From Alberto, April 10, 2000
Luiz Melodia
Acustico ao vivo

Nice live album

Hi folks,

Another nice day.  Visited the widest tree in the world.  A giant spreading cashew tree.  Over 100 years old and just huge and wild.  Also, we had a nice lunch care of my parents and the parents of Georgina and Johanna.

Then, a quiet afternoon by the pool, reading RC literature and swimming.  It was nice to just relax a little and think over all I have seen over the past couple days. At some point it would be nice to write some postcards, do some laundry and unpack, but it's such a hassle packing again, that I think I'll just leave everything I can until we get to our next destination, Campina Grande.

Tomorrow my family has me most of the day and I think we'll be visiting a museum, possibly heading to the mall again to buy some tickets for the whole team for later in the week.  I think we're going to see a forro show and another musical evening is also planned. Lots to do and see.  We saw some amazing beaches today - the pictures from that trip should be coming soon and they are spectacular.  Also, we watched dolphins swim today.

It's about midnight and these folks are up and drinking cafezinho.  The above album, which is very nice, btw, is playing loud and clear and I just dipped in the pool.  Dad has a seminar tomorrow that he's teaching and Mom runs a couple businesses downtown, or at least rents the space for the restaurant and insurance buildings.  We had lunch in the restaurant. People here are kind of into the huge salad bar thing which suits me fine. It's different than the Korean groceries in NYC, but not too much. 

Rotary meeting tonight and for once they were asking for a song.  The one time I didn't bring my guitar.

Oh yeah, I almost forgot, I finally made the acquaintance of my first activist - that I know of. He's a lawyer and a really interesting guy.  Speaks English well which also helps.  He also works on websites and we've had a great time connecting today. His name is Harrison and the tour he gave us today was filled with information about some of the places where he's  been working to stop this or that development. 
 
We also talked a bit about the population problem this world has and it was just great to meet him.  I hope we'll get a chance to spend more time together later this week.

Enough for now.  Here are some more pix from the cachaca plantation.  Also, there will be another batch or two from the following day. 

Alberto