Bohemia

Trip Start Jun 26, 2008
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16
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Trip End Jun 2009


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Where I stayed
Pousada Hilmar, San Antonio
(Salvador hotels)

Flag of Brazil  , State of Bahia,
Thursday, September 11, 2008

Arrive in Salvador at night and the airport is nice and modern which makes a change from all the tiny rural bus stations we ahve been through. Roads into the city are modern. Big place clearly.
We get into the old part of town, into our modest but nice Pousada. Pleasant surprise as the price is lower than we had thought - BONUS !!

Breakfast on the terrace is great as the place is on the hill looking over the harbour and we have some spectular views. We head into the old town and the place has a definite african feel. Interesting mix of culture, architecture and people. the buildings are a misture of nicely restored and almost derelict with a lot of restauration work going on. It becomes apparent that the place is poor and that the old town is mostly catering for Tourists. After we have been approached several times by people trying to sell you their wares in a forceful way I get tired of the badgering!

Needless to say the rest of the day has a bit of a sour taste in my mouth given these ongoing expereinces. Our plans for the evening are canned as we are sick of being followed and pesteered and do not feel safe!!

So our first impressions of what should have been a good time city are crap! Next day we try again and decide a different tact, we head off into to Barra as we need to find a decent internet cafe and get some things at real NON tourist shops. Wow !! What a difference, real people, no badgering and we have a great strll along a few beautiful beaches and end up doing a tour of the fort at the end of the bay - Great times. We see a different side of Salvador and decide we really like the place.

The rest of our time we enjoy a couple of really good things like a trip through Cassa Miscordia and have lunch at the Cookery School which does food by the kilo and is full of locals.. Excelent food at very affordable prices.
A trip through the slave church is also worth a visit - Very enthustic tour given in Portuguese - very entertaining !!

We buy very little in Salvador however the trip down to the market on the harbor is a good place to find some small silver charms for Ems charm bracelett!

Advice to anyone travelling to Salvador is there are some great places to have drinks or dins on the hill in San Antonio. The views are super!!
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