A long holiday in Brazil traveling from Salvador de Bahia to Olinda

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Brazil 2006
Salvador-da-Olinda
Starting November 18 and return December 4, 2006

... After many vicissitudes (see bankruptcy Varig) arrived on the day of departure for this remote and vast country!!
This time we are only two selves, Giancarlo and Marinella.

18/11/06 - starting with the Iberia flight from Venice at 08.00, arrival in Madrid at 10.30 and then 12.05 pm connecting flight to Rio where we will arrive at 19.40 (local time) and then catch a flight with TAM Salvador where we will find the taxi that takes us to the hotel booked via internet. Hotel Solar dos Romanos is on Rua Alfredo Brito-tova-Pelourinho which is the heart of Salvador.
We are very tired after a shower and fast way to sleep ... as Brazil awaits us.

19/11/06 - First day of discovery of Brazil, or at least a part of Salvador Bahia ... namely the African soul of Brazil, in fact n this region we have a large percentage of people of color descendants of African slaves imported by Portuguese colonists.
Our hotel is located at Rua Alfredo Brito, in the heart of Pelourinho, then after a good breakfast we go out armed with cameras and a great desire to explore, we arrive at Terreiro de Jesus at the center we have a fountain and the two sides of the Catedral Basilica el'Igreja Sao Pedro dos Cérigos surrounding buildings and the bright colors, we continue to Cruzeiro de Sao Francisco, named for the cross that is in the center of the square, here we visit the Igreja de Sao Francisco and the convent of baroque style . Even in El Salvador as in other countries colonized by the Portuguese and Spanish, the number of churches is impressive ... they say that there are 365 churches in Salvador, one for each day of the year!
This really hot and then there's really so much moisture and then we decide to freshen up a bit and we stopped at a bar in Terrier de Jesus and drink good coffee and fruit juice ... ok now you can start over. Continue towards Himself Praca with its L-shape and many women dressed as "Bahian"
obviously want to be photographed for money (as much as 5 euro !!!!) go ahead and arrive and arrive at the famous Lacerda Elevator that links high with Cidade Cidade Baixa, and enjoy a nice view over the bay. Things to see when the time passes quickly, Terrier de Jesus and in return we stop at the Cantina da Lua and tasted acarajé ie pancakes made with brown beans and dried shrimps fried in olive dendêns ... not bad but a bit 'pesantine .... .. okay cerveja good and so new!
In the wandering, of course, we do not forget to visit the myriad of souvenir shops already thinking about what to buy. ... We went into a travel agency (C & C-tourism Embratur) and see what are the possibilities for exploring the city nearby Salvador. Decide to opt for excursions to the Baia de Todos os Santos, Praia do Forte, Santo Amaro and Cachoeira-Sao Felix all for R $ 250 (about 94). Well for the next three days we are okay.
Now is your time to return to the hotel and after a nice shower (gets really hot!) We prepare for our first dinner in Brazil, after shooting some 'dos Artistas all'Encontras we stop and taste the famous "moqueqa" fish ... I would say its good! It tastes a bit 'special that I will understand in the days following, is given by the manioc flour that Brazilians use a little' everywhere
I must say that my first day was pretty full, we decide to go to sleep even though in Salvador in the evening there's always some party or religious or pagan: Any excuse to have fun with music!
20/11/06 day hike to the Baia de Todos Santos od: Departure 8.30 am from the hotel and transfer to the marine terminal for boarding. Really nice to see Salvador from the sea ... The ride was blessed by the music and the joy of three boys and a little 'singing, a little' dancing, a little 'come to admire the view Ilha do Frade .. truly a beautiful sight . Upon arrival you must pay 7 R $ (???), after a short walk to get to the beach and is strongly recommended to a small climb up to a half-ruined church from where it has a really beautiful landscape. We get anxious to dive into this beautiful and warm sea ... wonderful! We settle on the beds that are not paid, and enjoy the sun and the sea, of course, after a little 'come the souvenir sellers and the sound of a band that began performing in the berimbau capoeira, that even if the use and consumption of tourists is really nice and great to see these young guys who have amazing agility. Unfortunately, time is short and after only two hours of relaxation we have to leave to visit the island of Itaparica, the largest of the Bay. After a bit 'you get there and who wants to can have lunch in a nice self-service. Tour bus discovering the island's colorful small houses in a silence almost unreal. We stop at Fonte de Bica, a source of mineral water with three faucets: youth - health - love ... better to drink from all three. ... You never know .... Here is a group that exercised in capoeira but every ... Once someone stops to look at are ready to ask something ... It 'time to go, this trip is over we go back to Salvador enjoying a beautiful sunset from the sea. Once off the agency to find a taxi to take us back to the hotel, before returning to the hotel we pass from another agency to see the options to go to Morro de Sao Paulo. Given that the stories read on the internet, from what was said by the inhabitants themselves but by people who were already on the way to the Morro catamaran is not the best because the sea on that point and always a little 'pissed at this because ... clash of the different currents which can then make the crossing .. say ... not pleasant. Unfortunately I also adore the sea can not stand a lot and then we opt for the solution flight, although more expensive, but definitely quieter and faster. Book a flight with the Aerostar A / R R $ 360 per head or about 135 euros for the day 23/11. Every so often we must also treat them well. ... While we are also book lodging and why not, since leaving at 12.30, first, with the same taxi driver who will take us to the airport, we agree to visit the Igreja de Nossa Senora do Bonfim.
Well, we did everything we can now return to the hotel and think about where to go to dinner. Oh I forgot we change hotels tomorrow, we go to the Quilombo do Pelo seems nicer than where we are and above all it is cheaper. Mamabaia dinner tonight with a good plate of meat ... the meat here really exquisite looks like Argentine beef. Last night in Salvador there is a great chaos, there are several bands playing in the streets their drums and other instruments, just put on the door of the restaurant and watch the colorful parade of those groups ... I think that is really still in Salvador Carnival! !
21/11/06 - 7.45 am departure for Praia do Forte. During the trip the guide will show the coast of Salvador and its beaches where we see several people doing gymnastics on the beach or just a bit 'of footing. We travel along the coast and we arrive at the lagoon Coqueiros Abaete, really nice place with white sand and the water a dark green, short stop for some photos and the way to Praia do Forte, very touristic place, where we go to visit the Tamar project for the protection of sea turtles where we see some species of turtles and tortoises newborn.