the plants are shy!

IMG_1973, originally uploaded by cabeca dura.

When we went to Mario Cravo's sculpture park for the last time we found a patch of plants that close when you touch them and sat around trying to trick them for 10 minutes - then we somersaulted down the hill.

After being reassured that we would never be allowed to see Mario himself, some of the girls wandered back into his studio and we were privileged to listen while he talked about tasting and smelling and living Brasil. Certainly an artist who knows his fame, but it was an incredible experience all the same.

The Mohawk in Brasil?

IMG_1746, originally uploaded by meganclk.

Our last stop for the day was meant to be at the Parque de Pituaçu, a stretch of green along the northern beach coast that now holds the works of sculptor Mario Cravo. It was pouring rain and despite the efforts of two students who jumped the fence, we weren't getting in to talk to Mario.

But on the way out we saw this fence and it looks a whole lot like the fence Jay did at the Mohawk bar in Austin.

lunch

IMG_1730, originally uploaded by meganclk.

Day 3 of the tour. We tried desparately to keep lunches to a quick stop, but we're in Brasil and these ladies love a few beers and family-style sit-down. Me, too!

We were at the Lago de Abaeté, which holds a lot of history. It is the color of saffron, surrounded by sand (though it is freshwater), and was used for more than a century to wash clothes, but it is also believed to be the locus of magical energy to which Salvadorians attribute the unusual number of drownings.

o por do sol

IMG_1613, originally uploaded by meganclk.

We were out on O Forte São Marcelo at the end of day 2 on the architectural tour - all the girls were sitting along the top wall, sketching the city (I sketched a bit as well - it's been such a long time and it felt really nice!) with this incredible sunset in the background.

5 minutes later a gray wall of rain closed in and we all took cover in different tiny rooms (used to be cannon bays) along the base of the fort.

A Experiência Sensorial

07_RoteiroArquitetura/Dia1_ExperienciaSensorial1, originally uploaded by meganclk.

This is day one of the architectural tour...we began in a feira (something similar in set-up to a farmer's market) - smelling, tasting, watching, bargaining, talking, planning meals - everything comes back to the essences of Bahia.