Exploring With AJ - Brasil
Welcome to Salvador da Bahia, Brasil.
Airline:
We flew LATAM out of JFK. This was not a direct flight. If you are flying to Sau Paulo there are direct flights from JFK. We flew into Sao Paulo, had to walk about a mile from the gate to claim our luggage and recheck in. Then we went to our connecting flight to Rio. This was messy and time consuming. It was easier on our return from Salvador because we didn’t have to retrieve our luggage.
Currency:
The rate is 5.27 real to every dollar. I rounded up and new $30 USD equaled 6 real. I also used a currency converter because I was no good with larger amounts.
Visa:
Currently for US citizens there is no visa fee.
Rio de Janeiro
Corcovado Mountain and Beaches. Board a cog train from Cosme Velho Station for a ride to Corcovado Mountain to visit one of the world’s most famous landmarks, the gigantic statue of Christ the Redeemer. Experience the 20 minutes’ steep train journey which takes you through the dense Atlantic rain forest of Tijuca offering a wonderful opportunity for a closer look at the forest's lush tropical vegetation and to enjoy scenic landscapes of the beaches and city. You will disembark at the top of Corcovado and then proceed up the steps that lead to the top lookout where the towering statue of Christ the Redeemer stands, one of the New 7 Wonders of the World. Your neck will hurt lol from looking up at Christ the Redeemer rising into the sky.
Visit the Favela, where immigrants and the former slaves, who also did not have money and place to live and also started building their houses on the hills without any infrastructure. Although the infrastructure has been highly improved with facilities of the modern life, it is still quite below the general standards of the urbanized city. This trip is a lot of walking down narrow steps.
Sambodrome: the arena where the famous Carnival parade takes place. You will learn about the parade and understand the importance of this popular celebration in the lives of the cariocas (those who are born in Rio).
Salvador da Bahia
Salvador da Bahia is also known as Afro-Brasil. During slavery, Salvador was a major slave trade. It is believed more than 4.5 million Africans was sold into slavery in Salvador. From the moment you arrive in Salvador you feel like your home. Imagine that you are embraced by a sea of faces reflecting your own self image speaking Portuguese. A celebration of natural hair texture which caused plenty of hair envy.
All aspects of Salvador are steeped in African culture. Take a walk at Dique de Tororo park to gaze upon 8 large African Yoruba religious deities that are statues floating in the water giving you a true depiction of how deep the African roots run.
Climb the hills at Largo do Pelourinho to walk in the steps Michael Jackson taped his video, “They Don’t Care About Us.” You can watch groups of beautiful boys and men practice Capoeira. You can stop and listen to live bands, stop for sticky sweeten popcorn with sweetened condensed milk poured over for a tasty treat or fresh coconut water and lemons creating CoconutLemonade made by either father or son. Then go shop the sidewalks for handmade jewelry, unique tie dye tee shirts, African head wraps or walk in and out of shops buying bags and souvenirs.
In the square you can also visit Museu Afro-Brasileiro a museum that showcases artifacts from Benin, the West African country where voodoo is believed to have originated and Central Africa, where many of Brazil’s Africans were brought and sold into slavery prior to the 19th century.
Take in a night show of Balé Folclorico da Bahia. No pictures allowed so you will have to rely on your visual and sensory memory to relive what you experienced in the hour long performance. You watch 5 acts showcasing Brasil Afro culture through dance and song. You feel where they began and enraptured by the storyline.
Hotel I stayed in Fera Palace Hotel. https://ferapalacehotel.com.br/ A 5 to 10 minute walk you will be at the location where Michael Jackson tapes the music video They Don’t Care About Us. Also, so many great restaurants and shops.
FOODS TO TRY:
Brazilian barbeque(for us steakhouse)
Açaí bowl mainly in Rio so good
Caipirinha
Coconut lemonade in Salvador.
Popcorn with sweetened condensed milk poured over it in Salvador.
This is how AJ Excursions shows you SALVADOR! !
