Like her 1 Trips 22 Photos 268 Videos 7

THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS TO SPEAK ABOUT SALVADOR Salvador is the largest city of the nine states of the Brazilian Northeast which contain nearly 39 million inhabitants and some of the world's most beautiful beaches. For the first half of its 500 year history, it was the capital of the New World's southern hemisphere. You can still live this history with its unrivaled collection of colonial architecture as you wander its labyrinth of hills and narrow streets. Until the 19th century, the city of Salvador boomed as a port city with a lucrative local sugar-cane industry supported by a large slave population, and as an international trade broker with easy access to nearby gold and diamonds. 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, 2.Candomblé - Candomblé is the religion developed in Brazil from the syncretism of West African's culture and traditions, which were deported in the New World during slavery time, and the Catholic culture. Among the different aspects of these cultures, the most important is the cult of the Orixás (called also Santos, "Saints", gods comparable to elements of nature as water, wind, vegetation, fire, that participate in every single moment of men's life. The Africans, with great efforts, succeeded in preserving up to now their own traditions in Brazil, fighting against persecutions and prejudice. Nowadays this culture doesn't belong only to the black population, but it counts worshipers from any kind of social rank and origin, from all over the world. The communities of Candomblé, organized like a family around the figure of a leader: Mãe or Pai de Santo, "mother or father of saint", want to maintain and increase the axé; the invisible and spiritual force present in every single aspect of our lives, that makes existence possible. 3.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.

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.