Day 1

Hello everyone!  After a few delays, a tornado warning and a longer than expected journey.....The Baylor Jazz Ensemble is in Brazil!   We got in about 12:35 local time (we are two hours ahead of Waco Standard Time) and all of us but one, Tanner, made it through customs with no problems.  I think they just wanted to check out his guitar.  

Dr. K. was waiting for us when we got through and we walked right on to our bus and headed to the hotel.

But first....the first Baylor Jazz in Brazil pic!



We got to the hotel and about half of us got checked in and while we were waiting for the last rooms to be cleaned, it was time for our first meal in Brazil.  Dr. K took us to a place that has buffet (that is, along with things that have rice and beans, what the Brazilians call "real food,"  Many of us also had sandwiches (apparently not real food). 

Here's a plate from the buffet (which is paid for by weight):

Here is Dr. K's sandwich.  Many of the band folks when they saw his sandwich said, "Ok, Dr. K has to order first now, so we can all just say, we want what he just ordered!"


Then it was back to the hotel for some much needed rest and MUCH needed showers bcfore guess what?  More food!

This time we went to a Lebanese restaurant a few blocks straight up (there are many hills here) and wow, this place was good!  We ate family style several different kinds of salads, entrees, sides and rice.  One of the requests I get the most for these trips, other than "Don't you need any more chaperones?" is, "Will you please take pics of the food?"  So here you go!

 

 
Rice with chicken and almonds and chickpeas.

 
Kofta and Beef

 
Freshly squeezed pineapple juice with mint

 
This is not what it looks like, I promise. It's freshly squeezed orange juice with a bottle of olive oil!

 
Goat cheese salad with dried fruits


 
 
And another crazy good salad

 Here is our hotel:

 
I should do their publicity pics!


We got back to the hotel after I think, every person in the band got dessert, and I gave them the great news.  Sleep in tomorrow!  We will be getting up late and getting in a rehearsal of some kind for our rehearsal day tomorrow, before we go and listen to live music tomorrow night.   

Oh, and have I mentioned that it is 59 degrees here right now? 

All is good with Baylor Jazz!  It was a long couple of days, but it was with truly some of the best people anywhere.

Many more pics of people tomorrow as we start this fun journey ahead.

Thank you for joining us along the way.

Thank you Baylor Missions.

And Sic'em Jazz!


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