Salvador da Bahia  06/14 - 06/22/2014

 

 

Arrival in Salvador, district Itapua. The street of the hostel ...
 

... is not so easy to find.
 

That's it. And it is the only one of my four hostels in Brazil, where there is no breakfast.
 

The view is also quite nice here, but it is a pity ...
 

... that for reasons of safety everything is barred.

The beach. Okay.
 

But I will stay only for one night anyway (World Cup booking bottlenecks).
 

Arrival at the center. Although in 2009 I was already here, ...
 

... this time there’s a bit more action. Funny: not because of the World Cup, ...
 

... but because of this annual folk festival.
 

Okay, granted, there are also football fans.
 

Especially Germans who sing louder than the French, although it’s their game in TV (against Honduras).
 

But live of course it’s better. Forty minutes before kick-off I get my ticket for the match against Portugal.
 

There is also the first touch of home. Ingo (center) and Golo have traveled to the World Cup.
 

The singer of Höhner (THE Carnival Band of Cologne) is also there.
 

THANKS for wearing underwear under the underwear!
 

For the physical well-being is taken care of. (All beer stands.)
 

For safety as well. However, ...
 

... only after all they were on the toilet.
 

At this artificial lake, the stadium is located.
 

This great view of the field ...
 

... also the Portuguese behind me can enjoy. However, only for one half; they do not return after the break.
 

I don’t mind, there are still some locals left.
 

When you look at Ronny and the referee, you could have some silly ideas.
 
   
The game in a nutshell.
 

Evening victory celebrations with Golo, Ingo and his fellows. First in the (overpriced) restaurant, ...
 

... later in the crowded streets.
 

Sightseeing. Nice idea.
 

Pretty old houses. Like anno 2009.
 
 

This is an artificial horse. And people pay for “riding”.
 

Salvador is home for the famous drummers of Olodum.
 

The lesser-known groups sometimes move drumming through the streets.
 

At the Lighthouse of Barra the local FIFA Fan Fest takes place.
 

But again: Brazil plays and many people watch - without any atmosphere.
 

Striking: Felt 108% of all jerseys have the 10 (Neymar) on their backs.
 

After a quick look at the not really exhilarating beach, I go back into the city.

The view from my hostel window.
 

When I'm eating, suddenly the doors of the location are barred because there was (supposedly) a shooting.
 

The police may partly not put on their clothes properly, ...
 

... but this procedure they master.
 

The festival stage. But I still claim that the mood is disappointing.
 

However, there are bright spots.
 

Because it's so beautiful. The next day we find at exactly the same place ...
 

... the appropriate successor for the beer supplies.
 

Yes, they both sell the same product. And the one with "3 for 5" is not really without success!
 

Again cheese sticks. In the hustle those mini grills are particularly dangerous, especially if ...
 

... the grill master gets distracted so easily.
 

 (Yes, in the pictures above was not a big hustle. But here they are marching with their grills also.)
 

Soon I’m departing, so I have to enjoy the sea one last time.
 

Too bad, that the access to the beach is a bit disgusting.
 

The beach itself is also not perfect.
 

This couple goes swimming while their dogs take care of the belongings.
 

Or something like that.
 

The last evening. First we watch football together (GER - GHA) with some screen disturbances.
 

Our Ghanaian has pity and becomes a German fan. (Actually, there's green at the bottom of the shirt.)
 

After the match our Argentines discuss about it.
 

Come on, it wasn’t that bad.
 

While the rest of the troops stay in front of the Hostel-TV...
 

... we go back to the crowd.
 

The last surviving party photo - Natacha and her dentist. Or so.
 

The bus to the airport - for the equivalent of about $ 13.
 
 
A little bumpy, but the same route - for exactly one tenth(!) of the price.
 

And that's it. The third pair of slippers survives and comes home with me.
 
Time for a final - in view of the travel time extremely short - conclusion: a great, impressive, fantastic, exciting and varied journey of which I do not regret a single day.

But I'm so glad to get back home ...