SALVADOR Lonely Planet's introduction to Salvador reads: “If you're going to get robbed in Brazil, Salvador is likely to be the place.” Hmmm. Although, it's supposed to be THEE cultural capital of Brazil, oozing with a vibrance and energy seldom found on Earth. The reason: Salvador is inhabited with almost nothing but descendants of the Portuguese slave trade, who were treated especially harshly. After reading about the history of Brazil, and the injustices caused by the Portuguese, it made the Spanish Conquistadors seem like choir boys. The street next to our hostel was right next to the courtyard where slaves were sold and publicly whipped. European customs and religions were, of course, force upon them, and the African slaves responded by creating a hybrid religion, Candomblē, which resembles Catholicism, but this was really only to fool
... read more
