3 September

The tour gave me the beginnings of a sense of the general shape of the city. The middle class area of edifícios is on a tip protruding out into the bay, which, if I'm remembering what I learned about Beirut at all correctly, is somewhat similar to that city. The coast is home to forts and landmarks from the Portuguese landings, favelas, public schools and malls in construction. The middle of the city, a bit inland has, from what I can tell, the historic center of the city, and the very rich hide farther up the hills. The strangest part of the city by far is still thickly forested, and home to the government buildings. That description comes later.