14/7/12

We spent the day in João Pessoa! We went to the river to watch the sunset and listen to a man play the saxophone as he was rowed past a line of restaurants in a canoe. He played really well, and then afterwards came and took pictures with the tourists. There were so many stores there selling every kind of souvenir imaginable. I bought a pair of earrings made of capim dourado (golden grass).

The grass dries and stays these unique golden color, so Brazilians weave it into bracelets, necklaces, earrings and even headbands. Whenever I look at the handicrafts made in Brazil, I'm impressed by the ingenuity. The grass is something that is easily found and the rest of the materials to make the crafts are very cheap. By being resourceful, many families are able to sustain themselves by making and selling these crafts. It reminds of a story a guy from CCJ told us of having to support himself and his wife by making and selling kites on the beach. I feel like the saying, "If there's a will , there's a way" definitely applies to Brazilians, because Brazilians will always find a way to achieve what they want.