What to do:
Beach life is an important year-round social cornerstone
in Salvador. The Barra neighborhood has an easy-to-spot
v
al
gay beach where you can rent beach chairs and umbrellas
while vendors sell cold beer and plentiful food as atten-
dants spray your feet with refreshing ocean water. Another
popular gay beach is Praia dos Artistas, found in the Boca do
Rio neighborhood, a short bus ride from Barra. Here you’ll
C
arna
find a great beachside café and bar called Aruba, marked
Barra Beach
A
T
rio E
léc
by gigantic rainbow flags.
trico
in
Br
a
zil
thon
’s C
amar
ote
.
Axé dancers inside the Bahia O
Praia dos Ar
tistas
What you should know:
The wildest week of your life can be relatively stress-free and safe should you
plan ahead and practice common sense. Stay with the crowds, as thugs some-
times lurk in dark places. Hide your money under your clothing and don’t wear a
watch or jewelry. Jump into the fun knowing that sleep is a rarity and you’ll prob-
ably want to leave your soon-to-be-filthy sneakers behind. Also, give yourself
some extra time to relax and enjoy Salvador and its tropical surroundings. The
collective mellow comedown in the days following Carnaval is my favorite time
to connect with new friends and explore secluded beaches, like those found in
the former fishing village of Morro de São Paulo (www.morrodesaopaulo.com.
br), on the island of Tinharé. With a number of pristine beaches and natural pools
for swimming, this locale is more subdued and less known by foreign visitors.
A number of small pousadas and larger hotels offer a range in prices for every
budget. Perfect for a relaxing visit once Carnaval has come to an official end.
While all government, banks and most businesses seem to close for the week
of Carnaval, the city slowly comes back to life in the days following. Be sure to
explore the historic Pelourinho (www.bahia-online.net) neighborhood with its
cobblestone streets, colonial buildings and traditional cuisine. Guide services
can be a good investment in Salvador, as language and custom barriers can be
difficult to navigate. Tours Bahia (www.toursbahia.com) and Schone Reise (www.
schonereise.com) are two of the most reputable companies. Discover Brazil
(www.discoverbrazil.com) offers different Carnaval packages. For further infor-
mation about the state of Bahia and her capital city Salvador, visit www.emtursa.
Cocoon H
ot
el
ba.gov.br. Learn more about camarotes and blocos at www.centraldocarnaval.
com.br. And be sure to visit
www.portaldocarnaval.ba.gov.br to monitor the
official countdown to Carnaval!
MARCH 2009 | RAGE monthly 81
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104