Ruff Alexander, Jr.
West Virginia University College of Law, 2L
Wednesday, August 6, 2008

Best Day Yet? You decide.

Our learned professors bestowed upon me the privilege and honor of describing to the internet community, in detail, the most fun-filled day of our Brazilian adventure! Here it goes:

The group woke to a beautiful morning in Vila Velha, while Travis R., John D., and I woke to an equally attractive morning in Vitoria.

All became a single entity at the professors’ hotel, where the University of Vila Velha (UVV) bus rounded us up for our tour of the Garoto chocolate factory. A short distance from the University, the Garoto chocolate factory has been in operation for over seventy years. They are now an entity of the Nestle Corporation, but we were assured their tradition of quality is unscathed.

The Garoto Chocolate Factory

Upon entry into the factory, groups are issued booties for their feet, hair nets, and smocks that resemble what one would wear as a patient prepped for going under the knife. Dressed and ready to go, we broke into two groups and began the tour around the factory after a short documentary about what else? But Garoto Chocolate of course!

Garoto’s operation is very practical in every sense of the word. This is what I gathered about the tours and the primary reasons why we had the opportunity to enter the factory. First, it informed us of the process in which the raw ingredients are delivered, refined, combined, packaged, and shipped. Second, it’s a great sales pitch for the product since the company gives out free samples along the way. Third, since the tours continue throughout the day it is a good opportunity to monitor the whole process, keeping the employees under a close eye. Finally, these tours cost money.

The tour was a grand time for all, but I believe I speak for most when I say the real benefactors are the relatives who will be receiving Garoto as souvenirs when we return home.

Following the factory tour, we ate lunch at what I call a “weigh buffet.” Unlike in the States, where an individual pays one base price to eat as much as they can (resulting in the most obese society mankind has ever witnessed), at the weigh buffet, one loads his or her plate with as much or as little food as they desire and weighs it. Payment is by the kilogram. The food was really quite good, but in typical American fashion, I was unable to stray from my Shoneys instinct and piled on too much.

Afterwards some went for ice cream while others shopped at one of the three local malls. I believe the ice cream was self serve, but as for details, that is all I can provide.

With our bellies full and the shoppers satisfied, we moved to our next attraction. The Convento de Penha. Founded in 1558, the Convent overlooks both Vitoria and Vila Velha.

The majestic Penha’s Convento.

The view from the top is absolutely breath taking, especially if one does not take the optional bus ride. At approximately $1.75, the bus was the way to travel. It left five or ten minutes after the walkers of our group began their trek, but reached the top ten or fifteen minutes before them. Once up top, it is irrelevant how anyone gets there. I was in absolute awe. The flora and fauna has remained untouched and there are monkeys everywhere. That’s right, monkeys. Cute yet ugly, the little guys are fed enough they have all formed a unique pallet that spans over the entire monkey community. Crumbled bread is fine, but commercial brand potato chips do not meet the grade. The monkeys served as a good photo opportunity.

A small monkey peeks out from the forest that surrounds Penha’s Convento

Once in the Convent, it was evident Mass was in session. It is a usual occurrence for visitors to wander around during the service. We walked softly and enjoyed the view from all sides. Pictures taken and vertigo conquered, the bus headed back down, where we again waited for the walking crew.

With the group all together once again, we boarded the UVV bus in order to attend a lecture. The lecturer, Andréia Vieira, discussed the English and American common law systems versus the Brazilian civil law system. She was insightful; both in her knowledge of their civil law system and in her understanding of our common law system. Ms. Vieira gave signed copies of her most recent publication (premised on the topic of the lecture) to professors cummings and Taylor (in no particular order). Mr. Bernie Worley received a special copy as a door prize. Apparently the book is a great read, if you are fluent in Brazilian Portuguese.

Breathtaking views abound from atop the convent including one of beautiful Vila Velha

Lecture over and scheduled activities complete, everyone went their own ways for dinner, planning to meet later at a night club in Vitoria. Students from both universities reunited at a club called “The Office;” the theme being that of an office. We watched a match between Brazil’s most popular club, Flamengo (who we would later watch live in Rio), and Galo, a team that is ranked worse than Flamengo. Well, so much for rankings. Flamengo lost and the bar appeared divisive in emotions. The Mountaineers did not lose that night, so zero emotion was shed by yours truly. The table where we sat had a tall tower of ice cold beer (literally, there was ice going up the middle of it) and there were plenty of Brazilian women to help this blogger dance the night away. We closed the bar down and headed home, drenched in anticipation for the rest of our Brazilian adventure.