Salvador

We got lucky in Salvador. The day we arrived was the first day of a major four day religious festival. When the African slaves were brought to the New World, they were forced to convert to
Catholicism. However, many only added new saints to their existing list of gods, or combined
them giving their old gods new saints names to appease their masters. These combined religions,
in many guises and variations, persist today. This particular festival is something to do with a cleansing of the African equivalent of the soul, but is not recognized by the Vatican. So the participants spend four days eating, drinking, dancing, and general debauchery, gradually marching towards their churches with the intent of cleaning them. The churches, acting on orders from Rome, lock their doors. So the revelers content themselves with washing the steps, and all leave the experience happy. I say we got lucky, because you can’t see this type of party at home! Other travelers thought the opposite, because it played havoc with the organized tours many had planned. We had a ball.

The first picture is an overview of part of the parade. Groups of musicians and/or drummers
every 50 feet, each doing their own thing, absolutely no hint of organization evident anywhere.
Great fun to watch, but glad we weren’t trying to penetrate the heart of it.

Also note in the foreground of that picture the building shells, completely gutted of floors and
roof, waiting renovation. There were trees growing in some of these, indicating that parades and parties had a higher national significance than urban renewal.

Another example we saw of local building techniques was this section of a pier. Note the
wonderful Grade A aggregate!


We were able to get into a monastery, and saw some beautiful mosaics. I particularly liked this
400 year old picture of us.

Later in the day we went on a boat tour of the harbor. The first picture shows the boat we’re
about to get on, with our cruise ship in the background. And the second shot shows the newer
part of the city, along with another view of us.