FINALLY IN BRAZIL!!!

Sorry this post is delayed! I should have posted this last Wednesday night after our day but this sun is no joke and a day in if will make you want to sleep- a lot!!

But last week, After 4 long days at sea we finally arrived in Salvador, Brazil.

Todays guide was Nevil and he was first and foremost a linguist- speaking 14 languages including Mandarin and 4 African languages. I’d have to be honest he was a much better linguist than a guide but we muddled through.

A little history on Salvador. Founded in 1549 on a small peninsula that separates Todos os Santos Bay from the Atlantic Ocean on the northeast coast of Brazil, Salvador de Bahia became Portuguese America's first capital and remained so until 1763. Its founding and historic role as colonial capital associate it with the theme of world exploration. One of the country's oldest cities, Salvador was founded in 1549 as the capital of the Portuguese colony of Brazil by Tomé de Sousa, the first governor-general. As the entrepôt of the thriving sugar trade that developed along the bay shores, the city soon became a tempting prize for pirates and enemies of Portugal.

We started our day at a local beach where ice cold coconut water awaited us. We then drove past one of the islands many Forts. To a small lagoon where African religious statues are in the water. Each statue represents a different “god of”. Streams and rivers, the sea, health etc. Amazing how as Africans came to be in Salvador they brought their religion with them.

We drove by the Barra Lighthouse which was sitting atop a hill watching all below.

Hungry we stopped for a lunch that was Dre’s dream. Meat, meat and more meat! In Boca de Rio it was a Churassco restaurant and I hate that I’ve forgotten the name but if you’re familiar with Fogo de Chao in Los Angeles it’s the same. You have a circle on your plate that says YES OR NO (I’m stuffed- my addition). And incredible salad bar and every 5 minutes a waiter is there offering to slice off a piece of chicken, steak, lamb, sausage… name it! It’s all on sticks just off the fire.

Me not being the biggest meat eater was THRILLED to find Asian cucumber salad that I devoured - after 4 days of crap ship food (saving life onboard for another post) and we were stuffed!

Had to take a pic of the ladies toilet which came with toilet paper AND a hose to spray ya down. I mean I’ve used a bidet but this was a little much in a public restroom! Spray away I guess!

I was just awestruck by the mix of colorful colonial buildings vs the tiles on others- so many abandoned but if you close your eyes you can imagine what they must have been like in it’s day.

We then drove up to a very famous church. All over Salvador you’ll find vendors selling colorful strings. Well there’s a story about the church and ribbons. These “wish”ribbons from Bonfim Basilica are colored and about a foot long. They were said to be blessed by the Priests. The Bonfim church has a history of creating miracles. There’s an alcove to the right of the church where mold of arms, feet, photos of those previously sick. It’s filled with notes, photos, and even prosthetics from families and groups that made the pilgrimage in search of a miracle. These notes are embued with gratitude and hope, and even the miraculous cures that occurred after the visit.

Whether the miracles predate the ribbon or vice versa is up for debate, but the ribbon itself dates back to 1809. The ribbon, which is now worn as a bracelet, was initially worn as a necklace, dyed gold or black, and had small charms attached. The length of these original ribbons (known then as the “measurement of Bomfim”) was 47 centimeters, the exact same length as the right arm of the statue of Christ that sits on the altar of the church. These ribbons were blessed by the church priests and were said to result in miracles for the wearers.

With time the tradition disappeared, and the ribbons were more or less forgotten. Then, in the 1960s the ribbons were revived, but this time as a souvenir for tourists. And with that revival, the tradition also changed slightly. In the current incarnation, the ribbon is now worn around your wrist. Someone ties the ribbon on your wrist — slowly tying three knots. As each knot is tied, you make a wish. With time the bracelet will naturally fall off (my first fell off after three months, the second after three years), and when that happens, your wishes will come true.

Needless to say I got ribbons and prayed HARD for God to bless me with a miracle for my health.

We ended our day with a long drive down the coast where even on a Wednesday the beaches were packed with locals enjoying the water, a beer by the beach, families teaching kids to swim.

A quick final stop at the Mercado Market where locals sold their “wares” and a Brazilian woman who insisted on my trying on a top that was way too small- made worse as she pulled a string and it literally sandwiched my boobs together! Yeah not my thing but many women in Brazil are in clothes one would think we’re 2 sizes too small but they LOVE that. I decided not to traumatize the locals any further. To make matters worse she tied it so tight she needed to use her teeth to undo it. Let’s say if you were watching us from the back it must have looked a little strange- her head buried in my boobs. Thank god she found her way out!

It was a lovely introduction to Brazil- prepping us for our next stop Rio de Janeiro!