Two Sides of Me by Nora Sarel

Author:Nora Sarel [Sarel, Nora]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-06-22T22:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 17

During the following days they visited and toured all Recife’s and its surrounding towns’ sights. Although Gadi took part in these tours, he was unable to take in all the sights which impressed his friends. He kept searching for people whose eyes had a similar color as his. Whenever he found a ‘suspect’ he boldly asked them for their mother’s name. He made sure to explain why he was asking. Yet, none of the interviewees seemed to be angry, they all answered patiently.

“You’ll see, I’ll find her eventually,” he said to his friends, who tried dissuading him from this habit, which had become an obsession.

Since they didn’t have a tour guide, Liam took Gadi’s travel guide. “Come, learn something,” he said and began reading out loud, “Recife is one of the largest port cities in Brazil. It is located on an estuary where several creeks meet, over islands connected by many bridges, making the city’s nickname ‘America’s Venice.’ In the heart of the city’s historic and ancient quarter, called Recife Antigo, one can see ancient colonial buildings side by side with modern ones. This is where Recife’s ancient Jewish community resided, and where the first synagogue in the continent of America was established. Today it is home for the history of the Anusim- the Coerced Jews Museum.”

“I’m dying to get there,” Gadi said.

“If the Anusim interest you that much, why not?” Liam was quick to answer and pat his shoulder. He didn’t know a thing about Angela from Rio de Janeiro or Gadi’s Brazilian last name.

One day, while strolling alone the Boa Viagem beach, among the bathing beach decorated with natural rocky reefs and tall buildings of the densely populated city, they saw capoeira dancers. They came closer and joined the tourists surrounding them, watching the hypnotic war dance. Shirtless capoeira dancers could be found on every street corner in Recife, dressed in wide white pants and colorful belts, dancing their special dance.

“I don’t know why they call it a dance, it’s not really a dance as we know it,” Omri said.

“So, what would you call it, acrobatics?” Ido asked.

“Yes, it’s both acrobatics and gymnastics. They perform handstands, back flips and dance moves,” Omri replied.

Ido wouldn’t let it go. “You just called it a dance, make up your mind, you keep contradicting yourself.”

“Enough, we want to watch! Stop arguing, cut it out!” Liam yelled.

Close to the capoeira dancers stood two musicians, one playing the berimbau, an instrument made of a sound box and a single string, while the other played the tambourine.

“Their movements aren’t arbitrary, every move has a meaning,” Gadi showed his knowledge, “that is why it’s considered a dance. How else would you call it?”

“Gadi the know-it-all knows nothing,” Liam mocked him, “If you don’t mind, it’s a slave dance. They wanted to prove that using only dance moves they could easily fight. That’s why it’s called a war dance, slaves from Africa brought it with them, and with time it became a Brazilian dance. By the way, there are plenty of capoeira classes in Israel,” Liam said and the argument was over.

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