Barra at Night 17.2.2012

Barra

It was my first time joining the parade, really exciting.  This time, they are featuring Daniela Mercury, is a Brazilian axé, samba-reggae and MPB singer.



We were all stirred up.  I could join the croud singing, dancing even I knew little Portugese.

Various parade teams follow.

Barra 17.2.2012

Barra

After waiting for half an hour and found that the friend did not keep his promise to come, I went with my new acquaintance, an Austrian friend, to Barra.
[Finally, I found out that the meeting time was deferred one hour, anyway, see him no more]
  
MUSEU NÁUTICO DA BAHIA - Farol da Barra
Forte de Santo Antônio da Barra
I walked all the way around the lighthouse.

I could not stay all the way till sunset, but found the following pictures in the net for the night views.

 
 

 

As it was too hot, I went into the water for a dip few times when strolling along the beach

This was the first time I saw performance on the truck with loud background music

Normally in the day time, the shows were for children and there were lots of cartoon characters

Strange picture, right?  There were actually two persons standing in line.  There were hawkers selling toys like water guns, masks, fake hair, etc.

We needed to take some rest and bath in the high temperature.  When getting back to the old city, we ran into other parades.

Did not understand why they liked to dress as cattle.

Carnival 17.2.2012

Carnival in Salvador - Old City

Carnival officially started on 16-2-2012 (from Thu to Tue).

The only lady team for drum set performance

Traditional Bahia lady dressing

Snapshots along the streets
 

Boat trip to Ilha de Itaparica 16.2.2012

Salvador

Weather in Brazil changes fast.  This was a sunny day.  I joined a boat trip tour at the hostel and a guy came to my hostel and fetch me to the harbour.  We went down to the lower city to the harbour for the boat trip to the outlying islands.

There is the sculpture found in front of the harbour.


Elevador Lancerda from the below

Got on the boat

Small island just outside the harbour of Salvador, seemed sunny right?

But actually, it was a little bit cloudy

We arrived at the first stop. You could see the boat from the far side.

A church under construction.  

As a tourist. I was curious to look around the place.  However, it was quite embarrassed to find that I walked into a house of somebody as they were picnic at the courtyard and I thought the place was open to public.  I apologised and escaped as quickly as I could : =

Then we could just stay under the umbrella for sun bathing


At the second stop, we arrived Itaparica.  Sight along the road

A strange flower - the bulb just open upon rubbed with hands

Fort of Sao Lourenco

It is a plaza for the tourist, with luxury shops.  Just outsdie the plaza, I ran into a man holding a big fish.

 

 

A fountain with miracle.

Salvador 15.2.2012

Nosso Senhor do Bonfim

Although it rained in the morning, It turned bright and sunny at noon.  I took a bus ride and explored my way to the Bonfim Church.

The Bonfim Church was built in 1745 and is one of the most popular sites for religious pilgrimage in the country.  People come from throughout Brazil to pray for jobs or cures, or to give thanks for miracles attributed to Our Lord.



The church was built by black slaves, hence the predominance of black saints on display.

There is a Miracle Room which is filled with photographs of those who have reached a state of grace, and plaster casts of limbs or organs belonging to devotes cured through divine intervention.


There are many colourful ribbons for sale printed with the words Lembrança do Snor do Bonfim da Bahia (Souvenir of Our Lord of Good Ending of Bahia).

 

Some downloaded pictures

 



 

Salvador 15.2.2012

Pelourinho

Today is a rainy day.  I planned for my first stop and Church of St. Francis is the nearest to my hostel.  Actually, there are many churches along the street,  Largo Terreiro de Jesus.



An old church which is closed.


Igreja de Sao Francisco

It is a famous church in the area.

 

Yes, because of its goldplated altar.
 

Everywhere is shiny.
 

 

I was stuck in the church as it rained heavily.  This picture was taken before the pour.  The place was flooded afterwards.


There were many bible stories printed on the tiles along the 4 corridors.

Venerável Ordem Terceira São Domingos Gusmão

Another church near Praça da Sé to be visited, with different style

 

with a modern altar

Praça da Sé

From here, I could oversee the harbour. and the lower part of the city.

Interesting sculpture, looked like a man carrying his cross facing the harbour.

It is the famous Elevador Lacerda linking to the lower part of the city


Just beside the entrance to the elevador, it was a bank, but now a museum.

The Lower City   Cidade Baixa

I took a lift ride and got yo Mercado Modelo, which has occupied the former customs house.  There are stalls selling all kinds of local handicrafts and souvenirs.  I had a drink of fruit juice and watched the capoeira performance there.