365 churches, one for each day of the week, build by the slaves brought from Africa. Which gets me thinking… they should have church adventure racing, ‘CAR’ for short. Teams of four; the first team to have a photo in front of all 365 churches is the winner. This could probably be done in 72 hours and make a great fundraiser for some Christian organization, which is not really my field. However, I don’t think that any team could win such a race. No one has ever carried a camera in Salvador for 72 hours without having it stolen, pickpocketed, or robbed at gunpoint.
Yesterday I used this to my advantage. I was standing around watching a street band, and listening to some very good African drumming. I thought, “What if I stand around holding my camera?” Within a minute, a friendly local came over and said, “Cuidado,” and in rapid Portuguese tolled me all about the dangers. I then got two hours of conversation, and the opportunity to learn some Portuguese.
Aside from the begging, persistent touts, and disgusting humidity, Salvador is a beautiful colonial city built in the 1500s. Cobblestone roads, cafes tucked neatly into the walls, and roaming vendors – some actually selling useful stuff.
My favorite activity here is checking out the many capoeira schools. Capoeira is an old martial art that was practiced by the slaves but disguised to look like a dance. It is a beautiful fusion of music, dance, and acrobatic fighting technique. If I had the time I would stay for a few months to study the art.
But it is time to leave the city and head for the hills. Nothing too extreme. Just a few days of pleasant walking through mosquito-infested swamps, filled with crocodiles and anacondas. But there should be some nice caves and waterfalls that I could take pictures of…now where is my camera…
