[speakeasy]

Let me preface this by saying I've yet to visit either of these cities but they are both on my bucket list.

I've had the impression that these two cities were twins separated at birth. The similarities:

Majority black, known as centers of black music culture in this case jazz and samba, known for regional culinary traditions, architecture, their famous carnivals, hot muggy weather, both major port cities, both unfortunately violent, both with a lot of poverty yet colorful local culture that draws people from far and wide.

On the surface they sound like analogs of one another, but I'm curious if the "vibe" is the same to anyone that's been to both.

[azulsombra]

I dont know of anybody thats been to both, the cities are so far apart.

Ive been to louisiana but didnt really do new orleans.
Maybe internationalswagger can chime in. Salvador was cool for what it was, i was there during carnaval. If you like dark skin sistas u will have plenty to choose from here. Still its not a city i plan on returning to but its worth a look if your already in brazil.

[Hencredible Casanova]

I've been to both. I went to New Orleans for Essence Festival in 2008 and Salvador for Carnaval in 2010. When I shared my pics with friends they made the same comparison. The Pelourinho quarter in Salvador is a splitting image of the French Quarter in New Orleans. Very similar and both are held as unique in their respective countries.

New Orleans is a very unique city. The cajun/creole culture is distinct, affecting everything from language to food to atmosphere. I think where it differs from Salvador in a big way is that it's far more oriented towards nightlife and drinking.

Personally, I like the layout of Salvador much better since it's on the coast. The beaches in Bahia are some of the best in all of Brazil. The food is to die for. Moqueca de Camarao is a must-have before you die.

I'd say the vibe in Salvador has a very strong and undiluted African influence. Probably the most you'll find anywhere outside of Africa. Some of the most popular aspects of general Brazilian culture originate from there.

For game I would I recommend going to New Orleans over Salvador. Go to New Orleans when there's an event going on, either Mardi Gras or Essence or whatever.

Personally, I didn't find the women in Salvador to be anything special. I'd recommend going to Salvador for other reasons, namely to gain a better understanding of Brazilian culture and history. I'd say go to Salvador as part of a trip to other places in Brazil, not as the only destination.

[Prosal]

Salvador tries really hard to be a copy of Jamaica. It's nothing but a giant "Black Disneyland" for white tourists from southeast Brasil, from Argentina and from Europe(some two millions inbound tourists visit Salvador each year, plus some five millions national tourists).

Plus Salvador is really expensive, totally spoiled by touristic shit, really ugly (the six blocks that make up Pelourinho is not Salvador), rather dangerous, and too stretched to navigate easily (some 20 kilometers from Pelourinho to Itapoa).

Sao Luis de Maranhao, which is also a "black" brasilian city, is much more authentic and still out of the beaten tracks - and really beautiful.

[speakeasy]

(08-21-2013 04:19 PM)Prosal Wrote:  

Salvador tries really hard to be a copy of Jamaica. It's nothing but a giant "Black Disneyland" for white tourists from southeast Brasil, from Argentina and from Europe(some two millions inbound tourists visit Salvador each year, plus some five millions national tourists).

Plus Salvador is really expensive, totally spoiled by touristic shit, really ugly (the six blocks that make up Pelourinho is not Salvador), rather dangerous, and too stretched to navigate easily (some 20 kilometers from Pelourinho to Itapoa).

Sao Luis de Maranhao, which is also a "black" brasilian city, is much more authentic and still out of the beaten tracks - and really beautiful.

Good tip on Sao Luis de Maranhao, never even heard of it. Looked up some photos and seems cool. I'll add that to my Brazil bucket list.

[Prosal]

(08-21-2013 04:23 PM)speakeasy Wrote:  

Good tip on Sao Luis de Maranhao, never even heard of it. Looked up some photos and seems cool. I'll add that to my Brazil bucket list.

Sao Luis is my fav brasilian city. I've already written a few lines about it:

http://www.rooshvforum.network/thread-613-po...#pid494321

[Prosal]

(08-21-2013 01:16 PM)speakeasy Wrote:  

famous carnivals,.

Salvador's carnaval is drunken chaos.

Disgusting odors of piss and of vomit invading the streets, drunk and aggressive favelados everywhere, brawls, disorder, ect. I don't understand how anyone in his right mind would like to be in Salvador at this period.

[speakeasy]

(08-21-2013 04:37 PM)Prosal Wrote:  

(08-21-2013 01:16 PM)speakeasy Wrote:  

famous carnivals,.

Salvador's carnaval is drunken chaos.

Disgusting odors of piss and of vomit invading the streets, drunk and aggressive favelados everywhere, brawls, disorder, ect. I don't understand how anyone in his right mind would like to be in Salvador at this period.

Still sounds like something everyone has to experience at least once.

[Qwest]

(08-21-2013 04:37 PM)Prosal Wrote:  

(08-21-2013 01:16 PM)speakeasy Wrote:  

famous carnivals,.

Salvador's carnaval is drunken chaos.

Disgusting odors of piss and of vomit invading the streets, drunk and aggressive favelados everywhere, brawls, disorder, ect. I don't understand how anyone in his right mind would like to be in Salvador at this period.

Salvadors Carnaval is QUITE different if you do the Camaroches. Nobody in there right mind should go to Salvadors Carnaval if you are not planning on shelling out the money for the camaroches and are just planning on hitting the streets. Nobody really with any sort of class in Brazil goes to Salvadors Carnaval without Camaroche tickets. In fact, many of Brazilians highest class go to these, as they are known as some of the very best parties Carnaval offers, albeit VERY expensive ones ($1000-$1500 USD/night). For those that dont know, the camaroches are basically huge tents set up for private parties for the ticket holders only. Open bar with top shelf booze (most have the top shelf but depends on the cost), food included, massage chicks running around, bands and then of course tons of partying Brazilians including MANY hot chicks.

I was in Rio for this past Carnaval and about half of my friends from Rio went to Salvador (I should have also). They went to the camaroches which cost between $200-$400/night and had a great time (booze, food included). The two guys in the group with decent game, both got laid by very attractive women (I saw pics) and probably would have got more had they not been so fucked up by taking large amounts of ecstasy most of the time.

One of my chicks who is from Recife (well off, educated, attractive) also went to Salvador this year with her girlfriends and had a great time, sans the BS in the video, but they also did the camaroches.

In 2014 Carnaval I will most likely split my time with a few days in Rio partying at the bloccos and then a few days doing the camaroches in Salvador, best of both worlds.

[Prosal]

(08-22-2013 12:36 PM)Qwest Wrote:  

In 2014 Carnaval I will most likely split my time with a few days in Rio partying at the bloccos and then a few days doing the camaroches in Salvador, best of both worlds.

Admitedly, I know from Salvador's carnaval solely the blocos/trio electricos. I didn't even knew that there was camarotes.

Anyway I really dislike those class/status partitions that are ridiculously pervasive in Brasil and are at their most blatant during carnaval (be it blocos or camarotes). I find pretty ridiculous and above all very indecent to be in a elite camarote where 99 % of the people are mid to upper class whites, in a country where about half of the population is black and live under the poverty line. I don't want to sound angry or embittered, but this side of Brasil really disturbs me. I think I'd even prefer to be with the favelados. Best carnaval I've had was in Sao Luis, it was a street carnaval.

[Qwest]

(08-22-2013 01:00 PM)Prosal Wrote:  

Admitedly, I know from Salvador's carnaval solely the blocos/trio electricos. I didn't even knew that there was camarotes.

Anyway I really dislike those class/status partitions that are ridiculously pervasive in Brasil and are at their most blatant during carnaval (be it blocos or camarotes).

The blocos in Rio are not class/status partitions at all, and are open to everyone. They are basically large parade type floats with a large band and often dancers that are either parked in a particular place at a particular time, or cruise down a certain street and the party follows it. The good ones have tons of girls in costumes and looking to have fun.

My issue is I like to drink cocktails, and its so damn hard to get anything other than Antarctica beer at these things that after a few days I want nothing more than to be in an exclusive party, with hot chicks, and good drinks flowing, that's when I go to Salvador.

[Prosal]

(08-22-2013 01:23 PM)Qwest Wrote:  

The blocos in Rio are not class/status partitions at all, and are open to everyone.

I was talking about Salvador, where blocos are solely about status. I know what are blocos in Rio.

[Prosal]

(08-22-2013 01:00 PM)Prosal Wrote:  

(08-22-2013 12:36 PM)Qwest Wrote:  

In 2014 Carnaval I will most likely split my time with a few days in Rio partying at the bloccos and then a few days doing the camaroches in Salvador, best of both worlds.

Anyway I really dislike those class/status partitions that are ridiculously pervasive in Brasil and are at their most blatant during carnaval (be it blocos or camarotes). I find pretty ridiculous and above all very indecent to be in a elite camarote where 99 % of the people are mid to upper class whites, in a country where about half of the population is black and live under the poverty line. I don't want to sound angry or embittered, but this side of Brasil really disturbs me. I think I'd even prefer to be with the favelados. Best carnaval I've had was in Sao Luis, it was a street carnaval.

Sorry Qwest for my polemical BS. I was a bit drunk and maybe in bad mood yesterday. Being in a camarote is cool and much more enjoyable than being surrounded of drunk favelados.

Edit: that said, the pervasiveness of the status system in Brasil is disturbing.

[playa_with_a_passport]

(08-21-2013 05:25 PM)speakeasy Wrote:  

(08-21-2013 04:37 PM)Prosal Wrote:  

(08-21-2013 01:16 PM)speakeasy Wrote:  

famous carnivals,.

Salvador's carnaval is drunken chaos.

Disgusting odors of piss and of vomit invading the streets, drunk and aggressive favelados everywhere, brawls, disorder, ect. I don't understand how anyone in his right mind would like to be in Salvador at this period.

Still sounds like something everyone has to experience at least once.

The video doesn't look that bad in comparison to the West Indian Day parade in Brooklyn where at least 2 people get shot/stabbed dead every single year. The Puerto Rican Day parade used to be quite a zoo as well but they started to over police it when that French female tourist got molested by the crowd.
[video]http://www.worldstarhiphop.com/videos/vi...Fciu9b28kE[/video]
http://www.worldstarhiphop.com/videos/vi...Fciu9b28kE


Shit, I was in Cropover fest in Barbados(among the safest island in the Caribbean) last year and some cat opened fire on the crowd. Still had a good time.

I was in Salvador carnival a while ago, felt safe and thought the crowd was well behave for the most part. There were literally rivers of piss everywhere thou.