Saturday, July 29, 2006
São Luis, Maranhão
Clockwise from top:
the view out to sea from the old town:
the lagoon, a can of Jesus Guaraná - a very pink experience:
lights at night on one of the outlying beaches:
new block of flats under construction, in the rain.
Guaraná Jesus is an institution in Maranhão. The recipe was invented by a local man whose name was Jesus. He took the basic Guaraná of all of Brazil, a fizzy, light brown concoction, sometimes flavoured with a little real guaraná fruit from the Amazon, swapped the caramel colouring for a luminous pink, and added a bit of cinnamon or clove or both. Interesting. Despite some apparently machiavelian efforts by a well-known, North American, manufacturer of a sickly brown fizzy substance to overturn the sickly pink substance, Jesus remains the local champion. Speak not against it in São Luis.
In portuguese, a common way to offer a drink or food is to say, "Do you accept a Coke?" or whatever. "Do you accept Jesus?" is thus a common question in São Luis, giving rise to strange conversations, especially amongst reformed preachers and theologians. Conrad Mbewe likes Jesus very much.
One of the things that makes São Luis very photogenic is that the sun sets in the sea. Andrew, quite frankly, went mad with his camera.
The Lion Palace, São Luis.
We stayed in a flat near the church where the conference was held, the home of Antônio Fernando and Raquel, and their son, the adorable Miguel. It was good to be with a family, and we were extremely well looked after. Thank you all!
Clockwise from top:
the view out to sea from the old town:
the lagoon, a can of Jesus Guaraná - a very pink experience:
lights at night on one of the outlying beaches:
new block of flats under construction, in the rain.
Guaraná Jesus is an institution in Maranhão. The recipe was invented by a local man whose name was Jesus. He took the basic Guaraná of all of Brazil, a fizzy, light brown concoction, sometimes flavoured with a little real guaraná fruit from the Amazon, swapped the caramel colouring for a luminous pink, and added a bit of cinnamon or clove or both. Interesting. Despite some apparently machiavelian efforts by a well-known, North American, manufacturer of a sickly brown fizzy substance to overturn the sickly pink substance, Jesus remains the local champion. Speak not against it in São Luis.
In portuguese, a common way to offer a drink or food is to say, "Do you accept a Coke?" or whatever. "Do you accept Jesus?" is thus a common question in São Luis, giving rise to strange conversations, especially amongst reformed preachers and theologians. Conrad Mbewe likes Jesus very much.
One of the things that makes São Luis very photogenic is that the sun sets in the sea. Andrew, quite frankly, went mad with his camera.
The Lion Palace, São Luis.
We stayed in a flat near the church where the conference was held, the home of Antônio Fernando and Raquel, and their son, the adorable Miguel. It was good to be with a family, and we were extremely well looked after. Thank you all!
# posted by Andrew and Cora @ 12:31:00 am 
