Last weekend we set out again to see one of the beauties of Brazil – we went to see the world’s largest fall, the Iguacu. But before writing about that, here is what we did last week.
Unfortunately Robi had to say good-bye to three violinist girls because he figured that they would need much much more time to learn a little bit about the violin. This is a bloody difficult instrument to play and it seemed that for the three of them it was impossible. They admitted also that it is too hard for them so they joined the flute group with Dulce. Robi now has much more time to work with the ones who are really talented and good. Even like this it is very difficult to achieve something in such a short time but he and the girls try. Robi gives piano classes to Luciana who – after a difficult beginning – is really doing well.
Some words about the kids and the choir. Most of the children come from orphan shelters and the rest from very disadvantaged families. Most of them have very difficult lives and it is a great effort from them to study, to practice. HSBC is helping them in many different ways – provides them with the infrastructure for the choir and to play music (buys them instruments, hires the place where they rehearse) but also gives them clothes and school material (bag, pens, notebooks etc.). Hopefully soon we will be able to visit a shelter to really see how they live. We were really surprised how well behaved and kind they all are – we know that kids with difficult background can be rough but somehow these guys are really nice. And they are sooo enthusiastic about music and the choir. Dulce is really fantastic with them – and sometimes have half of the choir in her apartment for the weekend (practicing the violin…) – she is a real hero.
On the videos a cross appears all the time, this is because the venue they use for rehearsal belongs to a church. It is a music school during the week and I guess they use the place for church services during the weekend. In fact there is a proper church in the courtyard and several rooms plus the big auditorium they are rehearsing. But the choir has nothing to do with the church. (Well, everybody else seem to have though – on Sundays there are church services everywhere in town – not only churches but small and big halls all over the city.)
Last week Robi and I taught them a gypsy song – Chajorije – and Robi made arrangements for the choir. They enjoy it, having so much fun because they can dance, clap etc. Robi is even teaching some of them to use spoons as gypsies do – look easy but it isn’t in fact. Next week we will teach them another one. Tomorrow Robi will do a serious music class for those who study the instruments because they do not seem to understand music sheets. It will be interesting again with 3 languages… Otherwise Robi now can cope very well with the language – the girls start understanding some Hungarian, Robi starts learning some words in Portuguese and of course my Portuguese is now much better so communication is perfect (although really funny sometimes…)
We are continuing our studies – my Portuguese is definitely getting better and Robi as so enthusiastic about the guitar. He loves choro – again we bought many scores, songbooks and some CDs. (No instruments this time, thanks god, because we are already thinking about how will we take back the instruments to Hungary.) Our new discovery is a female singer called Maysa and guitarist Raphael Rabello (who unfortunately died very young).
Last Friday night we took the bus to For do Iguacu, booked a room in a really beautiful hostel outside the city and near the National Park – Hostel Paudimar for those who are planning a trip. (Foz do Iguacu, the city is not worth a visit, really so it does not make sense to stay there.) The hostel had a beautiful park, a little swimming pool, cool people and basic but clean room and was very near the Park (Cataratas as they call it). Our only problem with the room was a stupid little frog that we were chasing for hours one evening but finally Robi managed to “golf” him out of the room without making any harm to him (or her, who knows with frogs). We had a great laugh – none of us is very good with animals and here there are many of them everywhere.
The jungle
Robi's friend
In the Devil's Throat
Lots of water
Robi and more water
Rainbow
My friend
Me and a parrot
The first day we went to see the Brazilian side of the National Park and booked ourselves in a safari that contained a tour with a jeep in the forest (jungle, yes), a short walk and the boat trip. The whole purpose of the boat trip is to get completely wet because the captain makes sure that at the end of the trip he manouvers the boat under one of the falls. This is a stupid touristy thing but actually it was fun and very very beautiful. The biggest fall is called the Devil’s throat and very rightly so.
The following morning we got up early to reach the van at 8.30 that is organised by the hostel and takes people to the Argentinian side of the falls. A very funny driver drove us there who spoke half Spanish half Portugese and knew basically everyone we saw on the way and waived Brazilian football (fotebol – futcheebal as they say) flags in Argentina. If the Brazilian side of the fall is beautiful, I have to say the one in Argentina is a pure wonder (sorry, Brazil)! There is a much better view of the whole area and all the falls (there are some 200 of them) can be seen. We saw rainbows, crocodiles, funny animals and millions and millions of beautiful butterflies. We had a fantastic but very tiring day. On Monday morning we decided to chill out in the garden of the hotel – I had to write my homework and Robi had to practice – and in the afternoon we went to see the bird park. This is on the Brazilian side and a very nice park with incredibly colourful parrots and tucans and other beautiful birds (and some funny looking other animals). Near the park we bough a couple of hammocks – this is what we wanted to take back home and we found some very nice ones so we were happy.
On Tuesday we came back and started our workweek. Today I had to go back to the dentist – I am not sure whether I said before but I broke a tooth and I need to get a crown made. Luckily I found a very good and nice dentist – thanks to Enoque – and Brazilian dentists are supposed to be very good. This weekend we are going to Porto Alegre to visit Renato Borgetti, the very famous gaucho (this is what the local “cowboys” are called) accordion player.
