Friday, 29/6

On a less heavy note, differing from the last couple of posts, on Friday we spent the morning at the beach in Boa Viagem. This picture was actually taken in Olinda, but if you look in the background of the picture you can see the arrecifes (reefs) which Recife was named after. At low tide, there are usually people on the reefs either fishing or hunting for oysters. The reefs also help the sharks from coming in at low tide.

The praias (beaches) in Recife are very pretty with light brown sand and emerald green water. However, the ocean is eroding away the beaches and at high tide you cannot see the sand. Some mornings there are crews that transport sand to the beaches in order to create longer praias. The city of Recife is actually below sea level, which puts it at a greater risk for flooding. When rainstorms blow through town, they leave many streets flooded, with people putting wooden boards across their doorways in an attempt to keep the water out. However, nothing is better than walking along the beira mar smelling the ocean breeze.