Aldeia da Serra

Aldeia da Serra is a district of Santana do Parnaíba City, close to São Paulo City, and a upper middle class neighborhood. It is divided in plots and in the entrance of each there is a entering and exit control of people and cars. You´ve got have a registration to get in. So the people inside feels safe against robbery and urban  violence. This is very common around the big brazilian cities.

We have visited Aldeia quite a few times over the past years to visit very good friends who have moved over there.

Santana do Parnaíba

Santana do Parnaíba is a historical town, located 30 minutes from the Capital City of São Paulo, and it preserves a great part of its old building from the colonial period. The first pioneers arrived at the place, on the banks of the Tietê River around 1561. The city has a beautiful church. The Matriz de Santana, rebuilt in 1610 in barroque style, emerges from the downtown area in a hill surrounded by historical building and a nice square, with bars and restaurants.

On the month of june, during Corpus Christi, a traditional catholic hollyday in Brazil , people wake up in the dawn to decorate the streets with sawdust and coffee sludge that represents the via crucis, Jesus last walk to the cross. After the church service in the afternoon, people leave the church and go in procession, carrying Jesus´ Image, through the decorated streets, and then back to the Square.

The locals put their religious images and crafts by the window to celebrate the procession.