Monday was spent finding a cell phone SIM card (well, they call it a TIMcard here, as one of the local companies is TIM), and then hanging out on a sunny and rainy (weather changes fast) lunchtime over a few beers. That night, we were treated to the formal Yahoo opening reception for the conference with some wine, beer, hors d’oerves, and a capoeira show. Capoeira (cap-O-ee-ra) is a local martial arts dance that the slaves (Salvador was a big slave port) did so that they could practice a martial art, but not make it look like they were practicing a martial art. It’s very lively and much like a musical kata (a series of moves that you do when demonstrating skills for a belt in karate).
We had thought the reception would have dinner vs appetizers, so afterwards, a bunch of us hooked up with some folks from Ireland and went to another nearby open-air pub / cookery and had some local cuisine. We were they treated to another local custom — pay-for-peanuts. These girls (who are maybe 10-12) walk around with a tupperware thing of peanuts, and pour out a handful on a small napkin in front of you. You’re then supposed to give ‘em R$ 2, which is about $1, so a bit pricey for peanuts IMHO. I wasn’t so much bothered by the price (I’m sure it was a tad inflated for us) as by seeing these girls hawking peanuts at almost midnight on a Monday. I mean, they should be asleep with school in the morning! I understand that people who live in areas that are very depressed gotta do what they gotta do to survive, but still, I can’t help but think there’s something wrong there.