Let me give a brief explanation of the pictures that I’ve posted from Friday’s tour. “Filhos de Gandhy” is a carnival group inspired by Gandhi that has an old man as a mascot that looks just like Gandhi. (Google-image-it and see for yourself!) The statue of Hippocrates is in front of the library of medicine which belongs to the first medical school built in South America. Cardinal Pedro Fernandes Sardinha was the first bishop of Brazil who was rescued, then eaten by natives. The gold statue is of Tomas Souza, a conquistador who founded Salvador as the first capital of Brazil.

Yesterday I went to Praia do Forte to visit a castle, a turtle preservation, and the beach. The castle was constructed between 1555 and 1624 by Garcia D’Avila who was quartermaster for the Portuguese crown. It is the first large Portuguese establishment in Brazil and served to protect the country from foreign ship attack, thus giving the place its name “Praia do Forte” or the Fortress beach. By the castle there is a g-o-r-g-e-o-u-s tree that is approximately 100 years old. I felt like I had stepped into Bridge to Terabithia. The tree is exceptionally large for its age because there isn’t really winter here and there aren't other trees growing near it to inhibit growth.

And the turtles…oh the turtles! They have a preservation that rescues injured turtles and helps protect the eggs laid on the shore. The pictures are of rescued turtles of various types that are kept in captivity so that the public can come and the organization can raise awareness and funds for the cause.

After lunch I went to the beach and explored the stone reef along the shore. I saw crabs, sea urchins, sea anemones, fishies, and hermit crabs! Further down was open shore without the reef and beautiful clear, warm water. There was also a father teaching his son capoeira near us and a few of us tried to join them. It was super cute because the boy was only 3 or 4.

For the last hour or so I browsed the shops on the beach and bought a beautiful lavender dress for about $15 dollars and then later the necklace in the picture. We left the Praia do Forte around 4:30 and got back just after 6:00PM. The rest of the night I just started brainstorming for my paper which I started writing this morning. I am taking the day to catch up on work and answer e-mails. If I haven’t answered your e-mail yet, expect a reply tomorrow night. (I say tomorrow night because after classes I am going to my first capoeira lesson!)