For a week in Feburary 2008, I returned to Brazil after studying abroad there in 2005. My first stop was the beach resort town of Trancoso (pictured above). The town was so small that only after four days, I already knew many of the locals. But one can only spend so much time on the beach, so I packed my bags and moved to the vibrant city of Salvador.

       When I arrived in Salvador, people were playing music in the streets, practicing Capoeira, and tying ribbons on your wrists and making you pay for them. I have never seen a city with more energy. During the day you can relax on the beach and at night you can follow the music in the streets to watch samba groups practicing for Carnival.

salvador has more churches than any other city in the world, to wash away all the sins