Exploring on our Own

No tours today. Just our own feet, a basic map and a desire to discover the local area. We pulled into the port of Salvador da Bahia around 9 am this morning after watching the coast get closer for the last several hours. Salvador is in the huge bay of Baia de Todos os Santos and as I sit on our deck writing this blog, looking out over the bay land surrounds us. The city behind and beside us and in the distance hills, islands and numerous boats of all shapes and sizes and an oil rig in the distance.

We decided not to do a tour today as the city is right on our doorstep as we disembark the ship. The city here is in two parts, the lower city and the upper city. From where we are berthed we only have to walk 500 metres and we get to the elevator that takes us up 280’ to the upper city. Our plan is to walk and discover the local area, so not straight up the main road to the cathedral etc. We head off to the right of the main area for some great views out over the port. It’s really nice just to wander at our leisure and not have 40 others looking at the same things. This area is really old, being founded in 1549. It’s really amazed us the history here in Brazil. We knew it was old but didn’t realise just how old. The buildings are amazing, colourful, decaying and many are colourful stores selling all manner of goods. After many stops for photos, some shopping and soaking in the surrounds we wander down a narrow alleyway and stumble across a small restaurant for lunch. They don’t speak English and we don’t speak Portuguese but pictures and sign language get us a delicious meal of steak, rice, salsa some floury stuff and some fries. The waiter gestures to us that one of the salsas is mild the other is hot. Philip being the food connoisseur that he is, is keen to taste everything and puts a spoonful of the hot salsa on his rice and then takes a bite. I thought I was going to have to scrape him up off the floor after he had melted, the salsa was so hot. He was speechless for a few minutes and very red in the face. I did have to chuckle to myself. I must say the rest of the meal was extremely nice and it was a great experience to have a traditional meal in a real local Brazilian restaurant. The guest chef on board had actually demonstrated how to make the salsa and the flour stuff several days ago so it was good to taste it. Believe it or not Philip had to go back for another taste of the hot stuff just to re confirm it was soooo hot!

Once we left the restaurant we wandered just a few steps down the street and were confronted with a guy carrying a side of beef over his shoulder into a nearby butchery. No wrappings over it just fresh meat over his shoulder, in 32 degree heat. We follow him into the butchers and were amazed at the cuts of meat and the displays of salted meats on show. Philip was loving it. Also around this area were small stalls of fruit and veg, pineapples, plums, grapes, green veg, stands selling coconuts where they cut off the top and you can have coconut water. The smells assault you as you turn into the alleys with the fruit and veg, meats and fish and piles of rubbish.

After wandering up and down cobbled streets, in and out of alleyways, in and out of numerous shops, clothing, shoes, fabric, haberdashery, food and hardware and not having seen any people that were obvious tourist from the ship for the last 4 hours we decide to start heading back. I have no idea which way to go or how to find my way back. Our map is useless as we are not in the tourist area, so google maps is started and we head in the right direction.

Once we take the elevator down to the lower city we decide to walk along the waterfront. There are some small boats moored near the shore, one being a dugout canoe, which actually looks more buoyant than some of the other small dingys. As we walk along the waterfront we can look back up at the Upper City and can see just how old some of these buildings are. It’s a fascinating mix of ornate buildings, old archways under the roadway, steep banks where there would once have been gardens, derelict buildings, roads and pathways. If only some of these buildings could talk they would certainly have some stories to tell.

By the time we arrive back at the ship we have walked 10 kilometres, mostly on cobbled streets, through narrow alleyways, up winding streets, past history and among the locals and through another UNESCO World Heritage Site. We haven’t visited a tourist site or cathedral but we’ve had an awesome lunch, made some purchases and had a great day in an area away from the tourist trappings. Now for a swim and relax before we meet up with Kass and Ed and another couple for dinner later this evening.

Philips turn to do the laundry ( a few things to hand wash) today so I pass him all the dirty clothes and I head out to the deck for a drink. After a short time I come inside and hear the spa bath going. I stick my head in the bathroom and here’s Philip with the bath full of water and soap suds and the jets on the spa going, “doing the washing”!! I guess it works and is easier than scrubbing by hand. It doesn’t take long for everything to dry as the sun is shining straight onto our deck and our chairs make good clothes hangers.

(P:- An awesome day but would have been cheaper to go on a tour! Not that anyone is counting but, 3 pairs of ladies leather shoes and ladies top later and all I got was to carry the bags!!! It’s a long time since I have seen lifts with attendants, every purchase with a hand written receipt, beautiful smiles and complexions and well dressed people in bright stylish clothes. A fun fun day!! And came back to ship exhausted and in need of a siesta.

A fact or two.

– Population around 3 million

– Ford have a car manufacturing plant here.

– Monsanto have a chemical plant here that produces Roundup, it employs approx 3500 people.

– The MS Veendam loaded 8 x 40’ containers of supplies on board today (to prevent me from getting hungry).