Downtown & Julia Roberts

We went downtown today to buy some candy. Initially, it didn't make sense for me, so I'll do my best to explain.

From what I understand, Maneco's aunt, Rosi, prays to a Catholic saint on a regular basis. In exchange for her prayers, she buys candies for the poor children and distributes them at the relatively poor city of Areia Branca, of which I've written about in past posts. I found this really interesting and hope I'm able to see the result. I suppose it's similar to the idea of karma.

We walked out with over $30 in candies and explored a downtown cathedral and square. I was told it actually used to be a zoo, and I was amazed to see the cages and dry ponds consumed by the new layout. They are all still there, some incorporated and others not.

We also stopped into the Bureau of Tourism, which turns out to be a small room of handmade crafts from local artists alongside a shop filled with replicas of the same works. Maneco and Laís said they spent their childhood playing around this building. At that time it was actually a small mall area filled with toy stores and shopping. And before that, it served as the nightlife center in the 1920s. The building was fascinating architecturally and I'm hoping to find my way into the basement someday. I could see in from the outside, and it looks to have been closed off since the days of Charlie Chaplin--all the more intriguing. Hopefully we'll visit downtown again soon, and I can write some more thorough posts with more photos.

Later this evening I went to the mall for a movie since it's cheaper on Mondays. I went with Laís and Maneco to see "Eat. Pray. Love." with Julia Roberts. When I heard her name and recognized the name of a book read by every 16 year old girl and her mother, I ruled out the idea of the faintest bit of enjoyment. But I was wrong. It happens.

Julia Roberts plays a gutsy, independent woman that realizes her life is at a standstill. Life is not life at all. Life is work. Life is obligation. So she sets out on a journey of self-discovery. I seem to like those kind of movies. Maybe it's a lazy road to self-discovery for myself. But not really, I like to think I'm actively searching. Plus, she plays a travel writer, the ideal job.

Anyway, if you're interested in world travel, spirituality, or Julia Roberts, it's a must see.

Downtown square. Formerly a zoo.

Cathedral downtown surrounded by the square. 

Old zoo building now with graffiti and attempted

incorporation into the downtown square.

A wooden totem sculpture in a small gallery

inside the building of tourism downtown. He is 

the safe keeper of boats, but I don't remember

his name.