Day 15, August 21 (Tuesday): Petrópolis Adieu

Awakening on the dreaded last day was disappointing to us all. My friends and I reluctantly finished packing our bags, pausing every now and then to stand out on the balcony of our room and admire the view. Seeing what seemed like hundreds of boats on a background of water and mountains is something we’re not soon to forget.
After checking out of the beautiful yacht club, 45 dancers and parents boarded the bus. Despite there being no more nights for us to spend in Brazil, the last day wasn’t put to waste. Petropolis, also known as the Imperial City of Brazil, was our first stop. Traveling to the town located about 65 km from Rio de Janeiro was like floating through dozens of clouds. The heavy fog and mountain road was truly magical. We visited the old home of Emperor Pedro II, now a museum, and learned a bit about Brazilian history and how nobility used to live. The fancy furniture and jeweled crown of Brazil's past monarch made quite an impression on us all, as most dancers lingered in front of the sparkling headpiece.
Following the museum, Polonia visited another Brazilian cathedral, only a short walk from the imperial palace. It was different than the others we viewed on our trip but equally as stunning with high ceilings and a breathtaking view from the front doors. We took a moment to thank God for His continued blessing upon our group during the past couple of weeks before finally heading to the airport.
After checking our bags, the group separated for a few hours, each person free to do their own thing. Some roamed the airport halls in pursuit of last minute souvenirs, others wrote postcards or simply hung out and reflected upon our two week experience, since wasn’t just a trip. We didn’t simply visit Brazil, we encountered her through welcoming, indigenous people, magnificent surroundings, and a profound culture shock. In essence, this intimacy has been etched upon our hearts, bodies, and souls. For this we will forever be grateful and sincerely thank Pani Celinka, Pani Ania, and all the parents that put their strongest efforts into making the dream that was Brazil come true.

Monika Cholewinski

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