Study Abroad: Recife, Brazil: Joao Pessoa and on to Natal!

So we finished up in Joao Pessoa today by going to a random ward for church at 9am, then checking out some really cool old convents. They are hundreds of years old and then have a lot of beautiful artwork and carpentry. In one I was even able to go all the way to the front where they usually have mass and see things up close. Of all of the places we've been, this was the first time that I have been able to go that close and see it like that. It was pretty cool.

We then went to a convent of Sao Anthony, or something like that. I kinda lose track, but what I enjoyed most about this was that we actually had a tour guide that took us around and taught us about the convent and about the artwork. It was awesome seeing the old paintings and imagining the people breaking their backs to do it all. That is dedication and faith.

We then hopped back on the bus and stopped at the city center where the bus driver told me about the meaning of the flag of Joao Pessoa. He told me it is red and black signifying blood and fighting, respectively, because Joao Pessoa was an ex president that was assassinated and the city was named after him. On the flag it says "Nego" which means "negar", or to deny or resist. This is about the stance that Joao Pessoa took and how he resisted against that in which he didn't believe.

Last thing in the city we did was go to the point furthest on the east that you can get. Yep, we were right on the point! We're cool like that!

After another 2 hour bus ride we finally got to Natal (Natal means Christmas because that is the day it was founded). We went to our hotel and we were told they didn't have the reservation. This is actually what happened in Joao Pessoa, so you can imagine our thoughts. But we were on the bus when Vanessa came in and she looked just a LITTLE unhappy. She said that the hotel was out of space and the city was flooded with people and there was nowhere to stay. It was completely silent in the bus, everyone was afraid to comment. She gave us two options, 'go back to recife' meaning four hours to get home, or 'sleep on the bus' which just seemed to suck. No one said anything, and then suddenly Vanessa busted out a huge "APRIL FOOLS!" Yeah, she got everyone on the bus, including myself! I was seriously afraid when Vanessa came on, I had never seen her mad! It was a good one.

Anyways, we have a beachfront hotel that is really nice and we're going to have some adventures tomorrow. Sounds like fun!