Salvador Mercado

Pelhourino Square
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Today I took a little trip around the city and visited the fort, the lake with its giant figures representing the orixirs and the mercado ( market) where I had a wonderful time buying all kinds of colourful Bahia textiles.

The church & convent of St Francis (Sao Francisco) is a must see in Salvador.

The cloisters are a masterpiece in themselves covered with blue tiled mosaics brought from Portugal and inspired by the paintings of flemish artist Otto Van Veen.  The church is an excellent example of early Baroque with the carvings completely covered with gold leaf.  A guide was overheard to say some 2 and a half thousand kilos of gold were used.                                                         Afterwards I had lunch in Pelhourino square a delightful cobbled area with a great range of shops & cafes but a dark past. This, apparently, was where disobedient slaves were punished and even hung.

A ribbon seller outside the Bonfim church
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Fly back to Rio tonight for my last 2 days in Brazil.