Sunday was cool and cloudy for the first time in a long while - we've had a huge heat wave for the last few weeks, or perhaps it's just the start of spring here. Wealso got rain, for the first time in 33 days. We really needed it, as everything is so dry and dusty and there are fires around town every day.
The weekends really are great here because Brazilians are all about rest and relaxation and eating. Sundays are definitely not for catching up on shopping (most everything is closed) and forget about going to the gym - it doesn't even open on Sunday. So, Brazilian-style, we enjoyed a lazy day with Anthony - we drove out to a fazenda (farm) on the outskirts of the city for a long, leisurely lunch and afternoon of play.
The place we went is pretty typical for this area - open only for lunches on Saturday and Sunday, it is an old coffee plantation up in the hills with horses for riding and trails for exploring. There is a fixed price buffet cooked over an old wood fire complete with the grilled meat churrasco and there is a LOT of great food to choose from. Typically, much beer is consumed with the meal, which is eaten outside at tables sprinkled around the veranda or under various trees in the courtyard. There are lots of activities for the kids, including a playground (really old-school), horseback rides, zip line, fishing pondand, of course, avisit with the farm animals. Families and friends come in big groups, sitting at tables of ten or twenty. The adults eat on and on, while the kids run around with their shoes off having a great time and getting really dirty. Then the menhead off for one of the many hammocks hanging around thefarm and alittle post-lunch nap. Or some of them start up a little futebol match.
Although it was raining after lunch, John and Carina really wanted to ridethe horses. While they were out on the trail, they spotted someone else on the zip line and they really wanted to try that. John went on his own - no fear - and Carina went down on the line with Anthony. They both loved it and we got some great video.
All in all, lots of fun and a great way to spend Anthony's first day back home.
the kids getting ready for their zipline adventure
the kids on their horseback ride...it was raining at this point but it didn't bother them at all. Not too sure about the teenager leading them on the trail - she didn't seem too happy about it all.
John hanging out...er, getting into the swing of things (sorry)
the inside of the old fazenda was beautiful
Mommy and CC relaxing (sort of)
John and a friend - told you the playground was old-school
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