de ônibus ou de pé

Salvador is not the most pedestrian friendly place I could imagine, as its cobblestone sidewalks are frequently sporting mini-potholes, but it is pretty accesible to able-bodied people. There are many buses throughout the city, and R$2.30, or R$3.00 for an air conditioned bus, seems like a reasonable rate to me. It is somewhat challenging that buses do not stop unless a person at a bus stop waves them down. As a newcomer to the city, I need a bit of time to read the signs in the bus window to determine if the bus is the one I need or not. The city is divided into neighborhoods, and the main roads have clear signs pointing toward the different neighborhoods. One thing that trips me up about navigating around here is that Salvador is kind of hilly, so although I might expect the next left to bring me to Vitoria, it actually goes down to Cidade Baixa.

Driving in Salvador is interesting. There seem to be a great number of one way streets, and finding parking is usually quite a challenge. Sidewalks are actually parking spaces, unless they are garage exits or have a railing to discourage parking. If someone helps you park, by pointing out a spot, telling you how much room you have to back up, or stopping traffic so you can do a u-turn to get that last spot on the block, you generally tip them, because they expect it and you are leaving your car unguarded.

There are more stoplights between my house and my high school than I have yet encountered* in Salvador. They seem to be more fond of roundabouts and stopsigns. And red lights are kind of optional here: In the crazy city driving method, natives pause to check for traffic, then go thru the intersection, especially at night. Stopping at an empty intersection for a red light is a sign of a stranger, and guidebooks warn that traffic lights are a common spot for robberies.
Speed bumps are really common. And in fact, some people take to setting up shops on the speed bumps, just in case you need a mop or a broom or a newspaper for your drive.

*as a pedestrian. In ACBEU trips through the city, I tend not to be able to see out the front of the tour bus, and also tend to fall asleep.