The first was Buzios, which is a resort
used by many well-off people from Rio. Not much to see but a pleasant walk in
heat that was not too over-powering. Buzios is in a giant bay surrounded by
mountains – still in the land of great scenery!!
Salvador de Bahia is a city which was
once wealthy but whose classic buildings now need extensive (and expensive)
restoration. There are said to be over 300 churches but many are now in a very
poor state of repair. TSH and Diva went into the most impressive - the São
Francisco church, whose opulent interior features cedar woodcarvings covered in
gold leaf.
These two cities were nothing like as poor
as the whole of the Amazon basin seemed to be, but they provide a stark reminder
of how the colonialists (in Brazil mostly the Portugese) destroyed the original
society, created wealth and took it all home with them. When they eventually left,
there was no indigenous structure capable of creating an economy. Brazil is now
starting to do this but most people are living lives which seem to involve a
lot of hardship by European or US standards.
It is now hotter, as Silver Spirit approaches the equator, and the walking tour in Salvador proved quite strenuous
under those circumstances.
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