"I must have chosen the wrong season to come down..." -The Duhks couldn't have said it better. Apparently, this summer is supposed to be in the hundreds here. Yikes. And, I just found out that the sickness almost all of us in the house have is really common when you first get here. Its like a sun-cold or something, I guess its just acclimating to the weather or some strange business. So, I'm not the only one who is still sneezing and coughing and sounds like a thousand year old man. But, the good news is that its only supposed to last a couple weeks. At most. SWEET!
Ok, so some things about Salvador and Brazil in general that I've noticed: There is graffiti EVERYwhere. seriously, everywhere you look there is some graffiti on walls and buildings and everything. But, its different than American graffiti. Its mostly pictures and not so many words - and they are amazing. shading and all sorts of stuff. I wish I could get some pictures, but for the most part I see it on the way to placement (what we call the place we go volunteer at) everyday. Sometimes I want to stop the driver and just walk down the street, all tourist like, and just take a million pictures so you could see. There is also this famous metalworker who does gates and fences for the city, and they are incredible! The fence by the marina has a mermaid, who is also an Orisha in Candomble, Yemanja. They also do a lot of tile work on the gross concrete walls around the city. And, all the sidewalks are made out of white and black stones that are put together in designs. Sometimes its wavy, sometimes it a particular design of something. Its really incredible, because it is everywhere around our house and in Graca.
Brazilians seem to have their own ideas about what and when things will get done. Its just this little taste I've had, but it seems like you never really know what to expect with them... You could get exactly what you ask for, and sometimes its an hour later, and sometimes its five minutes later. Sometimes, you get charged what you think you will, and somtimes its less. Sometimes its more.
So, we went to the beach today, and we took the bus. Should have been an easy adventure, right? Oh my. The busses here are not like they are in Chapel Hill. OR in Durham. They are confusing. And not just because I don't speak portuguese or really know where I am. They are ridiclous. They have tiny signs and huge signs, and neither of them make any sense. Anyway, we finally got there, after some help from several locals. On the way back this guy we thought was trying to help us was really trying to get us to get on a bus to another part of town with him... eh, not gonna happen sir.
John, I brought the mase with me for the first time, and I seriously felt so much more secure than I have ever. I thought this creepy guy was going to try and rob us or kidnap us, so i got the mase out and started messing with it, and soon enough, creep-o disappeared. Thanks!
Ok, its time to shower. My shoulders are peeling from last weekend's sunburn. Everyone comes home every weekend burnt to a crisp, its kinda funny. Not me this weekend! No burn at all! heck yea!
Daddy - pictures soon.