Bahia in Brief
Hi everyone! After 5 days in Bahia I thought I’d attempt a mini-post to tell you about how things have gone so far. I only have my phone, so please excuse weird typos…
We flew into Salvador, state capital and first capital of Brazil (replaced first by Rio and then more recently by Brasilia). Salvador reminded me a bit of Panama City – large, rather ugly outer city, surrounding a beautiful, historic area that is popular with tourists. In Panama City, Casco Viejo is a lovely wreck of a neighbourhood full of beautiful crumbling facades. The perimeter is guarded by heavily armed police to keep the rich tourists safe.
Check out the phone boxes that look like coconuts!
Salvador’s equivalent is called Pelourinho and is far prettier and better maintained. Lovely old colonial houses, painted in complementary shades, line steep, cobbled streets. The heavy police presence (coupled with frequent warnings from random people) remind you that there are people who’d like to take your valuables if given the chance, but the overriding sense is that this is a city rich with music, history and culture.
Two things I should say now. Firstly, I didn’t really stay long enough in Salvador to be able to say a great deal more about it. Secondly, this is taking ages to type out on my phone and i’m getting lazy.
Other things to mention briefly:
= Since leaving Salvador we have been relaxing in a small beach town called Itacaré, 5 hours south (by car).
= Yesterday we saw a fluorescent blue tarantula – it was pretty much the coolest thing ever and I have some awesome photos (to come later).
These were utterly delicious!
= Today we had some unbelievably good fish cooked up on the beach. It was served with a scorchingly hot chilli sauce (I discussed chilli varieties with the cook).
Seriously hot sauce – I was convinced they used habaneros, but the guy said they used Pimento de Cheiro…
= Today is Brazilian Independence Day (parabéns brasileiros!) – people have been letting off bangers (i.e. fireworks that just go ‘BANG!’) for more than 2 hours. It’s getting a bit annoying now.
= They just stopped – whoop!
I found this to be interesting:
http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/morton/bilimbi.html
It is often referred to as Biri-Biri, and is very popular in Southern Bahia.
The video below – in Portuguese- tackles the subject quite well methinks.
Boa estadia.
Interesting! We had this stuff sliced thinly, served as a garnis alongside crispy soft-shell crab. Rather nice in a sour, gherkinny kind of way. As you say, the waiter called it Biri-biri, but then Ls and Rs can sound pretty similar, as in Spanish-Portuguese Playa-Praia, right?
Jealous! Have fun! ;)
I’m doing my best! ;)
Very jealous! Can’t wait to read your posts and view photos once you’re back on a computer – though not wishing your vacation away – enjoy!
Home at last! Lots of Bahia posts coming up :D
Above anything else, I’m so impressed at how much you just did with your phone. Pics from the phone too?? I would have given up after “I’m on my phone – sooo I’m just going to end this here”
Will always regret not having seen Bahia BUT it’s on my list of places to see upon our return. :) Thanks for the preview!
Hey Lindsey! How’s it going back in Canada?
Heh heh, the phone thing was a bit of an effort – don’t think I’ll be doing that again anytime soon! I definitely recommend a trip to Bahia. We’re back in Rio now, but I’m already thinking about what we’ll do there next time…
Being that you are the king of puns, and applying them to Brazil, then i just have to show you this.
http://www.economist.com/node/21562957
Bom retorno.
Oh man! Even I wouldn’t stoop to “Watt a price”. Interesting article though.
I live a 5-minute walk from the Pelourinho – I wish I’d known about your trip before, I’d have come and said hi! :-)
Ahhh, that would have been great! :) How is life going Shayna? EspressoEnglish is looking very professional!
p.s. Next time I’ll let you know we’re coming and you can show us round town! (or you can be ‘out of town’ that weekend if you prefer… hee hee! ;) )
Working on EspressoEnglish is one reason I haven’t blogged for…. ummmm… the past 4 months. Ack!
Glad you had a good time in Bahia :-) The beaches outside the city are truly amazing. I’ve never been down the southern coast, but I’ve gone up north and there are places where you can walk for quite literally miles without seeing a soul. The other nice part about that is you can actually leave your stuff on the beach while you swim, without worrying about it getting stolen!