We enjoyed these views of the beach on the way to the circus.
Our SAS group watched the circus with lots of Salvador school children.
After the show, our group was able to work with the circus performers and try out some tricks. We loved doing the vault, walking the tightrope, climbing the high trapeze rope and juggling.
We drove through the hilly city and passed some statues of Condomble spirits in a city park. Condomble is a religion brought from Africa to Brazil and still practiced in Brazil, particularly in Bahai, the state where Salvador is located.
The gangway of the ship is located on either Deck 2 or 5 depending on the tide.
We went on another SAS service trip, this one to another arts center that teaches kids drumming and Capoeira. We danced with them, drummed with them, watched their performances and hung out together.
We had a great afternoon with the children. The last photo is of the Condomble temple on the premises of the youth center.
We rushed back to the ship, showered and changed into clothes as white or light as we had. The first photo pictures those who looked the best! Steve and I organized a trip to a Condomble service, which turned into a long, hot and crazy night. The guide first took us on an hour and a half journey to a remote neighborhood of Salvador that was truly destitute and seemed quite unsafe. We walked down an alley and through a narrow passage to a home where we heard chanting and drumming going on. Our guide went in, talked with the people, came back out and said we could not attend that particular Condomble service as they were getting ready to slaughter a goat and did not want onlookers present!
We took another long drive and ended up in the temple above, where I stole a couple of photos before leaving. We were all packed in the tiny, airless room where before and during the service more and more people kept piling in. The service consists of mostly women and a few men going around and around in a circle sometimes doing particular gestures and steps, sometimes pausing to drop down prone on the floor. The women had large hoop skirts on and everyone was dressed in white. The chanting and drumming provided a constant sound in the heat. Many in our group were nearly passing out. Already on their third large event of the day, our kids were ready to die. Still, we persevered and made it to the part of the ceremony when the women go into a trance: they shake a bit, fold their hands and gently sway with eyes closed. After awhile, several helpers assist the "sleeping" women off to another room where they are to then dress as the Orixa that is inhabiting them. The Orixas are the gods of the Condomble religion that visit when called by the songs and dances of the ceremony. Once the spirits are present, the worshippers sing and dance while possessed. The final part of the ceremony consists of special songs that are sung to get the spirits to go away again. We did not stay for all of that!!
As you can see from the final photos, the neighborhood of this temple was not great either. Soaked in sweat, but glad to have witnessed a religious ceremony unique to this part of Brazil, we headed back to the ship.
The videos are of all of us vaulting, Asher's rope climb, Barek's climb, Charis's climb and mine, followed by Steve on the tightrope.
The gangway of the ship is located on either Deck 2 or 5 depending on the tide.
We went on another SAS service trip, this one to another arts center that teaches kids drumming and Capoeira. We danced with them, drummed with them, watched their performances and hung out together.
We had a great afternoon with the children. The last photo is of the Condomble temple on the premises of the youth center.
We rushed back to the ship, showered and changed into clothes as white or light as we had. The first photo pictures those who looked the best! Steve and I organized a trip to a Condomble service, which turned into a long, hot and crazy night. The guide first took us on an hour and a half journey to a remote neighborhood of Salvador that was truly destitute and seemed quite unsafe. We walked down an alley and through a narrow passage to a home where we heard chanting and drumming going on. Our guide went in, talked with the people, came back out and said we could not attend that particular Condomble service as they were getting ready to slaughter a goat and did not want onlookers present!
We took another long drive and ended up in the temple above, where I stole a couple of photos before leaving. We were all packed in the tiny, airless room where before and during the service more and more people kept piling in. The service consists of mostly women and a few men going around and around in a circle sometimes doing particular gestures and steps, sometimes pausing to drop down prone on the floor. The women had large hoop skirts on and everyone was dressed in white. The chanting and drumming provided a constant sound in the heat. Many in our group were nearly passing out. Already on their third large event of the day, our kids were ready to die. Still, we persevered and made it to the part of the ceremony when the women go into a trance: they shake a bit, fold their hands and gently sway with eyes closed. After awhile, several helpers assist the "sleeping" women off to another room where they are to then dress as the Orixa that is inhabiting them. The Orixas are the gods of the Condomble religion that visit when called by the songs and dances of the ceremony. Once the spirits are present, the worshippers sing and dance while possessed. The final part of the ceremony consists of special songs that are sung to get the spirits to go away again. We did not stay for all of that!!
As you can see from the final photos, the neighborhood of this temple was not great either. Soaked in sweat, but glad to have witnessed a religious ceremony unique to this part of Brazil, we headed back to the ship.
The videos are of all of us vaulting, Asher's rope climb, Barek's climb, Charis's climb and mine, followed by Steve on the tightrope.
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