Salvador, Brazil-Let's Party

Music, noise and exuberance are the lifeblood of Salvador. I sat down in an internet café to check my e-mail where the attendant placed a speaker practically in my ear and turned up the volume. On returning from the soccer game loud music blasted through the bus. Music squares are popular throughout the city and on Tuesday evenings concerts reverberate through the streets and alleys. Salvadorans work hard at having a good time.

Old Salvador was copied after Lisbon, Portugal. Narrow cobblestone streets, small shops, picturesque squares and exquisite cathedrals take one back hundreds of years. Despite Brazil's turbulent political and economic past much of the original architecture and culture has been preserved.

Old slave market-Pelourinho Square, local hair salon

Futebol (soccer) is serious business. Scores of armed guards patrol the stadium squelching fights. The official is escorted on and off the field by a circle of twelve armed militiamen in riot gear with four Rottweilers. Heaven forbid if a player makes a mistake. Not long ago a player inadvertently kicked a ball into his own goal. He lost his life to an irate fan with a gun.

Futebol (soccer) fans on a Sunday afternoon

Amazon cruise boats

Joe goes native, "Why go back to North Carolina?"