Salvador Centro Historico seems to attract many tourists. And we ran into French President Emmanuel Macron, in town for a development conference. Having observed him working for 15 minutes, I was able to confirm my long time suspicion - politicians are a different species from me. From the point of view of an introvert: how exhausting!
One day we walked to Centro, passing by many monumental buildings, ending up at the Lapa Line 1 CRR Metro Station, and were shocked by the bustle. It then dawned on us; the locals have all but decamped from Centro Historico, where only tourists roam. Brazil is highly heterogenous. Every place you go is different, every city/town, neighborhood, street....
Just after arriving at our apartment in the Pelourinho District of Salvador, we set out looking for a supermarket and ran into a street drumming group. Wow!
First thing the next morning, we rode the (now free) Art Deco Elevador Lacerda down to the Lower City and visited the truly atmospheric Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, and the round Mercado Modelo.
Street scenes.
The heart of the historic center is Largo do Pelourinho which we visited at least once every day. ;-)
Beyond the Largo do Pelourinho is the Ladeira (Slope) do Pelourinho which leads to the tasty food at Rango Vegan Restaurante.
The "ice cream" Rosetta Stone.
The Port.
The beautiful Aleixo Belov Foundation building. With Caryatids!
Capoeira Demonstration
Banda Didá Drummers
The very opulent and heavily gilded Cathedral Basilica of Salvador
The Church of the Third Order of Saint Francis has 55,000 amazing azulejos (blue tiles) from Portugal, not to mention an Art Deco crypt.
A few more photos.
Bonus Video of an above ground Metro train.
