Sept 11 CACHOEIRA

Got up at 730 to catch an 830 bus to see the rural sights of Brazil. Our final destination would be CACHOEIRA. On the way there we made two put stops. The first town was Sant Mara, working town known for its big market. People have things hand made and imported. People buy/sell in bulk. People from outside towns/cities even come to purchase the market’s goods. Lots of fruits, vegetables, meats, flour, palm oil, and clothes. Best thing to see was the pure tobacco. We were able to see it grounded up into flakes, rolled up and then we coul smoke it. After walking through the entire market we got back on the bus. We headed to this farm land that was reclaimed and redistributed through a movement alled MST (English: Movement Without Land). Land that isn’t being used is found by this organization who look at the mortgage payment and enclose on the land to get it back, the establish some houses and then get the govt to approve that they are legit. There was a jaor tree/fruit farm growing coffe and cocoa beans, bananas, and tobacco. It was a very small town but I bought some hand packed chocolate. Finally mad it to Cachoeira. Had lunch at an old convent that was turned into  hotel/restaurant/church. The lunch was very filling, basically a seven course meal. The city is very quaint and on one of the biggest rivers in Brazil. We walked through the town and stopped at a Candomble temple and met some of the sisters. Then we crossed the river over the bridge to antoehr small town across the way to a tobacco plantation/factory. Watched the women roll cigars. It smelled soo good I cant even tell you. We learned about the whole process of rolling them, storing them,, and unwrapping them before they are ready to be sold/smoked (the entire process is about a month). I bought some for people back home. Had a two hour bus ride home and SLEPT. Absolutely exhausted and I have to write emails, update the blog and write a paper. SAWEET! So pumped to be rocked to sleep w/ us leaving port and on our way to Walvis Bay, Namibia.

( Happy Birthday Cait)

and God Bless America