Happy Festa Junina, another holiday in the Brazilian state of Bahia. It’s dedicated to John the Baptist, known around here at Sao Joao. In the city of Salvador the celebrations mostly occur the night before, Junina Eve, I suppose, and Brazil winning early that evening kicked off the fun.

Domenico and family took me a party some of theirs friends were hosting and we arrived after the fire had already been lit. Festa Junina in Salvador involves mostly bonfires and fireworks. The fire for this party occupied part of the sidewalk and street while we sat on lawn chairs at a small table in the rest of the street. This didn’t stop the occasional vehicle from driving through the party but that didn’t bother anyone at all. We just moved our lawn chairs until the car passed.

When I’d see a car coming, I would call out “Carro” but I didn’t know how to say “Game on” in Portuguese for after it drove through and I wasn’t sure if any of them would get the reference anyway. I’m not even sure how many of my readers will get the reference now.

The adults mostly ate and drank while watching the kids play with fireworks. There were only a few minor causalities. Domenico brought some lovely rockets including one that spun like a flying saucer. Down the block there was another party setting of more fireworks including some very deep explosions and up the block was yet another party mostly playing with sparklers.

Despite the explosions and cars, it was really quite a relaxing evening. I talked a lot with a musician who teaches English. Our conversation ranged from football to politics to poetry, the usual stuff.

Tomorrow: Bosnia-Herzegovina vs. Iran!