<
back to home
AUG 11: MIAMI/SALVADOR Depart Miami via jet service to Salvador Da Bahia via Sao Paulo.
AUG 12: SALVADOR DA BAHIA
Upon your arrival in Salvador, you will be met and
transferred to your hotel. The balance of the day is
at leisure. This evening, around 6:00pm, enjoy a welcome
to Bahia Tropical Drink before transferring for evening
festivities including a CULTURAL SHOW and typical Bahian
Dinner.
Bahian folklore is very rich, the main legacy is samba
de roda, capoeira, reisados (epiphany), and bumba-meu-boi.
Capoeira is a distinctive dance style which features
bodily self defense techniques that are performed to
the accompanying music of the berimbau and African type
drums. The folklore show includes Candomble, which while
taking on a folkloric form, Candomble is a religion
brought over by African Slaves. It is believed that
a supreme God, Olorum, reated Obatala (the Sky) and
Odudua (the Earth) who were united to give birth to
Iemanja (the waters) and Aganju (the firm ground). Iemanja
and Aganju had a son, Orunga (the air) - beginning of
life in the universe. Orixas (saints) usually associated
with catholic saints, govern natural phenomena and things
on Earth. Thus, Iansa is the goddess of storms and is
identified with St. Barbara. Xango, god of thunder,
is St. Jerome. Oxossi, god of hunting is St. George.
Oxum, goddess of fountains and beauty, is Our Lady of
Candeias. Ogun, god of iron, is St. Anthony. Each god
or goddess is associated also with a color and a day
of the week. Thus, Iansa's color is red and her day
is Wednesday, Xango dresses in red and white and his
day is also Wednesday. Ogun dresses in blue on his day,
Tuesday, Oxossi dresses in green or blue on Thursday.
Iemanha dresses in transparent clothes on Saturday and
Oxala to whom the people show the greatest devotion
due to his identification to Senhor do Bonfim, dresses
in white on Friday. Dinner and show, return to your
hotel. (DS)
AUG 13: CACHOEIRA Morning departure from Salvador to
Cachoeira, 66 miles away by paved roads. Due to its great cultural and architectural value, dating from the 16th and 17th centuries, Cachoeira has been designated as a national monument. Upon your arrival in
Cachoeira, special arrangements have been made to meet the Boa
Morte, a sorority of Black women, all descendants of African slaves. A special presentation and lecture will be made which will be interpreted from the native Portuguese to English detailing the history of the Sorority. Following the lecture, an opportunity will be given for group members to personally interact and socialize with some of the sisters. In the afternoon, the distinctive
samba-de-roda dance will be performed especially for the group. This form of samba is, unlike others, a group dance with soloists. At the center of the circle, the soloist moves gracefully to the insinuating rhythm of the percussion ensemble. (B,L)
AUG 14: LOWER CITY Today visit the Lower City. Visit
a Candomble "Terreiro", a public place where people
pay homage to the Orixas (African Sacred Entities).
Visit Casa Branca, the oldest terreiro in Brazil where
you will hear a lecture on the rites and festivals.
Visit sacred places like trees, fountains and stones,
explaining the meaning for the African religion. Inside
Casa Branca, see the sacred rooms and the kitchen of
the Orixas, and the part of the house where the community
lives - as they do in Africa. Continue to Rio Vermelho
Beach for a visit to the house dedicated to Yemanja
(Queen of the Sea), where festivities take place on
January 01 and February 02. Continue to Mercado Modelo
where visitors will find the most complete and astounding
assemblage of Brazilian arts and crafts. Enjoy a lunch
of Fajouada, a typical Brazilian food. Return to the
hotel for the balance of the day at leisure. (B,L)
AUG 15: BAY CRUISE
Today take a cruise on All Saints Bay or Baia de
Todos os Santos which bounds Salvador on the
south. The great Bay covers 1100 square kilometers
and has 55 islands, many in their original natural
state, rich with tropical vegetation. Visit Frades
Island and Itaparica Island. Return to your hotel
for overnight. Lunch is included. (B,L)
|
|
 |
AUG 16: UPPER CITY
Morning embark on your tour of the Upper City. The city
of Salvador is divided into two parts; The "Lower City"
is at sea level and contains the old port and commercial
district The "Upper City" is reached by stone steps, alleyways
or more efficiently, by the Lacerda Elevator. In this
part of the city will be found the old government buildings,
residential districts, visit the most important Baroque
Churches, the Old Town, Afro-Brazilian Museum, Museum
of the Sacred Art and the Market Place. Return to your
hotel for the balance of the day at leisure. (B)
AUG 17: SALVADOR/RIO DE JANIERO
Morning at leisure. Transfer to the airport for your flight
to Rio de Janiero. Upon your arrival in Rio, you will
be met and transferred to your hotel. This evening enjoy
a typical Brazilian Churrascaria Dinner and a show at
Platforma I. (B,DS)
RIO DE JANIERO The sky is always blue; summer all year
around. Sun, beach, sea, mountains and lush tropical forest.
There is the statue of Christ the Redeemer, always with
arms wide open. This exciting city is the soul and symbol
of Brazil and may well be the capital of the pleasure-seeking
world. Rio covers a narrow strip of coast with 15 miles
of legendary beaches. Rio is famous for Carnival and its'
Samba Schools that rehearse all year round.
AUG 18: PETROPOLIS
Drive to Petropolis which was established as a farm where
the imperial family of Brazil built its summer residence.
Petropolis is a fine mountain resort city famous for its
museum, with a nice selection of memorabilia from imperial
times and its many cultural activities. Even after the
abdication of D. Pedro II, the city retained its glory
and remained the summer residence of the President of
the Republic. Visit the tomb of Princesca Izabel named
the Redemptress as she signed the decree outlawing slavery
in Brazil. Lunch will be at Chale' Manaka' a private residence.
This is an opportunity to try Brazilian cuisine at its
best, a bit of everything: rice and beans, leek pie, chicken,
pot roast and a wide variety of desserts. Return to Rio
for overnight. (B,L)
AUG 19: CORCOVADO / SUGARLOAF
Morning visit to Corcovado Mountain, crowned by the gigantic
statue of Christ the Redeemer. The name Corcovado means
hunchback for the shape of the peak. Travel through Tijuca
National Park via railway, through the dense forest of
trees as tall as cliffs and hung with creepers. The trip
is extraordinary, deep forest shade every now and then
opening to changing views of the city. Then the final
walk up to the peak and its huge panoramic views - the
figure of Christ the Redeemer was designed by Heitor da
Silva Costa and sculpted by the French artist Paul Landiwsky,
was raised in its magnificent position in 1931. The figure
stands 30 meters high and weighs 1145 tons. The spectacular
panorama spread at your feet encompasses the city of Rio,
Guanabara Bay, the mountain skyline, SugarLoaf, the 8-mile
Rio-Niteroi Bridge, the Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon and
the shimmering Atlantic. Continue to Sugarloaf, a solid
rock mountain 1,229 ft high at the entrance to Guanabara
Bay, one of the landmarks most readily identified with
Rio. Take the cable car at Praia Vermelha to its first
stop - Morro da Urca, at a height of 215m. The name Urca,
a nautical term like many of the city's place-names, refers
to a two-mast vessel. There is a second hill at the foot
of Sugar Loaf - Morro Cara de Cao, Dogface Cliff. It was
between these two hills that the founding of Rio de Janeiro
took place in 1565. The final stop of the cable car is
at the summit of Sugar Loaf, 394m. On top is a restaurant,
souvenir shop, open air theater and a lookout with telescopes.
The splendid view of the city is framed by the mountains,
the tallest peak being Corcovado. One has a dazzling view
of the beaches, nearby islands and sea. Return to the
hotel. This evening enjoy a Farewell Seafood Dinner. (B,D)
AUG 20: RIO DE JANIERO
Full day at leisure. Evening transfer to the airport to
check in for your return flight back to Miami. (B)AUG
21: MIAMI Arrival in Miami in the morning local time.
|
|
