Bahian Rhythms and Seafood - all gobbled in 24 hours...sniff sniff

So some how I managed to limit my Salvadorian experience to 24 hours. A slight miscalculation with flight times and two days was suddenly only one. After yet another overnight on the bus I arrived bleary eyed to face the mighty centre of Bahian culture. Alas, with only my limited time slot available a scratching of the surface would have to suffice.

So them peops, Salvador is

an endangered species requiring poacher protection

"is the third most populous Brazilian city. It is notable in Brazil for its cuisine, music and architecture. Its metropolitan area is the wealthiest in the northeastern region. Over 80% of the population of Salvador is of Black African origin, and African influence in all cultural aspects of the city turns it into the epicenter of "Negro culture" in Brazil. The historical center of the Salvador, frequently called the Pelourinho, is rich in historical monuments dating from the 17th through the 19th centuries and has been declared a World Heritage Site."

Wow, thanks Wikepedia for saving me a bit of time there. Yes its all of these things plus by all accounts a tad on the dodge side. I stayed in Pelo and was quite happy with my choice. Armed security guards are omnipresent in this area to protect premises and tourists alike. Police are present on every corner and indeed I felt like an endangered species requiring poacher protection. Occasional expeditions out of the protected zone were interesting but the vibe confirmed the requirement for the security. Pelo(urinho) itself is lovely with its beautiful colonial multicoloured houses.

The atmosphere on the streets was electric and I managed to make my appearance on a quiet day. The rhythms of Bahian beats are everywhere and as my mate wikepedia points out its very black in terms of its culture. Honestly when people think of Brazil they tend to think of Rio but the population to the North and indeed the culture seem to have a greater relationship to Africa and the Carribean than old colonial Portugal. I would highly recommend the local seafood speciality if I could remember its damn name. Nelson if you read this help me out bud!!!

Ah yes, that reminds me. My thanks to Nelson for being my guide to Brazilian culture, food and language. You were a star.

All good things must come to an end. Darkness fell and a midnight flight followed with Rio rembling in trepidation at my arrival (obviously).