Dia Dois em Belem

Today was one of those mornings where you don't hear the alarm clock, you don't think your body is capable of getting out of bed and your eyes hurt to open...Slept worse than the first night, but it gets better right? I'm sure this is a traveling thing, but jeez I'm tired!
Marisol woke up at 8:20 and we both got ready in time for the breakfast (cafe de manha) downstairs.

Today they did not have my favorite little morning sandwiches, but the juice was still yummy!

Raul arrived to take us on our morning adventures and we split up into to vehicles (not squishing all in one cab this time). Our first stop was the University to have our first full academic class together and to meet some of the Brazilian students of the University.

When we arrived to our designated classroom ONE student from the University joined us to take pictures and get information about us for a piece she is writing for their school paper. She was the only student we got to meet today, but hopefully tomorrow the other students with join and we can mingle and ask, probably ignorant, questions.

In class, JOURNALISM:Global Media Studies, Raul covered a lecture about finding story ideas and pitching them to your editor. A lot of the research and investigative tactics are similar to students trying to break into the film industry. Reading the trades, networking, taking advantage of events and internet publications/subscriptions.
Stephanie (classmate) then had a presentation on Medicine. Both lectures correlated in asking yourself "who" questions. Who is credible/reliable, who is likely to be bias(i.e. religious group), who is backing the money on the research or project? We went over a lot of factors to consider in the development of an article and the appropriate sources to keep close.

When we left class most of us needed to go to a bank to get money changed/converted. Apparently travelers checks are the worst way to travel to Brazil, the banks either don't know what that is or can not help you. The stores do not accept them as payment and the banks can't convert them to hard money....so what do you do? Let me save you time, downtown near Estacao Das Docas "Banco do Brazil" that is probably the only bank in the town that can help you. Get there with time to spare because the lines are lengthy and the system involves lines to get into lines..(below is a picture taken probably during the closed hrs, it is NEVER that empty!)
Two girls wandered and got lost in the market vendors giving the rest of the group a kidnap scare! Hopefully that was a lesson to all of us not do shit like that again! In the time they were missing these armed men (in uniform, police/swat) with rifles IN HAND walking towards the bank and US arrived. Too many scary possibilities at once. Just on the verge of my nerves unraveling the two girls found there way back to us.
























The group of us then all walked back together towards Das Docas for lunch. The same buffet restaurant we went to the previous day, only different plates/meals and NO American Express this time? Hmm...okay, they definitely accepted it yesterday!















Lunch was just as good as the day before and my plate was even fuller!


From lunch we took a taxi to a nearby church (igreja) where we saw the unique architecture of constructing walls from fish oil/paste to concrete the brick and clay. There were Roman paintings from the 19th century throughout the cathedral and incredibly intricate hand carved wooden details on the walls and ceilings. Of course there was no photography allowed inside! (to preserve the culture and quality of the inside) But, it was beautiful! The church no longer holds services but is used for academic reasons and ceremonies. (next weekend our professor's nephew is getting married there!)
Here are some pictures from OUTSIDE the church where pictures were allowed. (Marisol and Raul ) Very close to the market and a MANGO TREE! They are everywhere, Belem is the city of mangoes!



















In walking distance from the church we went into an indigenous museum (the red building below) where we saw the history behind the magic of frogs and the clay sculptures of them still used and made for good luck charms here in Brazil.

(me and Patrick on the terrace of the museum)

We also saw a FLOATING gas station for boats!

 

After a long, hot, and educational day we headed back to the hotel to write our blogs, update our facebook and pictures, and try to get in touch with family and friends.

After a good cool down in the hotel rooms we made contact with a local girl, Gabih. She was introduced to Marisol and me from girls from last year's trip. It was easy to understand why they recommended we get in touch with her. Gabih brought the comfort and energy us American tourists needed to feel more at ease in this new city and country. She sang, she danced, she made us laugh and recommended excellent food and other adventures for us to take on while we are in Belem. She also came with two of her adorable and kindhearted friends Vanessa and John-Christian. With these knowledgeable Brazilians at our side we felt like we were able to let loose a little and embarrassed ourselves a little more comfortably. Between both language speaking groups, on both sides, we all managed to educate and confuse each other in the most entertaining ways.

After an excellent meal, we received the check and...

WHAT were all of these strange charges?! Yes, the receipt was in Portuguese, but numbers look the same in both languages and there were definitely items we did NOT order. Good thing Gabih and her Brizilian crew were able to explain, because we never would have guessed that we were being charged to split our food portions AND for listening to the ambiance music provided my the restaurant...

The obvious step from this was to head to the bar!
We walked over to the brewery of Amazon Beer, I had the "Amazon Forest" which tasted rich but not too powerful and absolutely delicious! The cerveja in Brazil = muito bom!


Now we are back at the hotel, in bed, and ready for the next day!

Boa Noite!