Belo Horizonte airport was a long way out of the city but we could take the airport bus directly from the end of the metro line to get there. The whole airport is still under construction so it was confusing to find our way around to even check in. We took our first Brazilian flight from Belo Horizonte to Salvador with Azul airlines. Salvador, according to our guidebook has more reported muggings and robberies of tourists than anywhere else in the state of Bahia!
We arrived to fog and pouring rain and had planned to get a bus into the city but three buses arrived and sat about and none left so John negotiated with a man who approached us that was not an official taxi operator. We were delivered safely to our pousada on the edge of the old city.
From the street our accommodation looked like any other house in the street. Inside it was very smart and beautifully laid out. The blue front to the pousada.
Our room had an ensuite, a wardrobe and shutters on the outside of the windows.
The street view from our window where we could see boxing practise and zumba classes at night in one of the buildings and hear drums and music at any time of the day or night.
We also had a view of these tortoises on the neighbours patio when they came out in the morning to greet each other.
Breakfast is always included in a pousada and varies from one place to another but usually has freshly whizzed up juice and fresh fruit. We had eggs everyday and fresh bread with cheese and ham. There is always cake and often it is made the night before. Herb tea and coffee is the norm but I was able to get black tea and it is served with hot milk while John could have coffee.
After using the house facilities to get laundry done we spent time wandering the old city. Salvador was the Brazilian capital before Brasilia and Rio. There are a lot more African families here and it seems poorer than other places we have been.
June is festival time and the city is decorated with plastic buntings that flap deafeningly in the squares and narrow streets.
The old city overlooks the port and is separated from the port area by a huge 70 metre bluff of rock. To get down there is an elevator.
or a cheap funicular railway.
We were surprised at the number of French tourists in the city. The souvenir shops line the streets to the main squares and sell pretty much the same paintings, hammocks and souvenirs.
These ribbons are everywhere.
They are sold on the streets and attached to whatever you want to tie them to. We think they are related to Santo Antonio, the patron saint of matrimony.
Street art- painted phone cubicle.
We visited the Afro-Brazilian Museum which had a whole room of these carvings of Candomble gods.
The carvings were so exquisite you could see the movement in the wood.
We had a lot of trouble finding an ATM machine to get money out of. After trying 3 or 4 we had to go to the commercial lower town to find a bank there. Every street leading to the squares and tourist areas were patrolled by military police so we never felt unsafe at all. It was good to see that something visible was being done to prevent more robberies and muggings.
We arrived to fog and pouring rain and had planned to get a bus into the city but three buses arrived and sat about and none left so John negotiated with a man who approached us that was not an official taxi operator. We were delivered safely to our pousada on the edge of the old city.
From the street our accommodation looked like any other house in the street. Inside it was very smart and beautifully laid out. The blue front to the pousada.
The street view from our window where we could see boxing practise and zumba classes at night in one of the buildings and hear drums and music at any time of the day or night.
We also had a view of these tortoises on the neighbours patio when they came out in the morning to greet each other.
Breakfast is always included in a pousada and varies from one place to another but usually has freshly whizzed up juice and fresh fruit. We had eggs everyday and fresh bread with cheese and ham. There is always cake and often it is made the night before. Herb tea and coffee is the norm but I was able to get black tea and it is served with hot milk while John could have coffee.
The lounge looking to the dining table which is in an outside patio.
After using the house facilities to get laundry done we spent time wandering the old city. Salvador was the Brazilian capital before Brasilia and Rio. There are a lot more African families here and it seems poorer than other places we have been.
June is festival time and the city is decorated with plastic buntings that flap deafeningly in the squares and narrow streets.
The old city overlooks the port and is separated from the port area by a huge 70 metre bluff of rock. To get down there is an elevator.
or a cheap funicular railway.
We were surprised at the number of French tourists in the city. The souvenir shops line the streets to the main squares and sell pretty much the same paintings, hammocks and souvenirs.
These ribbons are everywhere.
They are sold on the streets and attached to whatever you want to tie them to. We think they are related to Santo Antonio, the patron saint of matrimony.
Street art- painted phone cubicle.
We visited the Afro-Brazilian Museum which had a whole room of these carvings of Candomble gods.
The carvings were so exquisite you could see the movement in the wood.
We had a lot of trouble finding an ATM machine to get money out of. After trying 3 or 4 we had to go to the commercial lower town to find a bank there. Every street leading to the squares and tourist areas were patrolled by military police so we never felt unsafe at all. It was good to see that something visible was being done to prevent more robberies and muggings.
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