My story of Brazil..

Ok so I had been to Brazil before, never to Salvador, Bahia. You see most you speak to who have been to Brazil have been to either Rio (which I got a chance to go to last year, most people know it for Carnivale) or Sao Paulo (a city 5 times the size of NYC). All three have their own personality and are known for something different. But, Salvador is where the "dark Brazilians" reside. Some say this area of Brazil was one of the first stops of the Africans into slavery. Which was ill because I kept seeing people that reminded me of folks here in Philly, lol... Anyway, So my mom, Karima, my friend Shemeka and myself set off on an adventure., lol

We stopped first in Sao Paulo, Brazil for a day. My mom is a flight attendant and has been flying to Sao Paulo for 5 years and has a friend there we will spend the night with. Her name is Sandra and she has a couple boutiques in Sao Paulo. She is great and beautiful as well!

She lives in a beautiful highrise with her 26 yr old son and 28 yr old daughter and their maid Julie (in Sao Paulo it is common for most who have money to have a maid [i know it was ill to me too, lol])









So anyway when we got in first task was to go for a "Brazilian" (those who know, know, lol). In Brazil since they are they home of the "wax" you can get what ever you want waxed for like $25. And they use this wax that they peel off with their hands. No paper/cloth! Ok TMI, but trust! lol



Anyway after we did our first task we went shopping for snacks in the market,



Then we headed back to Sandra for diner that Sandra's maid, Julie was preparing. Sandra also invited her friend Jerry who makes my favorite drink, Caprihinas!!!










And he made his with Red Fruit!

Watch.....


















So we ate a great pasta dinner and then dessert....

After dessert and drinks, Sandra's daughter Maryana came home from work...

The next day we woke up to head to the airport for a 2 hour flight to Salvador, Bahia.

Bye Sandra!

SALVADOR, BAHIA

We arrive at the airport and already Salvador feels different from any other place Ive been to.

We finally get to our hotel, which was booked through the good folks at Diga Brazil! Its cool because DigaBrazil also provided us with a host, her name was Maryana too, lol. She is 20 years old and a student at one of the bigger Universities in Salvador. We were happy to have someone with us that spoke such great English (most if not all speak Portuguese). So as soon as we put our bags down we were off for some great Bahian food! Which Ive heard is theeeeee best! So we start walking....And came to this great little seafood spot

Maryana

great food

That night we met up with Philly aka Lumar, Rich Medina, Dave and all the folks that came down to Brazil (there were also about 30 people there from ATL, DC and San Fran). It was so good to see my friend and one of the best DJ's in the WORLD, DJ Rich Medina! When he finally got a chace to spin, he tore it up! And I sweated out my dress dancing with my Brazilian boyfriend for the night, Robert, lol....i forgot to take a picture of him...

Lumar, one of the people responsible for our trip (yes ladies i know lol)

DJ Rich Medinna

Ahhhh Day 1.....The first beach.....

After a few hours at the beach we went to the "Elevator" with our new host, Ricardo. The "Elevator" literally takes you from "downtown" to "updown" meaning the beach is down below so we had to go up get to Uptown...look..

So after we rode the "Elevator" uptown we went to an area called, "Jesus's Backyard" to find something to eat.

Ricardo was telling me that back in the 1500's when the slaves arrived they had to mask their true religion by replacing their Gods with Saints, but eventually they fought to practice their African religion and now it is apart of the culture of Salvador. A lot of people who really celebrate Odunde already celebrate one of the Afro-Gods, Oshun.

Day 2...the Private Beach

Ricardo explains where we are going...

And their's food!

Great Food!! Look at this fish!

What a Beach!

And we say goodbye to the beach...

Day 3

We went to the market to buy little pieces of Salvador, but you know who I kept running into?

One of the young guys at the Market was like "vote Obama" and after watching Michelle speak, man you just really realize that this event in time is not just our experience but we are sharing it with so many around the world (sorry just got finished watching the Obamas at the DNC and im about to tear up, lol)

Im sleepy will share more tomorrow...