |
| Salvador has a
year-round tropical climate. The city lies between the Tropic of
Capricorn and the Equator and has an average temperature of 78°F
(26°C) year-round while in the summer (DEC-FEB) you can expect
85°F to 100°F. With over 2,220 hours of sunshine a year, there is
little precipitation; most of it falls between April and August .Summer clothes can be
worn year-round, and fashions are very casual. City coasts feature
warm waters for inviting swims. High season is OCT-APR. While
the sea breeze and lower humidity generally keep things fresh don't
think you can do without the sun block lotion.
Weather Salvador
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| Maps TOP | |
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 Salvador/Maps_and_Guides Our image server. bahia/airports/ |
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Tourist Regions of Bahia by bahiatursa || Volta || Costa do cacau || Costa do dendê || Costa das baleias || Costa do descobrimento || Chapada diamantina || Caminhos do oeste || B. de Todos os Santos || Sertão || São Francisco || Recôncavo
Coastal Maps of City Locations by bahiatursa |
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| Monuments & Attractions |
 It
is often said that Salvador has a church for every day of the year in
truth there are about 165 and many of the best are within walking
distance from each other near the historic town center or
Pelourinho. highlights
include 34 colonial churches; the Museu
Afro-Brasileira, which is dedicated to Black culture;
and the Elevator Lacerda,
an Art Deco structure with clanking electric elevators which truck up
and down a set of 85m (279ft) cement shafts in less than 15 seconds
and carry over 50,000 passengers daily between the port and the hilly
historic section of the city.
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![[F]](../../../belgium/bahia/itaparica/topic.gif){kind=small}
MUSEUMS of Salvador
Get to
Know Salvador by the posada encantodeitapoan.com.br
Igrejas/ Chruches &
Museums by
agendasalvador.com.br (15)
Salvador Churches,
Attractions, & Museums, & Festivals & Entertainment by Lonely Planet |
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City of Salvador Parks by agendasalvador.com.br (10) - 6 free. |
| Safety & Tips TOP |
| Disque Turismo (dial tourism) Tel.: 131; Pronto Socorro
(first aid) Tel.: 192; and Polícia Civil (police) Tel.: 197.You
should not hesitate to use taxis particularly at night. Don't carry
more cash than you need and don't hesitate to give it up if
confronted. Don't leave your money where pickpockets can get at it in
crowded locations. Don't leave anything on the beach you would miss.
Carry a photocopy of your passport and don't expose a valuable camera
outside the Pelourinho. According to Lonely Planet "The Lacerda Elevator is renowned for crime, especially at night around the base station" Still its much better to take the elevator than attempt to climb the stairs. |
| Arts & Culture TOP |
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Every Baiano has the potential to be
an artist. As the saying goes, "O baiano não nasce, estreia"
-- a Baiano isn't born
UFBA Universidade Federal da Bahia
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| Indian Culture TOP |
| The nearly 200 distinct Indian societies represents one of the greatest cultural treasures of the world. |
| Afro-Brazilian Connections TOP |
BIBLIOTECA
COMBONIANA AFRO-BRASILEIRA
|| comboni@ongba.org.br A documentation and advisory service about the crossroads between Christianity and black religious tradition. Since 1992, by in Salvador, Bahia (Brazil).
Aging collection of articles, ideas & links. The racial cul-de-sac
By W.J. Nelson for brazzil.com 6/96. The current state of black &
white in Brazil contrasted with the U.S.A. . Zumbi Dos Palmares
By Nei Lopes. Zumbi's colonial story is a great one which has
parallels to the Afro-Brazilian cultural movement today.  African
Links by sas.UPenn.edus ||
Travel ||
Arts ||
AfricanStudies ||
Black/African Resources ||
Africa Links by Country ||
maintained by Ali B.
Ali-Dinar Phd.The
web's #1 guide at University of Pennsylvania, receiving almost 150,000
visitors per month.
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| Portuguese
colonizers mixed with the native Indians and African slaves (mostly of
Yoruba and Quimbundu origin,
corresponding to modern-day Nigeria Benin and Angola). Dutch and
French colonization also took place in the Northeast.
Museu Afro-Brasileiro a fascinating insight into afro-Brazilian culture, with sections on candomble, capoeira and Carnaval. Candomble followers dress in white and honor hundreds of native deities in terreiros (or cult houses) all over the city, it is possible to witness ceremonies as some terreiros accept visitors as long as they dress accordingly and are respectful. Candomble
Directory by bahia-online
"addresses and telephone numbers for some of Salvador's principal terreiros de candomblé. I think that intending observers should be aware of the fact that, from their point-of-view, the ceremonies may last a long time without a lot of the dramatic highlights they may be expecting. " Capoeira Directory by bahia-online Find 13 mestres |
| NGO's Non-Governmental Organizations TOP |
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info-ong@ongba.org.br
An open space for the exchange of information and documentation concerning the activities of our 19 NGOs dedicated to improving the Environmental Educational, Social Action, and Trade Unions of Bahia Arts & Youth NGO's of Salvador by carnaval.com Featuring
insightful comments by volunteer
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Volunteer
work by bahia-online Projeto Axé, Action for Brazil's Children (the ABC Trust), Didá, Bagunçaço, and Mãe Preta |
| Gay & Lesbian TOP |
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In town, Avenida Sete de
Setembro, around Praça da Sé and Praça da Piedade, as well as
Pelhourino's Praça Pedro Arcanjo, are known cruising areas.
Saturdays at Farol da Barra beach and Sundays at the Barraca Aruba,
a beach kiosk at Praia dos Artistas. Grupo Gay da Bahia ggb.org.br Rua Frei Vicente 24, Pelourinho (tel. 071/321-1848 great resource for gay travelers info on recreational opportunities as well as on local social issues.
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| Lists of Links TOP | |
REDE-BAHIA
By Universidade Federal da Bahia (Portuguese mostly). City government at pms.ba.gov.br || state of
Bahia.ba.gov.br/
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"The
phrase "cut the atmosphere with a knife" is often over used, but
in the case of Salvador it is an understatement. In all my
travels (109 countries on every continent) I have never visited
such an electrifying city and that includes Rio. Perhaps it was
the fact that it was Christmas but the city was alive with
music, you haven't lived until you have heard "White Christmas"
to a samba beat. ![[F]](topic.gif){kind=small}
Travel Tales & Tips to
epinions
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| Shopping TOP |
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Mercado Modelo Located in the former customs building Praça Cayru, Comércio (just across from the Elevator Lacerda), the Mercado Modelo has around 300 merchants Also known as Feira de São Joaquim its a well known landmark, located down on the water just beyond the ferryboat terminal. Sete Portas (Seven Doors) Salvador's other primary "open air" market, within long walk of Pelourinho via Baixa dos Sapateiros, close to Santo Antônio. Shopping Center by agendasalvador.com.br/ (13) CAPOEIRA |
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To Top of Page To Carnaval Home Page (restores frame menu) 28JAN05 |
Salvador's
most visited and famous churches. Built in 1745, the City knows it
as the shrine where wishes are expressed and miracles happen.
