Day 6 -- Transition Day

On the prior evening (Saturday), the students, who had been  burned by evil taxi drivers on Friday night trying to find a good club, decided to take matters into their own hands.  The hotel's normal rear pavilion bar area was occuied by some type of wedding or other event.   So, even though the hotel cable car was NOT running down to the waterside lounge area, the students climbed down the steep steps to the waterside and started their own "Club PSE."  Dr. Byrd, concerned at hearing familiar guffawing from the venue far down by the water, made his own way down the treacherous steps to investigate.  He found the students in  a lively mood, with a lot of music and laughter.  The hotel did not seem to mind.  This was a nice, private bonding experience for the group!

Sunday was a day of transition, as we positioned ourselves for the final mill tour in Aracruz.  This required that we fly to the city of Vitoria.  Since there were no direct flights available from Salvador, we had to connect through Rio.  Once in the Rio airport, the students saw how beautiful and mountainous the surroudings were and suggested we just stay there for the rest of the trip, a concept quickly crushed by Dr. Byrd. 

The flights went without problems, and we met our final bus driver, Jailson, at the Vitoria airport.  Our bus drove up to the hotel i-- right on the beach!  The problem is that it was close to 5 pm, and the sun was setting fast.  Several students dashed out for a dip.  We decided that the hotel restaurant had the most cost-effective meal offering within walking distance, with a nice little Brazilian barbeque menu that many of us were getting way too accustomed to!

We ate together in the outdoor seating area, and it turned out to be one of the nicest meals of the trip -- and another great bonding experience.

Tomorrow comes with some apprenension...it is a visit to the Aracruz mill, followed by an 8-HOUR BUS RIDE to Vicosa.  Yikes!