Salvador

After 14hours bus ride we came to Salvador. People tell wonders about it. It's so great, there are so many parties and Capoeira (afro-brazilian dance) and Candomble ceremonies (afro-brazilian religion) and more parties and well, tourists. Well. It is a nice town, at least the antique and preserved part. Yes, there are many parties, but I am really handicapped by not drinking nor smoking. So the guys for me basicly stay equally unatractive and intelectually challenged the whole night. And believe me, approaching strategies do NOT get better as night passes. But well, Anja and me are getting quite experienced in getting rid of guys. On the other hand, we have now seen all the churches. Even the big Bomfim-Church a little outside the center, so we are thinking about leaving a little earlier.

Salvador is the must-see destination in the state of Bahia and most tourist even start their vacation in Brazil in this city. A totally different mixture of people (many more descendents of black slaves than in SP for example) gives the city a distinct feeling. And of course the party district, Pelourinho, does provide a great base for the young crowd looking for Forró and Samba, wanting to learn Capoeira or experiment a Candomble ceremony. Anja and me managed to go to a Salsa party, tried to get away from the Capoeira teacher and weren't really interested in Candomblé, because we had scheduled that for later in Cachoeira. And after two days we already left, looking forward to a night's sleep withoug Reggae-Concert next door.
Oh, and the photos of course. This is the Lacerda-Elevater. Yes, a real elevater. As there are no more slaves to get things up from the lower city to the higher city they constructed an elevater. Costs 50cents (20 Euro cents) a ride.
And there are churches in Salvador. MANY churches. Sometimes even two ov them in the same place. Why not.

Inside this church (the right one), they host a very special statue of Jesus. It is taken out of it's sarcophag on Easter during a procession. The interesting thing about this Jesus: the blood which seems to be streaming out of his wounds is not only metaphorically very precious. In fact, every single drop is a ruby imported from India. All over the statue there are about 2000 little rubies. Must look impressive when the sun sparkles on them during the procession. In the dark room where he is stored away during the rest of the year, unfortunately, you only get a glimpse of it.

And this is how you can sell coffee, chips, bread, cigarettes and anything else a tourist might need in the streets in a really fashionable and practible way. Just stop the truck and buy what you need.
Oh, and that is at the most important church in Salvador. Perhaps even in Bahia: Nosso Senhor do Bomfim. When getting there you get (or you can buy) little ribbons. These ribbons you either tie around your arm, every one of the three knots standing for one wish and than wait for it to fall of on its own, or you tie them to the church (doors, handles, whatever). And it seems to work, jut see all these fotos of people who got their wish fullfilled. Actually, the arms and heads, and feed etc at the ceiling are the replica of healed body parts. A way to thank god for his help. We also saw diplomas, thank-you-letters, medical examinations etc. on the wall.


Photos - later