Bem vindo ao Brasil! (Welcome to Brazil)
Every 2 years CAOBA will conduct a trip to Brazil. When it is cold here in the US, it is summer in Brazil. Prepare for our next visit in 2012. Stay tuned for details.
Irani Andreati, president of CAOBA, led a group of twelve to Brazil, where they joined with a group of Brazilians and a bilingual tour guide for a two week adventure in Brazilian culture, food, Carnaval, and the sunny outdoors. The group included several CAOBA volunteers who wanted to better understand the people, history, and language of Brazil.
The group arrived in Vitoria, a mid-size city in the state of Espirito Santo.
Touring the city, they saw museums, landmarks, and spent time at the beach.
Their first excursion to a farm area outside the city gave these travelers a true experience with Brazilian hospitality.
They were welcomed to a home cooked meal, played games and soccer with Brazilian families, and stayed the night before returning to the beach for sunbathing and agua de coco.
The next stop was Porto Seguro in the state of Bahia.
The group stayed in a hotel on the beach with a pool, sauna, gym and restaurant.
It was this historic city where Europeans first set foot in Brazil.
Terra de Santa Cruz marks the spot of the first mass held in Brazil, attended by both Europeans and natives.
The tour guide led the group to several small towns outside Porto Seguro to see maculelê, play capoeira, visit historic churches, and eat at restaurants on the beach.
If you go to Bahia, don’t miss out on acarajé, a traditional dish made from deep fried black-eyed peas, shrimp, and hot peppers.
Nights the group went out to dance in the streets!
During Carnaval, famous Brazilian bands play from on top of large vehicles - buy the band’s shirt, and you too can join the “trio” which is the dancing and parading party that surrounds the band.
However, it’s just as much fun to be part of the “pipoca”, the popcorn crowd, or the revelers that stay outside the rope and dance to all of the bands that pass by.
By morning, early birds were on the beach running, swimming or practicing capoeira before getting ready for the rest of the day.
Other day excursions to Santa Cruz Cabrália and a large crafts market rounded out the visit to Porto Seguro.
A natural mud bath is great for the skin.
It washes off in the river, and you are sure to feel refreshed!
Ready for shopping?
Artwork, wooden bowls, jewelry, clothes, and more were packed for the return trip to Vitoria
The trip included a visit to Orfanato Cristo Rei,
a community youth center in
Vitória . As part of CAOBA’s president’s past, it merged a deeper understanding of something that mirrors CAOBA’s mission and vision. The group met one of his former teachers who gave a tour of the facilities. The center is open to children to keep them off the streets. They spend most of their time there, eating, napping, learning music, art, attending lessons and playing sports. The group was honored with a musical performance. A privilege to witness the beauty of compassion!
The final side trip was a weekend in Rio da Montanha, a small town in the mountains of Espirito Santo.
Breathtaking views of Pedra Azul, hiking trails, fresh fruit from the country roadside, waterfalls, and white water rafting were enjoyed by day, while nights were filled with discussions around the campfire
Back in the city, there was time for a last trip to the beach and a last bowl of açai before flying to New York.
Boa viagem!
