Former Capital of Brazil | Colorful Salvador

After spending a month in the small fishing village of Praia, where kites filled the skies, I finally embarked on a conventional tour of Brazil. My first stop was Salvador, the country's first capital, renowned for its colorful old town. I booked a walking tour of the old town on Airbnb, where the guide combined the architecture on the streets to introduce the history and culture, which was quite interesting. There were two surprising pieces of knowledge I gained: first, 80% of Salvador's population is of African descent, and the handicrafts and street performances are all imbued with African flavors. This large Afro-Brazilian population is a legacy of the historical slave trade, and many cities that flourished during the colonial period have a similar demographic. Secondly, the colorful houses in the old town were all painted within the last two to three decades, stemming from the government's plan to develop the old town into a commercial tourist area. However, the policies to maintain the glossy appearance of the tourist district have also squeezed the living space of the poor in the old town. Some of the poor have had to move to the alleys behind the colorful houses. Turning a corner from the commercial streets might lead you to less safe areas. Among the fairy-tale-like colored walls, there are also dilapidated buildings with broken doors and windows. Cities with dense populations always have a dark side; imperfect, but real. 🏨 Pousada Des Arts, a charming little inn on the main street of the old town, the yellow house in the first picture. The decor and decoration are all vibrant and bright local art, and the staff are exceptionally kind and friendly. Despite working on Christmas Eve, they even made dinner for us, who had nowhere else to find food. 🍽️ Manga Restaurante, a tasting menu of 11 dishes for $60, each quite unique, with a cost-performance ratio that touched me, reigniting my hope for Brazilian cuisine after being disappointed by a famous pork restaurant in São Paulo. The last dessert was made with Cupuaçu fruit and mushrooms. I'm psychologically resistant to putting vegetables in desserts, and I couldn't accept the dessert with Surrell mushrooms I had in Seattle before, but the hint of mushrooms in this dish was very subtle and harmonious, leaving a deep impression on me. #Brazil #BrazilTravel #Salvador #SouthAmericaTravel #OffTheBeatenPath