A Lagoa e a feira hippie

Well, yesterday the internet went out (it's a bit fickle and quite devious), so I didn't have a chance to post these pictures that we took at the lake. It's like Lake Merritt, but with a lot more street vendors and crazy two person bike-carriages for rent, which I completely forgot to get a picture of.

Dominic talked about imagining what it would have been like to come upon this sight before any development. Basically you would climb a hill, and then see a huge lake with beautiful mountains on either side, then a strip of forest, then the ocean. You'd really need a panoramic view to visualize it, so you'll just have to make it down here sometime. Here's his daughter Alice.

And, of course, what good would an urban lake be without paddleboat swans?

Today I made it to the Hippie Fair (literally, "a Feira Hippie"), which I've been excited about since I got here. Sadly it was no better than any other street fair in any major city, and there weren't any real hippies in sight. Well, much worse than some, I guess. I think the really fun fair happens in Copacabana, so I'll have to find that one next weekend. I was successful in purchasing a great rug though! It, combined with some of Dominic's boxes covered with Indian silks, has moved me a great deal further in my room transformation.

Learning Portugeuse is incredibly difficult, but I think Pimsleur has paid off, because I've been much complemented on my accent (even if Alice corrects everything I say). 

Today I also found out about an organization called Circus School Pequeno Tigre (Little Tiger), where I could potentially volunteer by teaching theater with kids. I'm planning to get in touch tomorrow, and I'm really excited about the possibility of doing some theater with kids.

Boa noite,

M