Meu verão, seu inverno!

Sorry I haven`t posted in a while!

Yesterday was Independence Day in Salvador, although Brazil`s Independence Day is on September 7th (1822?). Why does Salvador have another Independence Day? Apparently... after Brazil became independent from Portuguese, some loyal-Portuguese people in Brazil fled to Salvador, so basically they had their own Portuguese civilization here, still. So, on July 2, 1823 (?), almost a year after the majority of Brazil was freed from Portuguese control, locals in Salvador rebelled... and thus, became independent!

Anyways. Thus, I didn`t have school, yesterday, so... I walked around the city! In the morning, I went to the beach (Praia da Barra), which was ALREADY crowded with people at 10:30 or so! Keep in mind... this is supposed to be WINTER in Salvador, and someone was saying how the water was a little cold, but.. hey! It was a WARM, SUNNY day.. and the water was definitely warmer than California water (which isn`t saying much, since I think that California beach water is COLD... due to the coastal water flowing from currents from the north?).

So, how is the beach scene, even in the middle of winter in Salvador? MANY people lying on the beach (mainly on sarongs, NOT towels. People don`t really use towels at the beach, here!) .. parasols.. tiny bikinis on everyone, including people who shouldn`t really be wearing them (haha!)... lots of necklace/sarong/henna vendors... men (vendors) walking along the beach carrying poles with sunscreen and tanning lotion packets dangling from them... acarajè (a type of local food) women...

My menu for yesterday included going to a shop with açai! Basically, I had a bowl of açai puree (smoothie?) with slices of banana and granola sprinkled on top. SOOO GOOD! I`m definitely going back. Afterwards, on the beach, my friend and I had some cheese on a stick. Basically, what is also SUPER common on beaches (and on the streets.. basically, there is cheese EVERYWHERE, haha!), are `queijeros,` men who carry around tupperware boxes full of rectangular blocks of cheese, as well as metal containers full of charcoal. So, they come up to you, you ask for a queijo, and they plop their stuff right there in front of you on the beach, set up the charcoal, stick a queijo on a kebab stick, grill it right there... then ask if you want either oregano or molasses/honey on it! I`m sure it has plenty of fat/calories, but... SO worth it. Hey! Only in Brazil, right? haha!

Açai: 5 Reais. Queijo: 2 Reais. Having SUCH a labor-intense summer?? aww~...