Our slow-paced life gets even slower on days like today. No students, no runs to the bank for Zozô, little traffic in the streets. We will likely go for a walk along the beach.Today is the 188th anniversary of Brazil as an independent republic. On September 7th, 1822, Dom Pedro I, founder and first ruler of the Empire of Brazil, famously stood on the banks of the Ipiranga River in São Paulo, tore a Portuguese emblem from his uniform, drew his sword, and shouted: “By my blood, by my honor, and by God: I will make Brazil free.”
It actually took a little while to fulfill that promise but Brazil celebrates its independence from Portugal on September 7th all the same.
It’s been a bumpy ride, for sure. But as always, no excuse for a party is wasted. Today there are parades all over the country that feature military imagery, cultural celebrations and the proud parading of school children in honor of their beloved country.
Luiz has some pretty fun stories from when he was a smiling young boy wearing his formal school uniform and white gloves marching in step with the rest of his schoolmates down the main street in downtown Niterói in the Independence Day parade.
There is a parade today in Niterói as well. But we could not motivate to get to it. [Note remark above regarding today being slower than usual for us.]
Happy birthday Brazil. We will get our sandy feet wet in your honor.
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