FEELING ALIVE IN SALVADOR
Does Salvador de Bahia epitomize Brazil?
It got the poverty, it got the color, it got the vibe, it got the crime, it got the history, it got the Samba (by god, it got the Samba alright!), it got the football and loads and loads of sex.
Yes, you can say Brazil’s former ancient capital on the North East embodies this grand old Latin American country. The passionate music may lure you out to the street, but the hotel security will warn you not to get down there by foot, or you might get robbed.
A bit of violence never killed anyone, did it?
My wife and I spent few days in Brazil’s 4th largest city a few years ago and wished we stayed longer. Everyone around us, men and women alike, were openly frolicking. Were they some mad young couples on their first honeymoon? Not likely. We weren’t. Didn’t stop us a bit!
What is it in Salvador de Bahia that makes its god-fearing residents wallow publicly in such pleasures? Is it the cheap alcohol? The warm weather? The Ocean breeze? The passionate rhythm of the Timba?
Or perhaps its the fear of life cut short?
Salvador de Bahia is Brazil’s most violent city. The local murder rate is more than double that of Rio de Janeiro’s, and four times that of Sao Paulo. It is also 30 times higher than in our hometown of Tel Aviv.
“Don’t go that 200 meters down the road”, said the bouncer at the exit. We headed his call. On the long taxi bypass ride, we spent some time observing (through tightly closed windows) groups of scary-looking hoodlums and too many idle police officers for comfort.
So what is it about Salvador?
In all truth, I have no clue. They say you feel most alive when you’re scared to death. If this is the case, this beautiful crumbling creole city must be the scariest place on earth.
To be completely honest we didn’t feel – foolishly, perhaps scared at all. The intoxicating ambiance must have taken control over us. Salvador de Bahia can win you over – despite the alarming stats. Its aurora of passion succumbs even the most prudent of tourists.
Would you take the chance?
