Oi! Yesterday, Friday, was a very long day for us, but a good one. We had breakfast together at 5AM and then left at 5:30 to drive out of the city and up along the coastline. After a few hours of driving (and Colin sleepily getting out of the van with his towel and bathing suit on even though we were only at a gas station many km inland), we arrived at our first destination. The name of this town is Arraial Do Cabo, in the state of Rio De Janeiro, and it is a town with a lot of beaches, a bit of a tourist economy, and a lot of history as a very old port. Sailing, exploration, colonization, slavery, lighthouses, fishing etc... it's all in this history of this town. A short hike got us to a beach that felt very remote even though it was pretty easy to get to: Praia Forno. It was a stunningly beautiful place where we got to swim, snorkel, learn a bit about marine life, and relax until lunch. Lunch was an all you can eat seafood buffet in town.
After that, we got back in the cars and headed towards a town called Buzios, also in the state of Rio De Janeiro, where we went to a beach called Praia da Ferradura. This is a very cool town with a lot of homes along the beach and a big surf culture. My sense is that this town had a bit more money behind it than some other places we have seen in Brazil... a bit of a resort town. We walked along the beach around sunset and got to see a big sea cliff outcrop where the rocks match up with rocks in Africa: a major piece of evidence that helped back up and refine geologic continental drift theories. Pretty neat stuff.
Long drive home last night, but all is well. Today the students are on a tour of Rio with Gloria, our host. I've decided to stay here and take care of a cut on my foot that has gotten pretty infected and doesn't need anymore dirt crammed in to it. This afternoon, we will all go together to the Escola SESC "social project", where the school goes to help out with children and the elderly in some of the poorer parts of this city. Tonight, there is a talent show that we are invited to here on campus.
Tomorrow, one last exploration of the city with our hosts, and then we'll get on a plane in the evening to head back home.
-Hannes