Pirenopolis - the town... and the waterfalls....

This town is very quaint... I don't know that these pictures do it justice on this blog.... It was hard walking around on the cobblestones... and we were in flats.... you should see the heels a lot of the women wear here.... I don't know how they do it... I was tripping all over the place!!  This is a very touristy location.  Ever since one of the Novellas was filmed here, everyone wants to come to Pirenopolis.  A local tourist attraction... not one most people from out of the country would know about.

I kind of liken this town to the Russian River meets Fort Bragg, CA...  very 60's .... very lay back,  very crafty and just very very colorful!!!  

There is a history behind bulls in this town.... but I never could get the story straight ... I believe once a year they have a festival honoring bulls and everyone comes dressed in their finest "bullish" outfits...  All I know is that they have bull stuff allllll over this town... and chicken stuff as well... and the busts of African women...

Social Services building!!!

The ladies keeping everyone happy at the store front window....

Occasionally I get a picture taken of me!!! Not often though!  Shopping... as usual....

City Hall!!!  

Meg's and Antonio on the streets..... now.... on to the waterfalls.....

Meghan and Antonio talked a lot about how beautiful the walk was to the falls and how wonderful it was to swim in the pond... but until I did it with them, I just couldn't understand how beautiful it really was.  We spent alllll day there with nothing but a baggie of baked snacks and a quart of caju juice that we kept in the water to stay cold!!  We had our books... the water to cool off in.... life was good!!

Our walk began at this bridge...

The path along the way kept changing.... sometimes it had the stone called Pirenopolis after the town, and sometimes it had the little cobblestones... and sometimes it was just dirt...

Along the way I would find these treasures of little flowers... 

First we heard the water crashing down....and then ... through the trees I could see the falls...  we were hot and sweaty... wanting to cool off so badly!!!

 

The water was so clear... and cold! But not to terribly cold once you made the commitment!  

My view from the sand..... 

Everything must come to an end... and we needed to get back... the juice was gone, the baggy of goodies was now empty... and Greg and Antonio were starting to get very hungry....

Just one more stop along the way......

This may be my last posting.... we are leaving again and will not have internet connection where we are going... when we return, I don't know how much free time I will have as this takes a considerable amount of time to do and I will need to be packing up the "stuff".... 

See ya all soon....

Malou

Posada Rancho do Ralf - Pirenopolis

We went to a charming little town called Pirenopolis. We stayed at a Posada called Rancho do Ralf. It was a little slice of heaven! Very tropical, very clean, very beautiful.  The first several pictures are of the grounds at Rancho do Ralf... Then we walked around town and did some shopping... and eating!!  While we were there they were having a Jazz Festival at night... those pictures are on Meghan's camera and may or may not be seen by others until I make sure there is no incriminating evidence on them!!!!

My next blog entry will be of the beautiful waterfalls on the edge of the town... we walked through some amazing landscapes and came upon beautiful waterfalls and swimming hole...  hopefully I will have enough time to do that blog before we leave for the Hot Springs tomorrow.  We will be there through Monday and then have to get ready to leave on Wednesday...wow time always flies when you're on vacation!

This town was built by African Slaves way way back in the day.  They laid alllllll the cobblestone streets and made all the tile roofs by molding clay over their thighs and shaping the tiles to the size needed.  It is amazing to see it is still in existence today and has withstood the test of time.... and automobiles!!!  In many of the store windows you will see busts of African women, much like the one above.  Tradition is that the women stood in the windows and would greet all the people as they went by, bringing good luck to the home or store.



The pool.... crystal clear... no chlorine smell... amazing

Our front door..... Greg fell in love with the hammock.... we ended up buying one in town.... don't ask how we are getting in back on the plane.... Greg wanted it... he'll have to deal!!!

The grounds of this posada had so many different trees.... as does most of what we have seen so far of Brasil... Coffee trees, Banana, Mango, Cashew (have you EVER seen a cashew.... weird!) Papaya, Coconut, and other different fruit that I've never heard of but have been drinking the juice!  It is a tropical paradise on one hand then drive a mile or so out and you feel almost like you are in the Fremont hills with scrub oak and dry grass!!!  Very different environments just a little bit away from each other!!

This is a cashew... or Caju .. the nut is on top.  

The orange part they make a very tasty juice out of!  

Never in  million years would I have thought this 

is what a cashew looked like!!!  

This is coffee beans growing on a tree outside the front door of our room at the posada.

Here is a picture of a beautiful flower that was plentiful on the grounds and  a banana tree... one of millions around Brasil... and the bananas have a slightly different taste... good.. but different.

As you can see... Greg found the bar by the pool.....  Brazilian Beer... his new found friend....

These statues are everywhere.... they are beautiful!

Next posting.... the town of Pirenopolis and our adventures to the waterfalls.....

The King Turns Two - Brazilian Style

Ok... here it is..... Master Sasha Enzo Vilela turns 2 years old... (well... not until Sept 10) ... Vovo and Vova Vilela decide to throw a birthday party for their first grandchild just like the ones they gave for their own boys many years ago... All family was invited.... over 80 people came. There were over 2000 balloons used to decorate.... It was amazing. OH... and all the trays of candy.... hand made by family.... even Greg, Meghan and I made some... and it is delicious! I am trying really hard to get recipes for this Christmas.... but no luck yet!!

So... the day begins, as every Kings birthday should, with a haircut at a very popular place for kids to get their hair cut....

Then, while we are out, the decorators come and do their magic... The theme... Madagascar

And every King should have his very own jump house with tons of plastic balls to play with.. oh... and there is a picture of Boppa and Bamma just because I liked it!

Remember the candy I spoke about earlier.... well here is just a FRACTION of it!

Of course, the usual face painter, craft artist and costumer extraordinare that is at EVERY kids birthday party, made her appearance and graced Sasha with a beautiful ship on his arm and a huge black and red glittery spider on his leg! Then they did some artwork with glue and glitter and.... eek... I left at that point... getting to messy for me and Sasha's hands seemed to be getting into EVERYTHING!! The Body Painting woman was very very patient!!!

Oh... yeah... a hot dog stand was there as well... They cook their hot dogs in spaghetti sauce...the dogs are only about 3 inches long or so.. and the buns are the same size... very cute and delicious buns!!! Then they put like shoestring potatoes on top... It was very different but very good! I ate one... Greg ate about 12!!!

Oh.... yeah..... we had waiters as well.... glass never empty and plates always full with delicious unknown pastries filled with meats, cheeses, coconut..... mmmmm.....

Time to sing happy birthday to the King!!!

The beautiful Madagascar cake.... and Sasha attempting to blow out the candle.

This is Sasha telling me "Stop! Bamma!!! No mo' click....!!" Great...even the kid is sick of my picture taking!!!

All in all it was a beautiful birthday party ... will he remember it... probably not.... but I believe he will always have the feeling that he is loved very much in a country far away!