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Salvador - 08 Days/07 Nights tour
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Bahia: Music... Religion... Dance.... Art.... Cuisine... The culture of Africa first came to the New World through Brazil and it
is there where it has been best preserved and continues to hold tremendous influence on all aspects of Brazilian modern life.
Despite its heavily mixed ethnic heritage, it is the nation's African roots that provide Brazil its soul, rhythm and character and
distinguishes Brazil from most other travel destinations.
An exotic land set on Brazil's sultry, tropical Northeast coast, the state of Bahia is a land of palm trees, virgin beaches, warm
people and vibrant culture. Bahia's charm, found throughout its charming cities and villages, helps to define the exceptional
vacation experience offered by the region.
Salvador - The oldest city in Brazil and its first capital, Salvador was a major post for the slave trade and is now a
thriving center of Afro-Brazilian life. Salvador is considered the country's soul and the birthplace of Brazilian culture. The most
African of the Brazilian cities where nearly 80 percent of its population possess African origin, Salvador offers a mixture of
culture and history all its own. The local cuisine, music, dance and vibrant visual arts are all testaments to this pervasive African
influence. Considered Brazil's most artistic city, Salvador has a lively art scene and its streets are filled with dance and music all
year round.
Certainly, the soul of Brazil. This is the very birthplace of today’s Brazilian culture. You will feel transported to a place quite
unlike any you have ever visited before
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DAY 1 - FRI
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Morning: Arrive in Salvador da Bahia, meet and transfer to your selected hotel.
Afternoon: African-oriented historical city tour
We will trace the African roots of Salvador on a city tour that includes both the newer, modern
section and the older Historical Center of Salvador, the Pelourinho, named after the pillory that
stood in the main square in front of the central slave market. We will visit the Afro-Brazilian
Museum which traces the West African origins of the city and see the superb wooden, sculpted
panels of the orixás by Salvador's most celebrated artist, Carybé. We will visit the Church of Our
Lady of the Rosary, the famous Black church, built with meager resources over a period of nearly
100 years. The Casa do Benin (Benin House) nearby further investigates this permeating African
influence. We look in on artists and sculptors at work and let the senses do the rest as we soak up
the feel of this vibrant city.
Evening: At leisure
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DAY 2 - SAT
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Daytime: Excursion to Historical Farmlands
We will leave the city behind and drive through the oldest farmland in Brazil. This is the land of
sugar cane and tobacco plantations, peaceful colonial towns and busy country
markets. We will visit an experimental cacao plantation and stop nearby at a small
but self-sufficient farmstead with its own manioc flour mill, offering valuable
insight into rural life in Brazil. We also visit the Sisterhood of the Boa
Morte, a sorority which traces its origins back to the time of slavery. A
journey back in time to the Brazil of yesteryear!
Evening: Bahia by Night
On “Bahia by night”, we will enjoy an excursion that takes us to Solar do Unhao,
one of Salvador´s oldest and most somber buildings, originally used as a loading
station for the importation of slaves. We will begin with a full buffet of the best in
the exotic Bahian cuisine. Soon after, a dazzling folklore show of Bahian music,
dance and pageantry will follow, illustrating all that is unique in the Afro-Brazilian culture
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DAY 3 - SUN
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Day at leisure for independent activities.
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DAY 4 - MON
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Daytime: The Axé Project
The issue of Brazil's street children is one of the country's most pressing problems.
These children spend their days on the streets and their nights in the alleyways of
Salvador. The Axé Project was established to help these children find their way in society
by offering them real opportunities for education and training, as well as involving them in
creative and cultural activities. We will visit one of their training centers where we will see
the positive work of the Axé Project and learn of the aims, hopes, challenges and success stories of the project. Afterwards we
will visit a traditional capoeira school to see these kids at leisure, learning this martial art of Angolan origin.Evening: At leisure
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DAY 5 - TUE
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Daytime: Mysteries of the Candomblé
This tour offers insight into the complexities of the worshipping of Africa's ancestral spirits. We will
be given a brief lecture on the history Candomblé and then visit a Candomblé terreiro (place of
worship) to experience daily life within these communities. Depending upon group size, we will
also visit a mãe de santo for a reading of the jogo de buzios, the divination process where corie
shells are thrown and interpreted.
Evening: Olodum Performance
In this excursion to a uniquely Bahian event, we will enjoy a rehearsal show of Olodum, one of the
many Afro-blocos, (musical groups) enjoying great success in the current renaissance of Afrobased
rhythms in Salvador. This frenetic, pulsating music is directly derived from the music of
West Africa. This visit is particularly interesting, as Olodum is famous for their collaborations with
Paul Simon on the “Rhythm of the Saints” album.
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DAY 6 - WED
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Daytime: At leisure
Evening: Urban Development Tour
Like most Brazilian cities, Salvador is growing but not always in a controlled fashion. This tour will take us to side of the city not
always visited by the majority of Salvador's tourists. We will see the different realities of urban life for both the fortunate and those
who are less so. Our tour ends in the Calabar Community, a favela within steps of some of the most exclusive residential areas
of Salvador. We will be met by Calabar's community leaders and learn about the work being done within the community. We will
visit the school, children's day-care center, medical center and small business project, all financed by the community itself. This is
a heartwarming example of a community bravely finding solutions for its problems.
Evening: At leisure
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DAY 8 - FRI
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Check out - Transfer to Salvador Airport
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