Salvador - A Carnaval of Musical Proportions

Danny Catt — Sun, 04 Mar 2007 18:55:46 -0800

Carnaval Celebration, Salvador, Brazil

Carnaval celebrations in Brazil are biggest (and consequently most famous) in the larger centres of Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo (the largest city in South America at an estimated 19 million inhabitants) and also the lively city of Salvador on the north-east coast of the Brazil.

Clown at Work During Carnaval, Salvador, Brazil

We had an opportunity to get a brief taste of Salvador’s unique and colourful carnival celebrations. Salvador is a city full of colour and music.

Rather than having floats with elaborate costumed samba dancers (as in Rio) in Salvador trucks carrying what appear to be the largest mobile speakers on the planet make their way through the city following a pre-determined route with thousands (and I mean thousands) of people lining the streets!

Although my time in Salvador was short… I at least got to see the city at its liveliest!

Salvador, Brazil

Christ the Redeemer - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Danny Catt — Sun, 04 Mar 2007 14:44:43 -0800

Christ the Redeemer, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Friends who have visited South America have told me that Rio de Janeiro is one of the most beautiful cities in South America, if not the world. It has been described as fun-loving, boisterous, free-spirited, friendly, dangerous and wild all in one!

Rio is also home to one of the most famous icons in South America, the Christ the Redeemer statue, situated on the peak of Cordovado Mountain in Tijuca National Park, the one of the largest national parks, found within a city, in the world.

View from the Top of Corcovado, Rio de Janeiro

The views from the city are amazing and if you are in Rio… it is really worth the time and effort to make your way up to the top. It was my first time to Rio so we did it. You can hike… but we opted for the cable car that whisks you to the top in a matter of minutes. The added bonus to the cable car was that we were serenaded by a drum pounding dancing musical group celebrating the first day of Carnaval!

At the Christ the Redeemer Statue, Rio

Catt-Trax 2 - Brazil

Salvador - A Carnaval of Musical Proportions

Christ the Redeemer - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil