The golden city! Brazil’s first capital. Narrow streets, colonial palaces, houses with coloured facades, sophisticated cuisine, romantic beaches: that is Salvador, also known as Bahia with its modern residential areas, avant garde architecture and rare charm, its expressways and comfortable hotels set by the shores of clear blue-green waters sheltered by reefs. A magical world where the old world perfume still permeates the flavours of imaginative meals made from recipes originating from over the seas in Africa. Ancient forts rise nostalgically above the dark rocks, awaiting attack by enemy caravelles – the sound of canon resonates over the horizon …where the lighthouse out on the bar still echoes a silent welcome to local craft and luxury transatlantic cruise ships.
In its streets and markets, primitive unknown artists create highly coloured ceramics and leather goods, whilst other skilled hands turn silver into rings, necklaces, brooches and other jewellery. Along the thirty kilometres of clean white beaches, human forms that have been endowed by tropical gods sway in time with the breeze blowing through the majestic palm trees or the mystical notes of some Afro-Brazilian rhythm in tune with the gaiety of warmth of the Bahians. Summer is eternal in Salvador. The eye is gently attracted to the blue of the ocean where tiny fishing boats bring their crews in to land. And after sunset comes a ceremony that is inspirational and almost sacred, when the nets are cast on the water and the night air beckons with exciting aromas whilst the candles twinkle in alluring restaurants.