Salvador

Salvador, the african heart of Brazil, is a big city on the Atlantic. The bay area is scattered with hills and beaches in front of high rise buildings. The ethnics are really diverse, but the African branch is dominating. Crime is a serious issue. Just in four days, I eyewitnessed I robbery by daylight, a good friends friend got hit on the head and had to spent the night in hospital, an argentinian turist of the hostel was robbed with a knife and also with a knife some Austrialians at the beach. So it truly is the city to play it save. The beach front is similar like the one in malibu probably is. Joggers, soccerplayers, bicycles, etc. Almost all males are bodybuilders and taller than Europeans. A big change compared with the Andean countries, where I usually was the tallest. The hostel was pretty cool and had a great TV room and kitchen. I used both extensivly. My roommates were from Berkeley University and typiclly westcost style chilled out. They had there own car, so we were able to check out the city easily. The Pelorinio district is the historic part with great views over town and the bay with all the international cargo ships. When we left this district with the car, it only took 3 blocks and you could see the mind striking poverty. People on the cardboard boxes on the side of noisy streets, with bad clothes and even open wounds, that probably should have been taking care of weeks ago.
The coolest night out was also at the Pelorinio, where the african Brazilians danced through the narrow roads, with really loud drums. The same street Michael Jackson used as a set for "They Don’t Care About Us". I'm obviously not a good dancer, but in that moment I felt the music running through me and I danced for several hours behind the drums and I think I was good - cool experience.