Experience Carnival in Brazil's Salvador de Bahia
One of the world's largest festivals is less than a month away. Nowhere is Carnival more authentically celebrated than Salvador de Bahia, on the Northeastern coast of Brazil. Salvador de Bahia was Brazil's first capital, and the nation's busiest port until the 1800's. It was also the arrival point of the first slave market in the new world, with many slaves arriving from Africa to work on the sugar plantations. Today Salvador is the center of the Afro-Brazilian culture and the heart of Carnival. The African influence is apparent in most aspects of the city: the spicy foods with their African names; the martial art / dance called Capoeira which can be seen on the streets and in some tourist locations; and the Condomblé ceremonies which arose from the suppression of African deities.
Yesterday's article on CNN describes the Carnival festivities in Salvador. It is slightly less commercial than the celebrations in Rio (see OTR's article about Carnival in Rio de Janeiro), and displays the ever-present vibrance of the Afro-Brazilian culture. Visitors don an abada which is their 'ticket' to follow a band throughout the festivities and distinguish yourself from the pipoca (popcorn), which is the throngs of people on the other side of the thick rope who watch the festivities for free.
The festivities have been well under way since December (see our Calendar of Events). If you haven't booked your tickets you may be sleeping on the streets, during Carnival and the weeks leading up to it, accommodations become scarce and prices skyrocket. Be sure to book in advance and check out our recommendations for hotels and restaurants in Salvador for next year!
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