Years End

Man prays for Family. Madrid, Spain

I pray that everyone, friends and family and the new friends I will make, that as this year comes to a close God will richly bless you and keep you safe. May, 2012 be the best year of life. And as for my friend in the photo, may God restore all you lost.

Pelourinho-Historic Center

Centro Historico

Plants growing out the Top

Old Buildings-Pelourinho

The Pelourinho, section of Salvador, is the historic center of the city. It was restored back around 1993 and Michael Jackson shot a video here in 1996. I was amazed at how fast some of the building have deteriorated in less than twenty years. The good news is with the World Cup coming in 2014 there starting to rebuild it again. It'll be interesting to see it all colorful and vibrant again. 

Casa D'Italia

Casa D'Italia  Salvador Bahia, Brazil

Nothing like a few poles and some distracting wires to make a photo more interesting. Yes, it really makes the old house just pop off the page. I guessing that in a few more years there might be another light pole or two in front of the house.

Pelourinho by Night

Plaza Municipal

Orden Tercera de Sao Domingos

As night descends on the city and the lights began to come on it changes the whole vibe of  Pelourinho. It becomes more festive as local food vendors set up little table and chairs in the plaza so customer can enjoy the view of the old building all lit up.

Hair Dresser

How much more time?

Hair dresser in Salvador, Brazil, putting hair extensions on a client. The process is very long and tedious and can take hours to do. So you better have a lot of time on hand if you plan on booking an appointment with this lady.

Busy Streets

Man carrying a heavy piece of metal

Brazilian Tourist

Local  Street Vendors eating lunch. 

All big cities seem to have a certain rhythm to them as you walk the streets or drive around. Shop owners waiting for customers tourist wandering around looking for cool or unusual thing to buy and so on. Photos taken in the Pelourinho section of Salvador Bahia, Brazil.

Feliz Natal

Merry Christmas

Christmas Flowers

Feliz Natal, Merry Christmas and ¡Feliz Navidad. I've got all the bases covered. It's been wonderful in Brasilia, Thank God!!

Merry Christmas....

Torre de TV all lit up

Lonely Manger Scene 

Last Chance at the Mall

Santa- I need Knee Pads

Elf

....from Brasilia, Brazil. Remember it all about JESUS!!

Brasilia at Night

Ministerios on Left-Congresso Nacional on Right

Ministerios

Congresso Nacional

Catedral Metropolitana de Brasilia

Brasilia, at night at Christmas time. The city does a great job of decking it out and its a lot of fun walking around admiring the lights, Plus, it not cold here so you can enjoy it all the more in shorts and a tee-shirt.

Kids r Kids

Just having fun

My turn now

Basically, everywhere I go I have found that kids are kids. They want to have fun play with their friends and know that their parents love them. I was amazed at how well these kids took turns on the trampoline. They line up and jumped for a few minutes and then let the other kids in on the fun without any adult supervision.  Photo taken in Brazlandia, Brazil

That Time of the Year

Cerro de Monserrate

Santa

Well, its getting close to that time of year. My first Christmas out of the USA, in many years. Here in South America, there's no ACLU, so everyone has the Christmas spirit no interference from the left kicking and screaming like babies. Photos taken in Bogota, Colombia.

Lonely Mother

I thought this young woman looked so sad and lonely as she was walking down the street carrying her baby. To me, she looks like she still might even be a teenager which is not that uncommon in this part of the world.
Photo taken in Salvador Bahia, Brazil.

Family making Jewelry to Sale

Mom still working

It's always hard to see little kids on the streets. Kids at this age should be having fun playing with there friends. At least this guy has a mother and father and it looks like there trying hard as there putting together some home made jewelry to sale. Salvador Bahia, Brazil

Fallen Cross-Cruz Caida

View of the Fallen Cross from down below.

Monumento de la Cruz Caida

In a city were much of it is in disrepair I thought that this cross had just fallen over on it own looking at it from street view down below. When I finally reached the top I realize it was built that way on purpose.The "Fallen Cross" or "Cruz Caida", in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil. It commemorates a 380-year old church demolished to make way for a streetcar  in 1933 that no longer exist  It represents a church fallen by greed when the archbishop authorized its desctruction after being paid off with a grand new residence. Another story I heard was that a tram crashed into the church demolishing it. Anyway, there just a monument there now over looking the bay.

Playing for Change

Little Fernando and his assortment of instruments. 

Hold it right there! Photo taken with Blackberry 

Okay, I'll play one song with you. Photo taken with Blackberry

This little guy makes more money than I do playing for change on streets of Pelourinho, in Salvador Bahia.

Bahian Women

More Colorful Outfit

Traditional White Outfit 

Women of Salvador Bahia, dressed in traditional outfits. Some outfits are more colorful than others. From what I understand they were originally more on the plain white side but over time became more colorful to help attract tourist as they walk by the local shops where they work.

Colorful Art Work

Setting up for the day

Art work For Sale

There is no storage of colorful art on the streets of Pelorinho in Salvador, Brazil. Many of these artist I found out from taking to them are also musicians who do a little painting and drawing on the side. 

Igreja de Sao Francisco

Igreja de Sao Francisco

One of the many churches in Salvador, Brazil. I'm told there are 365 churches in Salvador, one for everyday of the year. I wonder, with that many churches are there enough priest to go around?

The Old City

Some of the antique structures that you'll see when walking the streets of Pelourinho, in Salvador, Brazil. This city was founded around 1549 not sure when these building were built.   

Old Building In Pelourinho

View from on Top

Pelorinho to the Left 

View from the Top

Lonely Tourist Enjoying the View

Well, this is the view that you will see when you first step off the The Elevador Lacerda. A whole new world of exploring opens up as you'll step back in time. 

Elevador Lacerda

View of the Elevador Lacerda form the Mercado Modelo

View from the Top of  Elevador

Elevador Lacerda-Mercado Modelo Below

Yes this is actually a tourist attraction in Salvador, Brazil. The famous Elevador Lacerda, for about ten cent  it will take you the top into Pelourinho, or to the bottom to the Mercado Modelo depending on which way your going. It quite a ride and worth every cent I even paid for my wife's.

Mercado Modelo

Tourist

Local Vendor Selling??

Enjoying a Fresh Ice Cold Coconut 

The Mercado Modelo, in Salvador Bahia, Brazil. A fun place to hang out on a Saturday afternoon. Just don't use the ATM machine there and leave before the tourist get there.