Day 45: Weekend Update

Day 45: Weekend Update

On Sunday, I didn’t do much. Went to church, which is basically the same where ever you go.

Then I went to my room and slept, because I was so tired. I watched the Olympics. Wherever you are in Brazil, if there is a TV, they are playing the Olympics. I was excited because the Men’s Basketball team was playing and I am obsessed with basketball.

After a while we decided to take a walk along the beach. We happen to see one of our classmates who had rented a longboard, some of us tried to longboard, and some of us decided to rent inline skates.

After a while we just went home and got ready to go to Manaus, because our wakeup call was like 2:30 am. 

Day 44: Exploring Fortaleza

Day 44: Exploring Fortaleza

Saturday morning, we split into smaller groups and went to historical points in the city of Fortaleza.

My group started off by going to the Metropolitan Cathedral of Fortaleza. It was a Neogothic styled church, meaning that the style was gothic, but because it was not in the same time period as original gothic styled churches, historians refer to the style as neo-gothic, as in new gothic. It had all the original gothic elements, two twin spires, rose windows, stained glass, ribbed vaults, and buttresses. The inside was incredibly gorgeous, and very worked, because it took about 40 years to make! It was truly stunning.

 We went to the Mercado central afterwards. I thought it was going to be just another building where people sell their arts and crafts, but it was much bigger than that. In fact I think it was about 4 stories high, with a crazy intertwining passage ways to get around the building quicker. Most of the stores sold the same style or type of product, and that’s why it’s good to try to talk the prices down. However, I am not good at that, and did not buy anything anyway. It was interesting to see how large the structure was though.

We then went to the Dragao Center of Art. When we got there it was closed until 2, and it was only 11, so we decided to keep exploring. We found another part of that same museum where they had an exhibition on Luis Gonzaga, our dear from Luis Gonzaga, exploring the history of forro music and such.

Then we went to the Theater of Jose de Alancar but that was closed for renovation.

Later that day I got my eyebrows waxed. That doesn’t seem like it’s that important. But in Brazil, all the women had their eyebrows done. There is a salon in every corner. The women are obsessed with presenting themselves well. Even our maid would go to the salon once a week. It made me feel like I was partaking of the culture.

Overall it was a fun time looking at the different things the city had to offer.

Day 43: The Dark Knight

Day 43: The Dark Knight

On Friday we got on an air plane and headed out to Fortaleza. Something I like about travelling in Brazil is that security is not as annoying. It was forever to get through security in the United States, but not as long in Brazil.

Getting enough taxis to take us to our hotel took a while; I don’t think the girl at the front desk understood what we wanted.  When we finally got to our hotel, it was really interesting. It had a small kitchen and living room; we hadn’t had that in any of the other hotels we have stayed in.

Later that night we went to watch The Dark Knight Rises. The theater is inside the mall. In brazil, the women dress up really nicely to go to the mall, so my friends and I did our make up and put on nicer clothes so that we would blend in better with the Brazilians.

It was interesting because as we were standing in line, a guy was like “I like your hat” to my friend Mitch; he was wearing a BYU hat. I automatically thought that was weird, and then he started talking to us in English and he said he graduated from BYU and that he was doing some work for his masters in Fortaleza. We talked to him for a bit and it was cool, the small world syndrome.

The Dark Knight Rises is definitely not my favorite movie, but Brazilians seem to love it. They really love anything that is very American it seems. 

Day 42: Everybody look at me, I’m on a Boat

Day 42: Everybody look at me, I’m on a Boat

I went on a boat. It took us to two islands in the bay of Salvador.

First we wrote a giant elevator that takes you from the upper level of the city to the lower level. Salvador is a very hilly city and there are huge winding roads everywhere.

Then we saw the Mercado modelo, which is the building where they would keep the slaves before they would sell them. That’s where they would weigh them and show them off to slave owners. If one of the slaves was aggressive they would put him in the basement. The Mercado is literally 15 feet from the beach, when the tide would come in, it would drown whoever was down there.

The boat ride took us to two islands. The first one had the clearest most beautiful water I have ever seen. I wanted to swim out forever, but there were jelly fish, so I stayed very close to the shore.

On the boat there was a samba band. They played everyone’s favorite song, Ai se eu te pego. They were really funny. I tipped them well because I felt bad that when their hat got to me there wasn’t much in there. There are people who work hard in brazil, and make very little money, it makes me feel appreciative for what I have.

The boat ride to the next island was really rough on the water. We ended up on a small island which had a few locals. Some of the group took a tour of the city. I decided to sleep on a hammock, when in Bahia, do as the Bahians do, right? There is a joke that the people of Bahia, the state we are in, are really lazy, I just wanted to experience the culture on a hammock.

When we got home, I again watched community and just slept. It was a fantastic day. 

Day 41: Finally, out into the city

Day 41: Finally, out into the city

I still was not feeling very well, but I did not want to miss out on any more activities.

Vanessa got us a bus with a tour guide. He first took us to this lake. The story went something like it was made from the tears of something, I think. Either way, it was really pretty with really white sands.

We later went to a turtle zoo. It was really interesting. The rehabilitate turtles and keep them in captivity in order to keep the zoo running. Although this seems like a weird concept, they use the proceeds from the zoo to protect sea turtles. For example, protecting areas where there are turtle eggs in order for them to hatch safely. We were also able to touch some sting rays, it was really slimy and cool.

Later we went to a beach. It was a nice beach, with good water. Most of us were really tired and just stayed under an umbrella. There was a man selling things on the beach, there always are people trying to sell us things especially because some of the boys we are with are really really white. Anyway, the guy would make BEAUTIFUL landscapes using nothing just paint and his finger tips, and it was extremely amazing. It was disappointing to hear that he didn’t  sell his work much and that it was a very hard job. Some of the boys we were with bought so many paintings that they paid him 100 reais.

We later went home, and after feeling sick for most of the day, I went into the sauna. In the sauna we met a dentist who was on vacation from Rio de Janeiro. Its really fun and interesting to talk to random people in random places. Brazilians are really open people and always willing to talk.

For the rest of the night I just wanted some more community and slept, still sick.

Days 39 and 40: I needed a Salvador, from my sickness

Days 39 and 40: I needed a Salvador, from my sickness

On Monday the 23, we all packed our bags and headed to Salvador. We said good by to our AMAZING family and the funniest maid ever. It was sad, I will miss them so much! 

It was a pretty short flight, but I get really stressed out if I am not in the airport at least 4 hours before my flight. Thus, trying to fly with 20 something people was really hectic and crazy for me. Overall the flight was pretty fine.

When we finally got to our hotel room, it was really nice. It was probably the nicest hotel we have stayed in so far. We mostly just hung out at the hotel that night and didn’t do much.

The next day I was extremely sick. I did not want to go out and get sicker. I was coughing really hard, like whooping awful cough. Luckily, or ironically?, my roommate was also sick so we stayed home and watched Pushing Daisies, the tv show together.

Later that night some of the boys came over and we watched Community, because Sara and I were too tired from being sick to do anything. Good thing it was a nice hotel room. 

Day 36, 37, 38: Weekend Update

Day 36, 37, 38: Weekend Update

I did not do much this past weekend. On Friday I went shopping with some of the girls and I bought shoes. They are adorable. They are purple suede flats with a bow. I wore them to the youth dance we went to later that night.

We had learned some line dances in order to teach the kids, but if anyone knows me they know that I am the worst choreographed dancer ever. It was super hard for me to try to keep beat, but I did the best I could.

Brazilian teenagers are very interesting. They look to be tagged in pictures and are obsessed with Facebook. Even if they only met you for 4 minutes, they still want to add you on Facebook, its crazy.

On Saturday we went to the Museum of the Northeastern Man. It was a museum kind of summarizing all the stuff we have been seeing and learning about on our trip, like the sertanejo. It was neat to see everything summed up. But later that night I got really sick and didn’t go to the soccer game and just stayed home and rested.

On Sunday we went to mass to see the Gregorian chants in Olinda. It was really fantastic, even though I am not a fan of mass, it was the Gregorian chants that I found really relaxing. I also really enjoyed being a church that was over 400 years old, and that was built just a few years after Brazil was discovered.

After that our house mom decided to take us on a little tour of Recife, and we went to the Bernnand statues that no one in our group wanted to go to except for Cristina and I. it was fantastic. I liked it a lot. However, I was still sick so I felt bad for most of the day.

That night was our goodbye party with Carbonel, his wife is literally gorgeous. He is a sweet guy and I hope everything he is working on turns up well.

Day 35: Porto De Galinhas

Day 35: Porto De Galinhas

We went on vacation AGAIN!

This time we went to Porto De Galinhas, which means port of chickens. It was named this because when the slave trade was banned, and slave traders were still bringing slaves into brazil, they would say that the chickens were here. Chicken was the code name given to the slaves. Eventually the name stuck and that’s what they called the city.

Even though its history is a little dark, it is a really beautiful city. There are wooden chickens in funny outfits all over the place. It’s really touristic, there are small shops everywhere.

When we got there we took a boat ride to the reef and fed fish, and swam with fish. I really did not like walking on the reef at all. I felt like it was killing a part of nature that took thousands of years to create. I don’t know. I just felt guilty.

Afterwards Sara and I got our hair dreaded. It was really funny because the price was originally 20, and Sara talked the girl down to 7. I would never be that brave, but that’s hos business is handled in Brazil.

We spent most of the time sleeping on the beach or in the water. The water is really gorgeous here, super clean.

A whole day on the beach is always exhausting but completely worth it. 

Day 34: Back from Vay-Cay

Day 34: Back from Vay-Cay

The day after vacation, we got back to work. In class we learned about Lula, the last president of Brazil, and a few other people who are part of Brazilian conscious, like Lampiao and Maria Bonita, the Brazilian Bonnie and Clyde.

After class we went to Antigo Recife. First we started the trip off by standing at 0, the middle of Recife, where everything rotates from there.

Then we walked around until we found the old Synagogue. In an interesting turn of events, this part of Brazil had a very large Jewish population. The synagogue was covered up and transformed into a multiple purpose building, and eventually forgotten about. Eventually, people kept wondering why water was coming from the floor. After digging up the floor boards they found a well, and after more digging they discovered that it was an old synagogue. The well was used in traditional Jewish ceremonies.

Now the building stands in remembrance of the past Jewish culture of Recife.

After that, we did as we always do, and found a catholic church.

It was truly a beautiful catholic church. One of the rooms was completely covered in gold leaf. It was gorgeous. Of course, I got distracted by the paintings and such and barely listened to our guide, but that’s what happens when you are an art major, you can stare at a single painting for hours and still feel like it wasn’t enough.

After that we went to a park in the middle of the city and hung out looking at some old trees and buildings until we decided to go home.

It was a fun day!

Day 33: Natal and Recife

Day 33: Natal and Recife

It was our last day in Natal, and we did what anyone would do, we went to a military fort.

It was a really nice military fort. I wish I could say some of the history of it, but there were so many people that I could barely hear the guide.

I do remember that at one point there was a lighthouse on the fort, but it eroded away and now there is just a small plaque on the floor dedicated to that lighthouse.

The best part of being on that fort was the view. You could see all of Natal from there, and it was a truly beautiful sight.

The bus ride home was 4 hours long, but it feels like much longer because the roads are so bumpy. The bumpy ride always puts me right to sleep.

We were really tired so we stayed home for the rest of the day, and rested from our vacation. 

Day 32: Natal

Day 32: Natal

Natal was amazing.

We had a delicious breakfast at the hotel. My new favorite breakfast food is tapioca stuffed with cheese and condensed milk, DELICIOUS.

Anyway, we met up and went to the beach for most of the day. It was a nice beach, but there was a lot of sea weed and it got all over our bathing suits. I was pretty itchy for most of the day.

Our professor had a surprise for us: DUNE BOOGYS. It was hilarious. I was laughing so hard. I liked it a lot. Our driver was really crazy. And because the girls I was with were having a really fun time, he drove even crazier.

We stopped at the top of one dune, and you could look over this gorgeous valley with a lake and greenery all over. It was really picturesque. Brazil is truly a gorgeous country with a ton of natural wonders. No matter where you are, there is always something beautiful that really takes your breath away.

After an exhausting day full of activities, we went to dinner at a rodizio of pizza. I love pizza. Brazilian pizza is delicious because the crusts are super skinny, so you can try a lot of flavors and not feel full.

It was really a great day, I loved it. By far one of the best days of the trip.

Day 31: Joao Pessoa Part 2

Day 31: Joao Pessoa Part 2

On Sunday we went to church and it was awesome. It was a really nice chapel in the middle of nowhere. There were very few members, but you could really feel the love of the people. I love seeing the Church is the same no matter where you are. Our bus driver was even interested in going to sacrament meeting, which was really fun.

After church we went to the most eastern point of South America and stood at the point and took pictures. It was really pretty. Of course, we were all in our church clothes, and looked even more like tourists.

After we went to the historic part of the city, and saw some really nice old buildings, that were now used for government purposes.

Later we went to some catholic churches. I was really proud of myself because I said “wow this looks really rococo” and later when talking to the tour guide he said that it was a great example of the rococo style in Brazil.

The second church we went to was very different; it was in a baroque style, which is the dominant style of catholic churches in this part of the country.  Anyway, the interesting this about this church was that it mostly built by slaves, even the art work was done by slaves, which isn’t very common. It was a gorgeous church. We later took a tour of the surrounding areas, and a small museum housing local art

.

That same night we drove to Natal, which means Christmas in English.

So in Joao Pessoa, we had lost our reservations. When we got to Natal, we were really excited because the hotel looked gorgeous from the outside. Vanessa went off the bus to check our reservations. She told us that they too had lost our reservations and we could either sleep on the bus or go home. Of course, we all believed her; which says a lot about Brazilians.  She was joking, but it was very believable.

It was a really nice hotel. Some of us ate dinner at the hotel and went swimming in 2 pools and in the ocean. Surprisingly, the ocean water was a lot warmer than the pools, it was FANTASTIC. 

Day 30: Joao Pessoa part 1

Day 30: Joao Pessoa part 1

Today we got on a bus and went to Joao Pessoa. It was a small town just a few hours from where I am now. First of all, we had a 48 passenger bus, and there were only 21 of us. It was fantastic to have a whole row to yourself. I slept, and was comfortable on reclining seats.

When we got there, we had to stay in groups of 3, I decided to room with Sara and Carla. They are fantastic, and I like them a lot. We went to our rooms and got ready for the rest of the day.

We changed into bathing suits and went to the beach. It was a really nice beach. The weather was not perfect, a little overcast, but we made the best of it. I was in the water forever, because I just love being in the water, it makes me feel like I am a little fish. Some of the group played sports on the sand. I am not a big fan of sand, and I am not a big fan of getting hurt, so I just sat and watched them. Some people dug holes in the sand, and built stuff with the sand, like a gator. Overall it was really relaxing and really fun.

We eventually made it to this beautiful boardwalk overlooking a gorgeous river.  

However, things got really strange when this man got on a boat and started playing the saxophone. 

Apparently, he is actually very famous in Joao Pessoa and people love listening to him play the sax. It was very humorous to me, and for some reason all I could think about was Sexy Sax Man from YouTube.  Either way, the music was fun to listen to because the saxophone happens to be my favorite instrument. We had dinner there, and walked along the board walk. Of course, there was more arts and crafts to be looked at and bought, but I didn’t buy any.

Later that night we just watched the  Walking Dead, the best tv show ever. Fun times.