Within Salavor itself was a multitude of neighborhoods. The beautiful old city of Pelourinho charmed with its historic buildings, The area of Porto da Barra was ripe with beaches, food vendors and local flavor. The Barris neighborhood is the modern, hip part of Salvador, not far from Porto da Barra.
After a couple of lazy days enjoying the neighborhoods near our hotel, we packed a lunch and some drinks and headed to Itaparica, an island in the bay.
Itaparica was a little less touristy than Pria do Forte and a visit is highly recommended. Horses and mules mixed with cars and trucks. Banana and coconut trees are everywhere, large, cold bottles of beer and traditional meals can be had at any number of beachfront cafe's for pennies and the beaches and historical sites are plentiful.
Salvador and the surrounding areas are a choice destination for those
living in the northern US because it's warm year round and, unlike most
of the Carribean, it isn't over developed and commericalized by the big
multi-nationals.
I found a great deal on my flight at Changs travel in Somerville, right next to a great PASTEL FRITO place. Varig has the most flights to Brazil and you must connect in Sao Paulo to get to Salvador.
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| A day's catch in Pria do Forte | One of the wonderful restaurants in Pria do Forte |
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| Colorful shops nestled in lush foliage. | Back in Salvador, local boys practice Capoeira, a Brazilian style of Martial arts. |
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| An ornate sculpture outside a Salvadoran church. | The locals flock to the beaches. |