The São Joaquim Market is the largest open air bazaar in Salvador, Brazil. It is an extremely lively maze overflowing with rich culture, vivid colors and a wide array of merchandise. This vendor specialized in dendê oil and fresh peppers which are both signature ingredients in traditional Bahian dishes. Dende oil can be easily identified in the market by its bright red color and strong aroma. The pepper selection is pretty vast but you’ll commonly find the Malagueta pepper which is infamous for spicing up the local fare. In other areas of the São Joaquim Market you can find exotic fruits, spices, rolls of tobacco, home goods, jewelry, pottery, religious items and much more. There is also a large meat section, not for the faint of heart, where you can buy almost any animal part imaginable.

The Bonfim church in Salvador, Brazil has become famous for their colorful wish ribbons. Thousands of ribbons are tied to the fence surrounding the church. It's an amazing sight and ritual! Visitors to the church can tie a ribbon to their wrist and make three wishes (one for each knot tied to secure the ribbon). Legend has it that their wishes will be granted when the ribbon naturally disintergrates and falls off. It cannot be cut off or removed. My ribbon took over a year to fall off. It's quite the commitment.

Porto Da Barra is one of the more well known beaches in Salvador, Brazil, and on a daily basis is filled with both locals and tourists alike. The beach is set within a bay and contains a break-wall that keeps the water calm and great for swimming. This break-wall is a very popular place to dive into the water and is typically filled with people. On this particular afternoon, I spent hours on the beach people-watching and relaxing. Eventually the crowd dissipated as evening fell. Only one individual remained on the break-wall and I enjoyed watching him repeatedly practice his dives. I could imagine the rush of adrenaline as he launched himself off the wall into the water. I snapped a few photos from the beach and was invigorated when I discovered that I had captured this moment in time.

An afternoon rendezvous to play dominos. While wandering through the streets of Pelourinho in Salvador, Brazil, I stumbled upon these two charming men playing dominos. My favorite aspect of the image is that there is no table present. Instead, they have balanced a large board on their knees to create their game space.

A series of four pieces that were in one spot in Salvador. From top left (this may be a little rough translation): You are a Jerk You are a Theif You Idiot You are Corrupt

This street scene of Salvador, Brazil, highlights the visible disparity between wealth and poverty that can be noted throughout the city. The city slums, "favelas", can be found all over Salvador. They are commonly surrounded by well groomed areas like the one shown here with newly paved roads, modern vehicles, and bike paths. Cruising the streets of Salvador: Are we there yet?

The São Joaquim market in Salvador, Brazil, offers a broad spectrum of merchandise. At the far end of the market you can even purchase live animals. While walking through this area I saw goats, chickens, ducks and doves. A baby goat costs around 70 Reals or $45.

Take the elevator from the historic upper city down to the lower city for only 0.15 Reals. Enjoy views of Bahia's Afro-Brazil mix of art, music and architecture.

In the neighborhood of Campo Grande, a little poking along the back streets can result in a fantastic view of the ocean- and some prime real estate, even among the towering, modern apartment buildings.

Locals come to this bustling square every evening to practice capoeira. My friend and I stumbled on a group of men practicing and joined the crowd that had gathered to watch. Their movements were so graceful and powerful. We were inspired to take a capoeira class ourselves the next day. The square also has a huge dance party, with vendors selling snacks and drinks, once a week. Local bands provide the music.

Near the lighthouse of Salvador (Farol do Barra) there is a wide alley of cafes and bars that opens up onto the main road. I never remember the name of the alley or even of the cafes- but I tell people to look for the large mural of the mermaid at the alley's opening. Meet me at the Mermaid Alley.

The ribbons tied to the gates of the Church of Bonfim (and to wrists of visitors in Salvador) signify the thousands of pilgrims who arrive at this historic site. The ribbons, called "lembrancas," are tied with a prayer or wish in mind. Each color signifies a syncretized identity of an African orixas and Catholic saint.

Of all of my experiences in Salvador, my favorite had to be watching the sunset to the haunting music of the berimbau and watching graceful, lithe bodies move in perfect harmony to the music.

This room just struck me as so odd and sweet. All the hanging (plastic) appendages adorn this quaint room and hover over you, giving things to healing miracles. I felt they would best be photographed as I experienced them - standing in the center of the room, looking up.

When slave ships departed Western African, they left from Doors of No Return. If the imported people survived the journey to Brazil, they were brought here to Castelo Garcia D'Avila, a fort built around 1550, then shipped to other parts of the country to be sold to work plantations. It is powerful to navigate the ruins with views of the ocean and then to imagine those people who longed to find their way home. This is an important landmark to see if you are visiting the Mercado Modelo, the former slave market in Salvador, or the Museu Afro-Brasil in São Paulo.