Lesson 10 – Salvador, Bahia

The one-time Brazilian capital and heart of afro-Brazilian influence Salvador de Bahia is
dripping with culture. And I’m here to soak it all up. C’mon!
My first stop in Salvador was The Mestre Bimba’s place, for a lesson in the Afro-Brazilian
martial art of capoeira.
Capoeira, or the dance of war, was developed here in Brazil by African descendants
through the combination of music, dance and acrobatic. It was originally used by slaves
to disguise fighting as dancing. So, they wouldn’t get in trouble for learning how to
defend themselves. Today, variations of capoeira are practiced all over the word, but
the origins, including those sexy white pants, all stem from Brazil in particular here in
Salvador.
Você ginga para lá. Você já está jogando capoeira.
It’s a hell of a work out. Sim? Pronto, Let’s go!
Hungry from all the hard work I hooked up with a local friend and proceeded to eat my
way across town getting to know the city for through the local food it’s famous for.
Had to make a wish and then ran up these stairs without breathing for the wish to come
true, see if it works.
Caldo de Sururu. Yeah! Esse tem o que dentro? Aqui é tapioca com coco. Ahh. Açúcar e
já joga ela torrada com açúcar.
It’s got sugar and cinnamon on the outside and tapioca and coconut on the inside.
Tapioca used in all ways.
After conquering all the streets treats, we joined the crowd in Pelourinho’s main square
for some great live music. From there I was introduced to a few flavor infused cachaças
including the local favorite cravinho. A clove infused cachaça that’ll put hair on your
chest.
Then, thanks to a little liquid courage courage we followed the forró music down some
backstreets to a hidden concert to dance the night away.
The culture that I’ve soaked up on this trip is incredible. The food, the people, the music,
the history that shapes Salvador and what you see today it’s such unique city and, at the
same time, is everything that Brazil is. It’s gritty and beautiful, in a place with so many
layers. Anyway, that’s it for my time in Salvador I have some great memories to take
with me. Until next time.
 Activity

1. I would like to show you the first Brazilian Capital, Salvador.

2. This city that has already been the Brazilian capital (or: The one-time Brazilian
capital), today is the heart and cradle/hub of afro-Brazilian influence.
3. Salvador is a city dripping with culture and I’m here to soak it all up.
4. My first stop was at Mestre Bimba’s place where I could take some classes of this
amazing Brazilian martial art called capoeira.
5. Capoeira was created and developed by Manoel dos Reis Machado, known as
Mestre Bimba. It’s a combination of music, dance and acrobatic.
6. It was nicknamed as ‘dance of war’ and, it was practiced by African slaves and
your their decedents. Every tourist needs to watch a presentation/performance.
7. In the beginning, capoeira was used by slaves to disguise this fight as a dance so
they wouldn’t get in trouble for learning how defend themselves.
8. Nowadays, variations of capoeira are practiced all over the world, but your its
origin and characteristic stem from Brazil, including those sexy white pants.
9. Hungry after the workout, I hooked up with a local friend and, together we
crossed the town to eat and get to know other places.
10. After lunch, we went to Santíssimo Sacramento do Passo’s Church. People make
a wish and run up the stairs without breathing to so (that) their wish come true.