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Friday, December 19, 2025

Brazil: Salvador

Salvador was the original capital of Brazil until 1763 when Rio took over. The area not only grew sugar cane but also was the major point of entry for African slaves. Today Salvador, the capital of the state of Bahia and Brazil's 3rd largest city, is still supposed to have the strongest African influence in Brazil.

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!

Security for French President Emmanuel Macron - Pelourinho - Salvador, Bahai, Brazil

The Press Entourage and Security Team around French President Emmanuel Macron - Pelourinho, Salvador, Bahai, Brazil

French President Emmanuel Macron - Pelourinho - Salvador, Bahai, Brazil

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....

Praça Castro Alves (Castro Alves Square)  - Salvador, Bahai, Brazil

Salvador, Bahai, Brazil

Salvador, Bahai, Brazil

Estação Lapa, Line 1, CRR Metro - Salvador, Bahai, Brazil

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!
Street Drumming in the Pelourinho District - Salvador, The Capital of Bahai State, Brazil

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.
The Art Deco Lacerda Elevator - Salvador, Bahai, Brazil

The Art Deco Elevador Lacerda - Lower City, Salvador, Bahai, Brazil

Giant Letters - Salvador, Bahai, Brazil

Basilica of the Immaculate Conception (Basílica Nossa Senhora da Conceição da Praia) - Salvador, Bahai, Brazil

Mercado Modelo - Salvador, Bahai, Brazil

View to Forte de Sao Marcelo - Baia de Todos os Santos -  Salvador, Bahai, Brazil

Street scenes.
Pelourinho - Salvador, Bahai, Brazil

Tomé de Sousa Square (Praça Tomé de Souza) - Salvador, Bahai, Brazil

The heart of the historic center is Largo do Pelourinho which we visited at least once every day. ;-)
Largo Pelourinho - Salvador, Bahai, Brazil

Largo do Pelourinho - Salvador, Bahai, Brazil

Largo do Pelourinho - Salvador, Bahai, Brazil

Pelourinho - Salvador, Bahai, Brazil

Salvador, Bahai, Brazil

Didá Banda Feminina Drummers - Salvador, Bahai, Brazil

Beyond the Largo do Pelourinho is the Ladeira (Slope) do Pelourinho which leads to the tasty food at Rango Vegan Restaurante.
Pelourinho - Salvador, Bahai, Brazil

Oratório da Cruz do Pascoal (Oratory of the Cross of Pascoal) - Pelourinho - Salvador, Bahai, Brazil

Rango Vegan Restaurant - Pelourinho - Salvador, Bahai, Brazil

Lunch at Rango Vegan Restaurant - Pelourinho - Salvador, Bahai, Brazil

The "ice cream" Rosetta Stone.
Rosetta Stone - Pelourinho - Salvador, Bahai, Brazil

The Port.
Port - Salvador, Bahai, Brazil

The beautiful Aleixo Belov Foundation building. With Caryatids!
Caryatids - Fundação Aleixo Belov (Aleixo Belov Foundation) - Salvador, Bahai, Brazil

Capoeira Demonstration
Capoeira  Demonstration - Pelourinho - Salvador, Bahai, Brazil

Capoeira Demonstration - Pelourinho - Salvador, Bahai, Brazil

Banda Didá Drummers
Banda Didá Drummers - Pelourinho - Salvador, Bahai, Brazil

Banda Didá - Pelourinho - Salvador, Bahai, Brazil

The very opulent and heavily gilded Cathedral Basilica of Salvador
Sacristy - Cathedral Basilica of Salvador (Catedral Basílica de Salvador) - Pelourinho, Salvador, Bahai, Brazil

Chapel of the Holy Martyrs in the Cathedral Basilica of Salvador - Pelourinho - Salvador, Bahai, Brazil

Cathedral Basilica of Salvador - Pelourinho - Salvador, Bahai, Brazil

Cathedral Basilica of Salvador - Pelourinho - Salvador, Bahai, Brazil

Cathedral Basilica of Salvador (Catedral Basílica de Salvador) - Pelourinho, Salvador, Bahai, Brazil

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.
The Church of the Third Order of Saint Francis - Salvador, Bahai, Brazil

Church and Convent of São Francisco (Igreja e Convento de São Francisco) - Pelourinho - Salvador, Bahai, Brazil

Church and Convent of São Francisco (Igreja e Convento de São Francisco) - Pelourinho - Salvador, Bahai, Brazil

Church and Convent of São Francisco (Igreja e Convento de São Francisco) - Pelourinho - Salvador, Bahai, Brazil

Church and Convent of São Francisco (Igreja e Convento de São Francisco) - Pelourinho - Salvador, Bahai, Brazil

Church and Convent of São Francisco (Igreja e Convento de São Francisco) - Pelourinho - Salvador, Bahai, Brazil

Church and Convent of São Francisco (Igreja e Convento de São Francisco) - Pelourinho - Salvador, Bahai, Brazil

A few more photos.
Salvador, Bahai, Brazil

The Art Deco Elevador Lacerda - Salvador, Bahai, Brazil

The Art Deco Elevador Lacerda - Salvador, Bahai, Brazil

View to Lower City - Baia de Todos os Santos -  Salvador, Bahai, Brazil

Cine Excelsior - Salvador, Bahai, Brazil

Bonus Video of an above ground Metro train.
Salvador, Bahai, Brazil

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