Interested in learning a bit of Portuguese while you are here in Salvador? Then Barra is the neighborhood for you — all three of the Portuguese language schools that are geared towards foreigners are located in Barra. The basic model for teaching Portuguese is almost identical across the three schools and they all have very similar […]
Even in 2020, there is no way to avoid using the ATM in Brazil. Salvador still relies heavily on cash. While most restaurants take credit cards, if you want to catch the bus, take a taxi, pay for a dance or percussion class, buy a coxinha, or get a beer on the beach, you will […]
Yes, the beaches really are like that. And, the caipirinhas really are delicious. A “utility beverage” indeed! The un-official national drink of Brazil, the caipirinha is, to me, most similar to the Cuban mojito. But, mostly it’s delicious. The Traditional Caipirinha The traditional caipirinha is made with cachaça (a white alcohol made from sugar cane), […]
I first found out that Uber was in Salvador back in early 2016 when a friend of mine came to dinner and was raving about this super-cheap taxi alternative he was using. “Oooohhh-bah” it was called. Since I hadn’t yet tuned my ear to the Brazilian accent, I couldn’t figure out that he was talking […]
Even before the sharing economy became a thing, people were renting apartments in Salvador. What I personally love about renting an apartment is that not only do you get your own space, but you can also save a ton of money by cooking in the apartment. Even if you aren’t much of a cook and/or […]
Salvador, by and large, is not an expensive place to stay — but cheap and expensive are all in the eye of the beholder. And if you are a true budget traveler, you can even stay for free! You can easily get a western-style furnished one-bedroom apartment with good sea views, a few minutes walks […]
It is absolutely possible to get a pre-paid SIM card in Brazil, but it’s not possible to get one from every carrier. Only one carrier, TIM, will allow a foreigner to get a SIM chip. With Oi and Vivo you need to have a CPF (which is similar to a US social security card), but […]
As with any good question, it depends. For anyone carrying a US passport, you need a visa. However, if you are in Europe or New Zealand you do not. The laws are changing all the time so it’s always wise to check with the Brazilian embassy in your home country when planning your travel. For example, […]