2's day

Today began earlier than usual.  We headed over to the Museo de Emilio Goeldi for a guest speaker.  Unfortunately, the speaker we were supposed to hear was sick, so Claudia Lopez, an anthropologist at the museum, filled in.  She was fluent in spanish and portuguese, so she spoke in Spanish since half of our group could understand.  I didn't even know that she was speaking in spanish.  I just thought she was speaking portuguese the whole time.  We also heard Laura's presentation on reporting on nature.  She did a really great job.

On Monday night, when we met Lyoto Machida's sponsor and the owner of Mona Vie, Eony, he gave us a ride home since it was raining.  During the car ride he asked us what sights we had seen since we came to Belem and pointed out thing we saw during the ride that would be cool to check out.  One of those things was an old prison.  The prison was no longer used to house 

inmates, but was a gem museum and jewelry manufacturing place.  He said when they were converting the building, they had to put a large crystal in the prison to clear it of the dark vibes.  Apparently it worked because when we went there today, it was a place of peace.  I work with gemstones, not in setting, but in wire-wrapping and beading.  It was a great treat to see the precious stones.  I bought 2 stones; one for myself, a rectangular cut emerald and one for my grandpa to work with.

The restaurant we went to tonight was called the Roxy and yes it was modeled after the Roxy.  The theme was hollywood.  Everyone from Michael Jackson to Hillary Duff was seen on the music video screen.  The dishes were all named after famous people.  There was Catherine zeta Jones, Julia Roberts, and the most shocking of all, Sadam Hussein!  Even the napkin holders had Sadam's face on them.  Janice and I couldn't help ourselves, we had to get the Sadam

 Hussein.  When else would we get the opportunity to order that dish?  It was actually the best meal I have had in Brazil so far!  Who would have thought?  I really liked that their culture allows that type of humor.  If someone had tried that in the US, there would be some sort of lawsuit coming from all angles.