City Exploration!

Well, well, well. What a city Salvador is. I was there not nearly a day and I have already learned so may great, funny, and valuable lessons. From knowing how to board the bus and getting told to “Fuck Off!” (Pardon me) by a 10 year old who I refused to give a dollar to, and from the Samba to the sunshine, there is a lot to know about this place!

Just to clear something up first though, my dad had asked me if I got to see the President’s State of the Union address…no, I didn’t. But one of the great things is that we have access to some great free news sites and I have been regularly checking the International Herald Tribune which has articles from all my favorite papers: The one and only New York Times, the great Washington Post, and even some Reuters and Associated Press news. So don’t you all worry, I’ve been keeping a sharp on that out-of-touch Texan freak. I, of course, was deeply saddened but not surprised by the confirmation of the man that will be responsible for destroying my future: Sam Alito, However, I was very happy to see that the Democrats stood (almost as one) to show how they felt. Well, enough politics, BACK TO BRAZIL!

Yesterday we were briefed by a Counselor Agent of Bahia to the US, Heather Marquez. She gave great insight into the political systems of Brazil as well as a broad over view of Salvador/Bahia and the country as a whole.

Once off the ship it was time for some housekeeping matters. We went directly to the post office and it was our first hurdle to leap. Let me just say first that I will never complain about the US Postal service again…talk about slow! Let’s just hope the mail gets out faster than they process customers! Once I got the stamps I needed (and man was that tough…especially since I don’t speak a word of Portuguese!), it was off to the bank. More like banks really, we hit up about five before finding one that worked and thankfully, there was an English option on the ATM.

From there it was time to explore. As for this elevator I mentioned, think of it like any other elevator (you’ll be seeing pictures at the very latest Sunday) that takes you from the bottom to the top. The ride is maybe a minute and you are brought up to the Upper City about, say maybe, 100 yards or so (I’m not to good with vertical measurement guesstimates). What amazing views from atop looking down on the lower city and out over the Atlantic!

We had no plan for the day really, it was just about absorbing and observing all this great city has to offer. We sat down in this café after much debacle over where and what to eat. The food was great. I had this sort of grilled cheese sandwich with tomato and PINAPPLE!! It was great. I local beer is also quite nice as well. From there we went to what I called the Plaza Central because I don’t really know how to say that in Port. That was when I had my first valuable lesson learned. On our walk from the café to the plaza, of course there were emaciated children roaming the streets. The problem is, as soon as you give to one of them, you are swarmed like a fresh pile of crap being surrounded by flies. I’d say the smell is pretty accurate as well. Anyway, this little laddy followed us for about 3 blocks and was constantly nagging all of us for just one dollar. Finally after repeatly saying No, no, no, I stopped and said, “Go away! You’re not getting any money!” I was stunned when he responded with the little English I’m sure he knew, “OOOOO, FUCK OFF!!” I almost died! I can be a very caring, giving, and warm hearted being, but hey, in the countries I’m going to, you can’t have that soft heart of they will suck you dry. All of my friends just stood there in amazement as I got this kid to stop bothering us.

Once in the Plaza, there were these natives doing their Dance. The name of the dance is escaping me right now, but anyway, I stopped to take a picture and one of them immediately came running up to me shaking him tambourine and holding it upside-down so I could put some money in it. I threw him the coins I had in my pocket, a whopping 20 cents of real. He looked at me with a dumbfounded look and said, “That is nothing in Brazil.” Well I almost lost it. How dare you be ungrateful for the change I’m giving you! I said, “Sorry, that’s all I’ve got. And I’m sure you don’t take credit cards, so bye!” And I just walked! Again, my friends were in hysterics.

We roamed and explored a bit more and made our way back towards the Ship. Of course we had to go through the Mercado Modalo, wow, wow, wow. I could spend an entire day there. Art work to Jewelry and any other hand made craft you can think it including clothes, shoes, and hammocks. I’ll tell you, I’ll be stocking up on gifts/souvenirs there!

Come night time, it was off to the Welcome Reception. I unfortunate don’t have time to get into it right now because I have to go and board my bus for Praia Do Forte. I’m going there for the night and will be back on Friday evening. It is a rural fishing village and turtle sanctuary a few hundred miles north of here.

Ciao!

P.S. The weather…a steamy 85-95 degrees!