So you may not know it, but I have been in the process to get an extension on my visa for about 4 months now. I decided randomly to check online Friday, though my visa paperwork had only arrived at the Ministerio de Justica on the 13th of December. That is the office that decides whether I get to stay or not. They decided. I get to stay! Thanks for all your prayers -- that is an incredibly fast decision, as they generally take months to come out with a verdict, even on renewing visas.
My only problem? I am currently in the US, and I have to have a tourist visa to get back into Brazil, since my "current" visa is expired (I don't actually have the new one until they stamp it in my passport at the Federal Police). Heh. It's never staying that's the problem. It's getting in....
Addendum: My visa was published in the Diario Oficial on Christmas Eve. I still have to have a tourist visa to get in.
24 December 2007
02 December 2007
On vocabulary
"A noble spirit embiggens the smallest man." - Jebediah Springfield (in The Simpsons Episode 3F13, entitled "Lisa the Iconoclast")
The English language doesn't actually contain the word "embiggen," but Portuguese does. I laugh and think of this quote every time I hear it, and I have been meaning to post this for months. I like Portuguese.
The English language doesn't actually contain the word "embiggen," but Portuguese does. I laugh and think of this quote every time I hear it, and I have been meaning to post this for months. I like Portuguese.
01 December 2007
On my blood pressure
I generally have pretty good blood pressure, which is good, because my stress level is sky-high, what with me living in a foreign culture and all. Here's an excerpt from my conversation with my friend Ilce today:
Me: Oh, yeah, my pressure usually runs about 115/75.
Her: Your systolic is 115?! That's hypertensive!
Me: Huh?
Her: You feel okay with a systolic pressure that high? I mean, 120/80 here is already hypertensive!
Me: 115.
Her: Yeah, that's really high!
Me: (still really confused) One fifteen
Her: (finally realizing that something isn't quite right) Oh, I thought you were telling me 150.
(Cue the laugh track) I absolutely couldn't figure out why she was freaking out about my systolic BP of 115 and she couldn't figure out why in the world I wasn't more worried about it until she figured out that I was saying 115 and NOT 150 (and that was her misunderstanding, not my misspeaking). That, my friends, is a testament to the fact that we both need more sleep (writes the blogger at 12:20am).
Me: Oh, yeah, my pressure usually runs about 115/75.
Her: Your systolic is 115?! That's hypertensive!
Me: Huh?
Her: You feel okay with a systolic pressure that high? I mean, 120/80 here is already hypertensive!
Me: 115.
Her: Yeah, that's really high!
Me: (still really confused) One fifteen
Her: (finally realizing that something isn't quite right) Oh, I thought you were telling me 150.
(Cue the laugh track) I absolutely couldn't figure out why she was freaking out about my systolic BP of 115 and she couldn't figure out why in the world I wasn't more worried about it until she figured out that I was saying 115 and NOT 150 (and that was her misunderstanding, not my misspeaking). That, my friends, is a testament to the fact that we both need more sleep (writes the blogger at 12:20am).
30 November 2007
On shopping
Today, Ilce and I went to Saara (not to be confused at all with the high-end clothing stores, Zara). Saara is a HUGE flea market taking up several city blocks in downtown Rio. Think Chinatown (more specifically, Canal Street) in New York City. Without the back rooms and the police about to strike down on fake brand-name purse merchants. It was visual stimulation to the max, and I am quite happy I already knew what I wanted to buy.
Following our shopping escapade, we went to
Confeitaria Colombo, a turn-of-the (19th to 20th) century coffee and sweet shop. It is filled with history and charm, not to mention the high-quality food. It is in this coffee shop that many famous Brazilians (politicians, artists, writers, everyone who was anyone) spent hours upon hours conversing, brainstorming, writing. What better way to pass time?
Following our shopping escapade, we went to
Confeitaria Colombo, a turn-of-the (19th to 20th) century coffee and sweet shop. It is filled with history and charm, not to mention the high-quality food. It is in this coffee shop that many famous Brazilians (politicians, artists, writers, everyone who was anyone) spent hours upon hours conversing, brainstorming, writing. What better way to pass time?
24 November 2007
Thanks.... for everything
In the spirit of Thanksgiving (and making lists), here is my list of "thankfuls."
1. That I am currently in a season of rest and recuperation.
2. That I am in Brazil, doing what God has called me to do.
3. That I will soon be able to meet up with friends I haven't seen in at least a year and catch up.
4. That most of these friends are those you can just pick up with anytime, without having to actually live life together.
5. That I have a community of friends here, American, Brazilian, and other (Swedish), who live life with me.
6. That I was able to spend Thanksgiving day on vacation, getting my nails done, eating soup & ice cream by the kilogram, and dancing forró with my friend and her family.
7. The beautiful weather we are having -- it's 80-85 degrees here.
8. That I will see my family in a little under 3 weeks.
1. That I am currently in a season of rest and recuperation.
2. That I am in Brazil, doing what God has called me to do.
3. That I will soon be able to meet up with friends I haven't seen in at least a year and catch up.
4. That most of these friends are those you can just pick up with anytime, without having to actually live life together.
5. That I have a community of friends here, American, Brazilian, and other (Swedish), who live life with me.
6. That I was able to spend Thanksgiving day on vacation, getting my nails done, eating soup & ice cream by the kilogram, and dancing forró with my friend and her family.
7. The beautiful weather we are having -- it's 80-85 degrees here.
8. That I will see my family in a little under 3 weeks.
12 November 2007
On reading, and rain
So it's raining. Buckets. With no hope of stopping anytime soon. Usually, that's the kind of weather that makes me want to curl up and read a good book. As the rain beating against my windows made me seize up in a fit of boredom today, I decided to head to the mall. I have been trying to hold out as long as I could, but it was just calling to me, from 1/2 mile away. The Holy Grail of my book collection (at least for now), the one precious thing that will complete my collection: Harry Potter e as Relíquias da Morte. Ahh, doesn't that just roll off the tongue so well? You guessed it, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows has finally come out in Portuguese. And so my bilingual set is complete. Maybe one of these days I'll add a third language, but I'm happy, for now.
10 November 2007
On lists (really this time)
I am obsessed with lists. If I have a piece of paper and a pen, I scratch out those to-do's or that grocery list with heated fervor. I love making little check marks beside all the items, and I feel such a sense of power and exhilaration when everything is checked off. The problem is that after I am finished making the list, I can't always remember where I put it. Or what was on it in the first place.
I think that lists make me feel somewhat organized, though they are a reflection of what is going on inside my brain: a clutter of ideas and thoughts that refuse to stay in any kind of order. I always say, "I know there's something I forgot, but I cannot (for the life of me) remember what it is." Invariably, I remember whatever it was 2 days later, when the list is either lost or completed, or the deadline has passed.
And what's more? If I write something down and lose the list, my brain knows that I have it documented somewhere and feels free to chunk that particular piece of information into the recesses of my memory, in a place where only heavy psychoanalysis can reach. And I'm not going to see a shrink to figure out what I should have bought for dinner last night. Kind of ridiculous, huh? Maybe, just maybe, I should make a list of everything that I worry about (believe me, it's a lot) and throw it away. That's been on my to-do list for awhile....
I think that lists make me feel somewhat organized, though they are a reflection of what is going on inside my brain: a clutter of ideas and thoughts that refuse to stay in any kind of order. I always say, "I know there's something I forgot, but I cannot (for the life of me) remember what it is." Invariably, I remember whatever it was 2 days later, when the list is either lost or completed, or the deadline has passed.
And what's more? If I write something down and lose the list, my brain knows that I have it documented somewhere and feels free to chunk that particular piece of information into the recesses of my memory, in a place where only heavy psychoanalysis can reach. And I'm not going to see a shrink to figure out what I should have bought for dinner last night. Kind of ridiculous, huh? Maybe, just maybe, I should make a list of everything that I worry about (believe me, it's a lot) and throw it away. That's been on my to-do list for awhile....
09 November 2007
On being naked and unashamed, or not
I was writing in my journal this evening and God was gracious to bring to mind the following as I was asking Him to strip away the layers of "clothing" that I have put on to cover my nakedness and shame that comes from my sin.
In Genesis 3, verses 7 and 21, we see the difference in the two different types of clothing -- man-made and from God. Man-made clothing is flimsy and at best inadequate to cover whatever we want to cover. I think of the scene in Dead Poets Society where Todd (Ethan Hawke) is in front of the classroom talking about truth. "Mumbling truth... Truth's like a blanket that always leaves your feet cold... Y-You push it, stretch it, it'll never be enough. You kick at it, beat it, it will never cover any of us. From the moment we enter crying to the moment we leave dying, it will cover just your head as you wail and cry and scream!" Adam and Eve tried to cover their shame and nakedness with fig leaves, but that wasn't enough. Their own efforts were futile and God graciously responded by giving them clothes of His making. Of animal skins. The text doesn't specifically say, but I imagine that He would have provided the animal skins because He determined before the beginning of the world that there must be shedding of blood to atone for sin (before this, there is no mention of any animals being killed, and God didn't tell humans they could eat meat until Genesis 9). It is a theme that runs throughout the Bible, from the Old Testament Law to its culmination in Jesus Christ, who was slain to take away the sin of the world. He is our "clothing." He works in us and on us and through us to be able to present us to Himself as holy and blameless, without spot or blemish (read: naked, unashamed, and without sin) when we stand before Him. All we have to do is accept the gift that He gives.
In Genesis 3, verses 7 and 21, we see the difference in the two different types of clothing -- man-made and from God. Man-made clothing is flimsy and at best inadequate to cover whatever we want to cover. I think of the scene in Dead Poets Society where Todd (Ethan Hawke) is in front of the classroom talking about truth. "Mumbling truth... Truth's like a blanket that always leaves your feet cold... Y-You push it, stretch it, it'll never be enough. You kick at it, beat it, it will never cover any of us. From the moment we enter crying to the moment we leave dying, it will cover just your head as you wail and cry and scream!" Adam and Eve tried to cover their shame and nakedness with fig leaves, but that wasn't enough. Their own efforts were futile and God graciously responded by giving them clothes of His making. Of animal skins. The text doesn't specifically say, but I imagine that He would have provided the animal skins because He determined before the beginning of the world that there must be shedding of blood to atone for sin (before this, there is no mention of any animals being killed, and God didn't tell humans they could eat meat until Genesis 9). It is a theme that runs throughout the Bible, from the Old Testament Law to its culmination in Jesus Christ, who was slain to take away the sin of the world. He is our "clothing." He works in us and on us and through us to be able to present us to Himself as holy and blameless, without spot or blemish (read: naked, unashamed, and without sin) when we stand before Him. All we have to do is accept the gift that He gives.
08 November 2007
On writing, or not
Some people tell me I'm a good writer. I don't know about that, but I do know that I like to write. I find it easier to say on paper what I could never say out loud. I am uncomfortable with very much emotion in my conversations; I am a logical person and prefer to logically work things out. When emotion enters in, I get flustered and don't really know what to do. Writing opens up my world to so much more. I share doubts and fears and inadequacies like they are going out of style, and I can slowly open up those parts of myself that I am terrified for anyone else to see.
On the other hand, if I know others are going to read what I write, I temper it down so as not to bare my soul quite so much. I am scared of what people will see, and what people will think. Enter the blog. Not even half of what's on my mind gets typed onto my computer screen (all those Law & Order episodes where they search computers and know every keystroke you've made still kind of creeps me out). Some things don't make it into my journal, because they are written and could be read by anyone. Sometimes I wish I were more open and willing to talk, even to those who know me. I am an excellent builder, but not necessarily the best engineer or architect. I am very good at putting up walls, but not necessarily between me and the right people, and not necessarily in the right areas. I end up hurting a lot more than I am comfortable with (okay, so who is really comfortable hurting?), and some days I wonder if a lot of it isn't self-inflicted.
God and I have been having lots of chats lately about being naked and unashamed, like Adam and Eve were before the fall. Naked and unashamed is scary. Naked and unashamed invites either care or hurt. I don't know the percentages, but to me it seems like it is much more conducive to hurt -- in a "stand before me with all your flaws exposed and I will pronounce judgement on you" sort of way. At this point in my life, unfortunately, it seems as such with God as well. I have been like David a lot lately, expressing my anger and bitterness at God, while knowing all the while deep down in my heart that He is sovereign, that He is good, and that He wants me to walk in obedience, freedom, and fullness. Some days are hard. This is one of them.
On the other hand, if I know others are going to read what I write, I temper it down so as not to bare my soul quite so much. I am scared of what people will see, and what people will think. Enter the blog. Not even half of what's on my mind gets typed onto my computer screen (all those Law & Order episodes where they search computers and know every keystroke you've made still kind of creeps me out). Some things don't make it into my journal, because they are written and could be read by anyone. Sometimes I wish I were more open and willing to talk, even to those who know me. I am an excellent builder, but not necessarily the best engineer or architect. I am very good at putting up walls, but not necessarily between me and the right people, and not necessarily in the right areas. I end up hurting a lot more than I am comfortable with (okay, so who is really comfortable hurting?), and some days I wonder if a lot of it isn't self-inflicted.
God and I have been having lots of chats lately about being naked and unashamed, like Adam and Eve were before the fall. Naked and unashamed is scary. Naked and unashamed invites either care or hurt. I don't know the percentages, but to me it seems like it is much more conducive to hurt -- in a "stand before me with all your flaws exposed and I will pronounce judgement on you" sort of way. At this point in my life, unfortunately, it seems as such with God as well. I have been like David a lot lately, expressing my anger and bitterness at God, while knowing all the while deep down in my heart that He is sovereign, that He is good, and that He wants me to walk in obedience, freedom, and fullness. Some days are hard. This is one of them.
07 November 2007
They're here!
Okay, so they've been here for a month, but it's been fun passing them on the street. Every time I find a new one I'm excited. I know that people who don't live here wouldn't necessarily appreciate them, because they are definitely made by Brazilian artists and have everything to do with the culture of Rio. The CowParade is fun!
04 November 2007
Flashback
I was at some friends' house today getting music from them and was taken back to my childhood. They, being close to my age, have lots of 80's and 90's music. I saw some Van Halen on there, and it took me back to junior high, listening to "Right Now" and drinking Clear Pepsi (marketed as Crystal Pepsi). After a search on
Wikipedia, I discovered that the two were paired for an ad campaign which premiered at Super Bowl XXVII.
Ah, the lost days of my youth....
Wikipedia, I discovered that the two were paired for an ad campaign which premiered at Super Bowl XXVII.
Ah, the lost days of my youth....
03 November 2007
I want to....
-read all the Pulitzer prize-winning novels
-drink more water
-eat more fresh foods, including fruit and vegetables
-exercise regularly
-go back to Italy (more than once)
-go to the Bahamas
-hike the Appalachian Trail (yes, the whole thing)
-visit Napa Valley
-finish my list of books to read (which grows considerably longer daily, mostly in Portuguese)
-read through the Bible
-branch out more in the kitchen
-discover God daily
-learn to speak Italian
-write a book
-get on a reasonable sleep cycle
-practice self-discipline
-own and decorate my own house
-make culture
-get married
Thanks to the fun folks at 43 Things for the idea. Love to know what you want to do!
-drink more water
-eat more fresh foods, including fruit and vegetables
-exercise regularly
-go back to Italy (more than once)
-go to the Bahamas
-hike the Appalachian Trail (yes, the whole thing)
-visit Napa Valley
-finish my list of books to read (which grows considerably longer daily, mostly in Portuguese)
-read through the Bible
-branch out more in the kitchen
-discover God daily
-learn to speak Italian
-write a book
-get on a reasonable sleep cycle
-practice self-discipline
-own and decorate my own house
-make culture
-get married
Thanks to the fun folks at 43 Things for the idea. Love to know what you want to do!
31 October 2007
Update
Hello once again from sunny Rio!
We have had a busy couple of months, and I am glad to be at the end of the year, so that I might rest just a little bit before we start back up again next year. I am still trying to process the last few weeks, and so this update is going to be short.
Since I wrote my last update, we have had 4 medical teams with one week of rest in the middle. The two clinics we had in new areas were amazing. The pastors were overwhelmed with our work and excited about the work to be done when we were finished. The week of rest was much needed, and the past two weeks have been kind of a blur. One of the weeks we had 3 pharmacists, so I got to translate in triage for a nurse. I really enjoyed it and got to challenge a woman who was constantly anxious and really didn’t see the point in dumping all her problems on God. I shared with her about Adam and Eve and how they disobeyed God, causing separation from Him and death. Fast forward to Jesus, and I told her how God solved that problem of separation by sending Jesus to die on the cross for our sins and disobedience to God. I also challenged her with the Bible’s words in 1 Peter 5:7, to cast our cares upon God, for He cares for us. She just couldn’t understand why her problems would be important to God. Please pray for her (her name is Norma) and people like her, that they would understand that God created each one of us and wants us to have a restored relationship with Him.
The final team was from Brookwood Baptist in Birmingham, which is my home church. I was so thankful to have my spiritual family here for the last week, that we could encourage one another. The area that we have been in over the past few years has been plagued by competing drug factions, and members of the team had been praying since they were here last year. This year when we went to the church on Sunday, there was a peace resting on the community. It turns out that two of the factions had united and the other one was gone. The peace was evident in the faces and attitudes of the patients and church members, and they very quickly acknowledged the fact that prayer was a very important catalyst in the coming of that peace, both on the part of the Americans and Brazilians.
One of the verses that God has used to encourage me over the last month is Romans 8:29 – “For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren.” Even with all of my shortcomings and failures (and triumphs and strengths), my life will be spent with God conforming me to the image of Jesus Christ, for I am one of the adopted children in His family. Though I am not perfect, there will be a day when I am perfect (though it may not happen in this life), for God’s purpose is to conform me to the image of His Son. I praise Him that He has purpose for us, that we are not just swept up in the current of Christianity and drift willy-nilly to the end of our lives. I praise Him that He has plans for us, and that He uses all things for our growth and His glory.
Please continue to pray for:
S, who will be having surgery at 7:00 am Central Time on Wednesday, October 31.
Our team, that we may take advantage of this time to rest and renew our minds and bodies.
Our team, as we prepare for this next year, that we may be focused on the Lord and what He would have us do.
My visa, as I still have not heard anything about its renewal.
Thank you as always for your support and prayers.
For He alone is worthy.
We have had a busy couple of months, and I am glad to be at the end of the year, so that I might rest just a little bit before we start back up again next year. I am still trying to process the last few weeks, and so this update is going to be short.
Since I wrote my last update, we have had 4 medical teams with one week of rest in the middle. The two clinics we had in new areas were amazing. The pastors were overwhelmed with our work and excited about the work to be done when we were finished. The week of rest was much needed, and the past two weeks have been kind of a blur. One of the weeks we had 3 pharmacists, so I got to translate in triage for a nurse. I really enjoyed it and got to challenge a woman who was constantly anxious and really didn’t see the point in dumping all her problems on God. I shared with her about Adam and Eve and how they disobeyed God, causing separation from Him and death. Fast forward to Jesus, and I told her how God solved that problem of separation by sending Jesus to die on the cross for our sins and disobedience to God. I also challenged her with the Bible’s words in 1 Peter 5:7, to cast our cares upon God, for He cares for us. She just couldn’t understand why her problems would be important to God. Please pray for her (her name is Norma) and people like her, that they would understand that God created each one of us and wants us to have a restored relationship with Him.
The final team was from Brookwood Baptist in Birmingham, which is my home church. I was so thankful to have my spiritual family here for the last week, that we could encourage one another. The area that we have been in over the past few years has been plagued by competing drug factions, and members of the team had been praying since they were here last year. This year when we went to the church on Sunday, there was a peace resting on the community. It turns out that two of the factions had united and the other one was gone. The peace was evident in the faces and attitudes of the patients and church members, and they very quickly acknowledged the fact that prayer was a very important catalyst in the coming of that peace, both on the part of the Americans and Brazilians.
One of the verses that God has used to encourage me over the last month is Romans 8:29 – “For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren.” Even with all of my shortcomings and failures (and triumphs and strengths), my life will be spent with God conforming me to the image of Jesus Christ, for I am one of the adopted children in His family. Though I am not perfect, there will be a day when I am perfect (though it may not happen in this life), for God’s purpose is to conform me to the image of His Son. I praise Him that He has purpose for us, that we are not just swept up in the current of Christianity and drift willy-nilly to the end of our lives. I praise Him that He has plans for us, and that He uses all things for our growth and His glory.
Please continue to pray for:
S, who will be having surgery at 7:00 am Central Time on Wednesday, October 31.
Our team, that we may take advantage of this time to rest and renew our minds and bodies.
Our team, as we prepare for this next year, that we may be focused on the Lord and what He would have us do.
My visa, as I still have not heard anything about its renewal.
Thank you as always for your support and prayers.
For He alone is worthy.
Vacation -- the end
After our ride was over, we went into São João del Rei and shopped. Great, huh? S and I bought some pewter and furniture -- both were really inexpensive!
We stayed the night at a wonderful pousada and trucked on back to Rio the following day. All in all, our vacation was amazing and I would do it again in a heartbeat!
We stayed the night at a wonderful pousada and trucked on back to Rio the following day. All in all, our vacation was amazing and I would do it again in a heartbeat!
27 October 2007
More vacation (or vacation, day 3)
The following day we rode some more (surprise) and stopped for lunch at a place where we were provided with hammocks to rest afterwards. All I can say is wow. We moved on and during the ride into town that evening, we passed through the farm where the Brazilian Manga-larga (the breed of horse we were riding -- pretty similar to a quarter horse) is bred. When we got into town, 3 of our party were way ahead of me, and 2 were way behind. I had no idea where I was going; I just knew that the pousada was in town somewhere. Thank goodness we were in the middle of nowhere, right? There can't be that many pousadas around. When I got to the town square, I stopped to ask directions (without the help of knowing the name of the place where we were going). Here is the exchange:
Me: "Excuse me, have you seen some horses passing by here?"
Me: "Excuse me, have you seen some horses passing by here?"
Them (people sitting on the bench in the square): "Yes."
Me: "Can you tell me which way they went?"
Them: "Sure, they went on straight." (not really helpful, since I still didn't know where the pousada was, but I went on and just kept looking for horses)
Let me tell you, that is one of the greatest and most frustrating things about Brazilian culture. The exchange was much more than I can even describe, but I love the fact that I can stop a random person on the street and ask a question to kill my curiosity (or even ask directions) and I hate the fact that Brazilians will only tell you exactly what you ask for. Unless they are in a mood to tell their own entire life story.
The first picture is of me in the hammock after lunch, the second is of the kitchen of the pousada, and the third is of the family still. Minas Gerais grows a lot of sugarcane and makes a lot of cachaça (a distilled liquor made from sugarcane) -- the family that owns 
the pousada we stayed in also owns this still and manufactures and sells cahcaça.
the pousada we stayed in also owns this still and manufactures and sells cahcaça.19 October 2007
Vacation, day 2
Upon awakening at the pousada (quiet except for the birds chattering and the owner talking incessantly), we had a wonderful breakfast spread, complete with homemade cheese, fresh fruit, fresh juice, fresh bread, and coffee -- the staple of any Brazilian breakfast. Alex and Mariana brought the horses to us, and we got going about 9:30. We rode for about 3 hours, during which time Amy's horse sat down in the middle of the trail (with her on top of it), we stopped to drink out of a freshwater spring, and a jet flew right over our heads. Being from Rio, the sudden loudness was a bit frightening. We stopped to eat and rode into Prados, where all 4 of us bought boots (like it was going to make us better riders). Then we rode for 3 or so more hours until we got to the farmhouse where we would be staying.
The farmhouse belongs to a family who still raises cows and does farm-y things. Upon our arrival, the woman of the house showed us all to our rooms (Amy and I w
ere in a room with Santo Expedito, the patron saint of urgent causes). She proceeded to tell us that the bathroom was kind of far away, so if we'd like to use the chamber pot under the bed in the middle of the night, we could. It was like stepping back in time. Here are a few photos of the horses and the farmhouse.
The farmhouse belongs to a family who still raises cows and does farm-y things. Upon our arrival, the woman of the house showed us all to our rooms (Amy and I w
ere in a room with Santo Expedito, the patron saint of urgent causes). She proceeded to tell us that the bathroom was kind of far away, so if we'd like to use the chamber pot under the bed in the middle of the night, we could. It was like stepping back in time. Here are a few photos of the horses and the farmhouse.
16 October 2007
Seriously, vacation
I know that vacation posts need to be written and posted, so here goes my first attempt at just a little taste of Minas Gerais.
We left Rio Sunday morning about 10, and darned if I didn't almost get carsick on the way there. Great start, huh? It's just that our driver was driving fast (by Brazilian standards) and the road was really curvy. Thanks to all the engineers or whatever who designed those roads.
We stopped for lunch at Tiradentes, a quaint little town that was home to a strong abolitionist movement in Brasil. Then we headed on to São João del Rei, about 10 minutes down the road, where we parked the car and the jeep picked us up. Mariana took us to our pousada (bed-and-breakfast) and we settled in for the night. Here are a few pics of the pousada -- beautiful!
The water wheel and our cabin
Me on the bed in our room
We left Rio Sunday morning about 10, and darned if I didn't almost get carsick on the way there. Great start, huh? It's just that our driver was driving fast (by Brazilian standards) and the road was really curvy. Thanks to all the engineers or whatever who designed those roads.
We stopped for lunch at Tiradentes, a quaint little town that was home to a strong abolitionist movement in Brasil. Then we headed on to São João del Rei, about 10 minutes down the road, where we parked the car and the jeep picked us up. Mariana took us to our pousada (bed-and-breakfast) and we settled in for the night. Here are a few pics of the pousada -- beautiful!
The water wheel and our cabin
Me on the bed in our room
13 October 2007
12 October 2007
05 October 2007
Overwhelmed
and in need of a vacation.
And that's what I'm doing next week. We are going to Minas Gerais (a neighboring state) to travel along the Estrada Real, the road that the Portuguese used to transport the gold that they mined (in Minas) to the coastal city of Paraty (in Rio). We will be traveling on horseback, for 3 days, and staying in old farmhouses along the way. I am so ready for some time of rest, relaxation, and a clear head.
And that's what I'm doing next week. We are going to Minas Gerais (a neighboring state) to travel along the Estrada Real, the road that the Portuguese used to transport the gold that they mined (in Minas) to the coastal city of Paraty (in Rio). We will be traveling on horseback, for 3 days, and staying in old farmhouses along the way. I am so ready for some time of rest, relaxation, and a clear head.
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