When I Found Myself in Brazil's Most Dangerous City... 🌆

Today, I came across a report listing the 50 most dangerous cities in the world for 2024, and as expected, Latin America claimed 43 of those spots. Among them was Salvador, a city in Brazil that I unexpectedly visited last month. Reflecting on it now, I'm still unaware of how I brushed past the danger without realizing it... Salvador de Bahia, located at the northeastern tip of Brazil, shares its name with a Central American country and was also the first capital of Brazil established by the Portuguese. Its historic city center is a UNESCO World Heritage site, rich with historical legacy, dance, festivals, and, less often mentioned, it is the city with the largest African diaspora outside of Africa. As the first stop recommended by Chat GPT for a tour of Northeast Brazil, I was indeed captivated by the complexity of the city and also concerned about safety issues: stark differences in skin color, language barriers, and cultural shocks... Gathering my courage, I chose to roam around the tourist areas with my camera. Every police officer on every street kindly reminded me to be mindful of my camera and smartphone. When walking in the historic center of the old town, they would not let me venture into the next alley; being suddenly painted with colors and then asked for money, I pretended not to understand and escaped the scene... Each of these well-intentioned reminders added to my worries. But in retrospect, even knowing its reputation for danger, I still remember the beautiful streets, handsome beaches, pleasant coconut groves, and the tranquil sunset at the lighthouse. Attraction Recommendations: 🌇 Pelourinho District: The historic center of the old town, with cobblestone streets, colorful churches, museums, and squares, is perfect for photography, and with police patrols during the day, you can play with peace of mind. It is said that Salvador has 365 churches, so much so that you could visit a different church every day for a year without repetition... 🌅 Barra District: This area along the bay allows you to watch the sunset under the ancient lighthouse, enjoy the breeze in the coconut groves, and observe the sportsmen on the seaside avenue on weekends... 🍹 Grab a roadside cocktail or coconut water, and it's all worth the adventure. #Brazil #BrazilTravel #Travel #Photography #Share #Vacation #SouthAmerica #NationalDayAdventure #M43Camera #Olympus 📸🌴🌅