Two weeks down in Salvador and I have had to learn a lot of new things about the city that is my home for the next 14 weeks. Salvador is a city full of interesting neighborhoods, music, and people. In order to be able to check out all the wonderful beaches, historic sites, and oh ya... get to school, taking the bus is an absolute must! While some students on my program are close enough to walk to UFBA (Universidade Federal de Bahia), I'm a bit farther out in the wonderful neighborhood of Alto de Ondina. Buses in Salvador are great, you just need to know how and when to use them. A little context to the transportation situation: Salvador is a city of roughly 3 million people and its population is growing, pedestrians don't stick to the sidewalk, cars take up two lanes at a time, and buses swerve in and out of traffic like its nobody's business. Getting around can seem a bit intimidating, but I promise that if you follow these tips, public transportation in Salvador can actually be really great!
1. Know which bus you need to take and at the bus stop, flag it down!- Each bus has a specific route that it goes and certain stops it passes by. Because multiple buses pass by the same stop, they won't actually stop unless someone is getting off there or you flag it down. Its like hailing a cab, step out on the sidewalk, stick your hand out, and get ready to hop on!
2. Get on the back of the bus- That could sound weird, but that's how most buses work: Get on at the back and pay the cobrador (guy who collects bus fare) and then get off at the front. Buses can get pretty crowded, especially during rush hour, so it helps keep the flow of traffic on and off the bus moving somewhat smoothly!
3. Have small bills on you for bus fare- Buses around Salvador cost 2.80 reais and if you pay with anything more than 10 reais, the cobrador will probably not be very happy about you taking a lot of his change. I keep a small coin purse on me and anytime I break a bill or get change, I stick the 2 reai bills in it to make sure that I always have some bus money.
4. Know key landmarks around your destination- if you get lost and ask for directions, most people aren't going to give you street names. They'll tell you to go straight towards the soccer stadium, turn left at the big statue, and right at the market where Maria sells acaraje. If you can learn some easy landmarks, finding your destination once you get off the bus will be much simpler!
5. Most importantly, don't be afraid to ask people if you are confused!- Bahianos are typically very friendly and if you ask them which bus you should take or when you should get off, they are happy to help you out. I have only been here for two weeks and I have definitely already gotten lost, missed my stop, or been on the complete wrong bus. Stay calm, ask for help, and you will get to your destination just fine.
Good phrases to know:
Este ônibus vai para __________? Does this bus go towards ____________?
Que ponto de ônibus está mais próximo a ___________? Which bus stop is closest to ____________?
Muito obrigado/a por sua ajuda! Thank you very much for your help!
Hope these tips are helpful if you are ever taking the bus in Salvador!
Tchau!
Marissa