Brazil is a very open culture. There are boobs and butts shown on TV. The ads in magazines and billboards are eye-catching to say the least. There are Playboys, and worse, sold at the checkout counters in the grocery stores. And as I have said in the past, the bathing suits here are small. This is normal. I am okay with most of it. My boys are probably okay with all of it. It is good in a way though. Brazilians are very comfortable with their bodies, no matter the shape or size, and they are comfortable with expressing themselves. I am still learning.
The daily life of a Brazilian is very, lets say interpersonal. The average Brazilian probably gives and receives over 100 kisses in a day. Not to mention the hugs and simple touches. This is okay with me, up to a point. Since I have been married into the Latin culture for some time, bussing cheeks is normal. But, I am still a puritanical, "my personal space" American in some respects. I have a problem with being crowded in line at the store. I have issues when I am trying to find things in Wal-Mart and another person is almost on top of me trying to get something off the shelf. Just because they are 2 feet away does not mean anything. They are still too close. And I still have a hard time when I first meet someone to give them a kiss on the cheek. Handshakes are fine for me. But a kiss is more personal. Now if I met them before no problem. Apparently, I gave a kiss on the cheek to an Exec at my husband's company who I thought I met before, but I didn't and I freaked him out. My husband got a good laugh at that one. My youngest son is learning about kissing. The girls at school call him cute, pinch his cheeks, and give him a kiss. He is enjoying this attention. Who wouldn't right? Well he is 9, so I think I need to reintroduce him to the definition of personal space.
I also have issues with public displays of affection. Holding hands, no problem, light kisses no problem. But extreme PDA is still a little much for me. For example, today I went to Starbucks for a very delicious Chocolate Cappuccino. I happen to glance up into the balcony of the store when I see two, I hope, teenagers making out. Not kissing. No this was the backseat of a Pontiac kissing session. And this is not the first place I have seen this. We have been standing in line at the movie theater candy stand and old people, like in their 50s, were playing tonsil tennis. We have been in restaurants, in bars, in the park. You name it. I am guessing it is a culture thing? In the States you would probably be charged with exhibitionism or lewd and lascivious behavior. I am glad my boys were not with me today. All I need is for them to get ideas, or tips, and take them back to the States with us.
Maybe I should keep this. Then when they are dating age, or younger in the case of my youngest, print it out and give it to the parents of the girls in their classes. That would ensure they do not date till college right?
Friday, May 20, 2011
Friday, May 13, 2011
I Want Candy!
With a title like that you have to sing the song! That is exactly what I did today when I found a treasure trove. My friend wanted to check out a tiny supermarket around the corner from our apartments. So I tagged along. And boy, I am glad I did!
In a country that loves salt on everything, you cannot get pretzels. No I am serious! The only bags we have found so far are snack size that we can get a Wal-Mart. But today? I found Snyder's Pretzel Sticks! And Mini Pretzels! And coated ones like an inside out Combo! YUMMO! You are probably thinking pretzels? So what? Ha-ha, it is a so what! I do not eat chips and my junk food is pretzels. Now you are probably thinking, you don't eat chips? What's the matter with you? Well plenty, but I don't have enough room to list them here. However, I can down a one pound bag of Rold Gold in no time flat. The best is if you dip the pretzel in red Kool-Aid, but I don't have that either. But now, at least, I have pretzels. And you can't have any! They're mine, all mine! So mitts off!
The second favorite thing in this country is sugar. Can you understand why I like living here? The chocolate is very delicious. But every once in a while you want a good, down home, American candy bar. Well you can buy a few here, Snickers, Twix, M&Ms. But if you want a bar it will cost ya. Try $3.50 US dollars for a bag of M&Ms. Now you are probably thinking, What? Are you crazy? You don't buy any do you? Well, usually no. If I am in need of a chocolate fix I actually by a $6.00 big brick bar of Hershey's Extra Creamy Milk Chocolate, but that is only when a girl really NEEDS her chocolate.
But today, at this little tiny grocery store around the corner from my apartment, I found Reese Cups and Reese Sticks and Skittles. Can I tell you how my eyes bugged out when I saw them? Reese Cups? You stuck your chocolate in my peanut butter! NO, you stuck your peanut butter in my chocolate! Yes, I'm in heaven. I'm in heaven. (Yes you can sing that song too). It has been so long since I had a Reese Cup. I savored them. No I did not buy any for my boys. And no I am not mean. I got them the Skittles and the Reese Sticks. I unwrapped one cup and ate the chocolate around the edges and then let the circle that was left melt in my mouth. Yes, this is how I eat all Reese Cups. You should try it. I highly recommend it. We were heading out to the car while I was eating the second one when the bag boy asked if I wanted to put my meager bags in the cart too (pretzels and candy do not take up a lot of room). But they were around my arm and I would have had to eat my chocolate faster if I was to do that. I let the boy know this and he laughed. I truly do not think he comprehends the bliss one feels when savoring their chocolate. So for a tip I gave him a snack sized Twix bar. He seemed happy with that.
Yes, today I bought candy bars and bags for US$3.50 each. And yes, I spent US$7.00 on a bag of pretzels. But today I am really happy. I think that out weighs the cost. Of course next week I will have to get on the bike and exercise it off, but I will cross that bridge then.
In a country that loves salt on everything, you cannot get pretzels. No I am serious! The only bags we have found so far are snack size that we can get a Wal-Mart. But today? I found Snyder's Pretzel Sticks! And Mini Pretzels! And coated ones like an inside out Combo! YUMMO! You are probably thinking pretzels? So what? Ha-ha, it is a so what! I do not eat chips and my junk food is pretzels. Now you are probably thinking, you don't eat chips? What's the matter with you? Well plenty, but I don't have enough room to list them here. However, I can down a one pound bag of Rold Gold in no time flat. The best is if you dip the pretzel in red Kool-Aid, but I don't have that either. But now, at least, I have pretzels. And you can't have any! They're mine, all mine! So mitts off!
The second favorite thing in this country is sugar. Can you understand why I like living here? The chocolate is very delicious. But every once in a while you want a good, down home, American candy bar. Well you can buy a few here, Snickers, Twix, M&Ms. But if you want a bar it will cost ya. Try $3.50 US dollars for a bag of M&Ms. Now you are probably thinking, What? Are you crazy? You don't buy any do you? Well, usually no. If I am in need of a chocolate fix I actually by a $6.00 big brick bar of Hershey's Extra Creamy Milk Chocolate, but that is only when a girl really NEEDS her chocolate.
But today, at this little tiny grocery store around the corner from my apartment, I found Reese Cups and Reese Sticks and Skittles. Can I tell you how my eyes bugged out when I saw them? Reese Cups? You stuck your chocolate in my peanut butter! NO, you stuck your peanut butter in my chocolate! Yes, I'm in heaven. I'm in heaven. (Yes you can sing that song too). It has been so long since I had a Reese Cup. I savored them. No I did not buy any for my boys. And no I am not mean. I got them the Skittles and the Reese Sticks. I unwrapped one cup and ate the chocolate around the edges and then let the circle that was left melt in my mouth. Yes, this is how I eat all Reese Cups. You should try it. I highly recommend it. We were heading out to the car while I was eating the second one when the bag boy asked if I wanted to put my meager bags in the cart too (pretzels and candy do not take up a lot of room). But they were around my arm and I would have had to eat my chocolate faster if I was to do that. I let the boy know this and he laughed. I truly do not think he comprehends the bliss one feels when savoring their chocolate. So for a tip I gave him a snack sized Twix bar. He seemed happy with that.
Yes, today I bought candy bars and bags for US$3.50 each. And yes, I spent US$7.00 on a bag of pretzels. But today I am really happy. I think that out weighs the cost. Of course next week I will have to get on the bike and exercise it off, but I will cross that bridge then.
Thursday, May 5, 2011
In the immortal words of Jimmy Buffett
As I sit here this morning eating breakfast, I cannot help but think of Jimmy Buffett. He has a song titled "The Last Mango in Paris." No I am not eating the last mango in my house. I am eating the last Cheerio in Sao Paulo.
My in-laws, bless them, brought four big boxes of Cheerios when they came to visit in March. Let me tell you. It is not easy carrying Cheerios in a suitcase. The boxes take up a lot of room and get dented during transport. Nothing happens to the Cheerios, though I would eat the ground powder anyway if that was all I had. And every ex-pat I know either has someone bring a box or two this way, or they bring it themselves. Why is this necessary? Well, Brazil is not a cereal market. If they eat breakfast, it is breads and things. Or if "someone" makes them breakfast, it is a fully cooked meal. Which is why many people here have muffin top or spare tire issues.
You should see the cereal aisle here. There are maybe 10 total kinds, 3 are corn flakes, 2 are frosted flakes, 2 are bran type flakes or twigs, and the rest vary for kids cereals - Froot Loops, a Cocoa Puff type, and a honey O that is NOT, and I repeat NOT a Cheerio. It is not a whole lot to choose from. So when I got the boxes, oh and they brought Lucky Charms for the boys, which were gone in a week let me tell you. I think they even licked the plastics bag inside to get all of the crumbs. Okay, so when I got my boxes I horded them. Can't have cereal everyday if I wanted them to last. Well except for the first day or two. I had cereal for breakfast and lunch. And each time a box emptied, I cringed. My bowls got smaller, I ate slower to savor the taste, I put less milk in it so I wouldn't eat them faster because they now would not get soggy as fast. You name it, I stretched it out. Then the other day, I forgot to get bread for my family. Yes, they are Latin. They love bread! I buy French rolls everyday; they butter them, then put them in a sandwich press to have pao de chapa (ironed toast). Yes it is good, but not for me. My toast has to have jam, which is not for them so I can buy whatever flavor I like. Back to the story. I forgot to buy bread. This was part of a deal with my husband. I cannot skimp or not buy bread and he cannot comment on how many shoes I buy. It is a good deal. Especially in a land of very nice leather goods. But one day, I forgot. Bad mommy - no shoes for you! So the boys found something else, and I offered Ricardo my Cheerios. Yes. I did. Now he has eaten some before, but out of all of the boxes, maybe 1/2 of one total box. It hurt me badly to have to offer them to him. There was not much left. And now. None.
It is a sad day in Sao Paulo. I think is should be a day of mourning. Maybe I will crawl back into bed and pull the covers over my head and listen to Jimmy Buffett. I can replace his lyrics with "the last Cheerio in Sao Paulo." I don't think he will mind, especially if he likes cereal.
My in-laws, bless them, brought four big boxes of Cheerios when they came to visit in March. Let me tell you. It is not easy carrying Cheerios in a suitcase. The boxes take up a lot of room and get dented during transport. Nothing happens to the Cheerios, though I would eat the ground powder anyway if that was all I had. And every ex-pat I know either has someone bring a box or two this way, or they bring it themselves. Why is this necessary? Well, Brazil is not a cereal market. If they eat breakfast, it is breads and things. Or if "someone" makes them breakfast, it is a fully cooked meal. Which is why many people here have muffin top or spare tire issues.
You should see the cereal aisle here. There are maybe 10 total kinds, 3 are corn flakes, 2 are frosted flakes, 2 are bran type flakes or twigs, and the rest vary for kids cereals - Froot Loops, a Cocoa Puff type, and a honey O that is NOT, and I repeat NOT a Cheerio. It is not a whole lot to choose from. So when I got the boxes, oh and they brought Lucky Charms for the boys, which were gone in a week let me tell you. I think they even licked the plastics bag inside to get all of the crumbs. Okay, so when I got my boxes I horded them. Can't have cereal everyday if I wanted them to last. Well except for the first day or two. I had cereal for breakfast and lunch. And each time a box emptied, I cringed. My bowls got smaller, I ate slower to savor the taste, I put less milk in it so I wouldn't eat them faster because they now would not get soggy as fast. You name it, I stretched it out. Then the other day, I forgot to get bread for my family. Yes, they are Latin. They love bread! I buy French rolls everyday; they butter them, then put them in a sandwich press to have pao de chapa (ironed toast). Yes it is good, but not for me. My toast has to have jam, which is not for them so I can buy whatever flavor I like. Back to the story. I forgot to buy bread. This was part of a deal with my husband. I cannot skimp or not buy bread and he cannot comment on how many shoes I buy. It is a good deal. Especially in a land of very nice leather goods. But one day, I forgot. Bad mommy - no shoes for you! So the boys found something else, and I offered Ricardo my Cheerios. Yes. I did. Now he has eaten some before, but out of all of the boxes, maybe 1/2 of one total box. It hurt me badly to have to offer them to him. There was not much left. And now. None.
It is a sad day in Sao Paulo. I think is should be a day of mourning. Maybe I will crawl back into bed and pull the covers over my head and listen to Jimmy Buffett. I can replace his lyrics with "the last Cheerio in Sao Paulo." I don't think he will mind, especially if he likes cereal.
Monday, May 2, 2011
Going Coconuts...
Is not just the title of my favorite Donnie & Marie album while growing up. It was also a good movie, by the way. I highly recommend it.
My son recently has been called weird. This bothers us, and we have tried to reassure him that he is just fine. Yes, he is weird, but everybody is weird. We have told him this. Plus the coconut doesn't fall far from the tree, if you know what I mean. My other son asked, "Well if we are weird, is God weird?" Good question. My comment, "Well if we are made is God's image, then maybe He is." I think he appreciated that because it made him laugh. But my comment to my oldest was, "What fun is it to be normal? It is more interesting being weird. Plus, you come from a long line of weird people. There is no helping it." For example, I have an ancestor who died in Cuba. He was in the Spanish American War. No this does not make him weird. What makes him weird, the story goes (I got this from some distant relative), is that he died by falling out of a coconut tree. See? You are much more interesting if you are weird (and alive).
I think we were made to live in Brazil for a while. How do I come to that decision based on weirdness and coconuts?Well apparently, over the last 15 years the city has flooded more and more often, especially during the rainy season. It isn't raining any more than usual. The city has drainage. No. I have been told that what is causing the city to flood more often is coconuts. What? Yes. See, here you can get a coconut on practically any street corner. (My relatives are obviously not picking them since we cannot stay in a tree). They drill a hole in it, stick in a straw, and you drink from it. It is not expensive, and these coconut people are everywhere. But where do all the used coconuts go? Ah-ha! Yes, you got it. They go down the drain into the sewer system. Coconuts don't go anywhere, they don't degrade fast, no bugs eat the shells. So they sit there and block the water from draining faster. Plus there is now a hole in the coconut so it also fills with water. I don't think it floats then. And there you have it, a flooded city. How weird is that?!
See baby, you even live in a weird city. Is there another on this planet that can say it floods due to coconuts?
My son recently has been called weird. This bothers us, and we have tried to reassure him that he is just fine. Yes, he is weird, but everybody is weird. We have told him this. Plus the coconut doesn't fall far from the tree, if you know what I mean. My other son asked, "Well if we are weird, is God weird?" Good question. My comment, "Well if we are made is God's image, then maybe He is." I think he appreciated that because it made him laugh. But my comment to my oldest was, "What fun is it to be normal? It is more interesting being weird. Plus, you come from a long line of weird people. There is no helping it." For example, I have an ancestor who died in Cuba. He was in the Spanish American War. No this does not make him weird. What makes him weird, the story goes (I got this from some distant relative), is that he died by falling out of a coconut tree. See? You are much more interesting if you are weird (and alive).
I think we were made to live in Brazil for a while. How do I come to that decision based on weirdness and coconuts?Well apparently, over the last 15 years the city has flooded more and more often, especially during the rainy season. It isn't raining any more than usual. The city has drainage. No. I have been told that what is causing the city to flood more often is coconuts. What? Yes. See, here you can get a coconut on practically any street corner. (My relatives are obviously not picking them since we cannot stay in a tree). They drill a hole in it, stick in a straw, and you drink from it. It is not expensive, and these coconut people are everywhere. But where do all the used coconuts go? Ah-ha! Yes, you got it. They go down the drain into the sewer system. Coconuts don't go anywhere, they don't degrade fast, no bugs eat the shells. So they sit there and block the water from draining faster. Plus there is now a hole in the coconut so it also fills with water. I don't think it floats then. And there you have it, a flooded city. How weird is that?!
See baby, you even live in a weird city. Is there another on this planet that can say it floods due to coconuts?
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
The Boring Day of an Ex-pat Housewife
I know I will get dinged for this, but what the heck.
I was bored today. I literally had nothing to do. Usually, I take my kids down to the school bus in the mornings, finish my coffee and then go to the gym to work out. But what to do after that? Today, I went to the grocery store after taking a leisurely shower and picked up bread and a pork shoulder for dinner. I have so much to do and think about that I forgot onions. Poor me, so I had to go back. Well, I live right next to the shopping center where the grocery store is located. So I called my friend Beth to see if she wanted to get a Starbucks and then make a quick run to the store for my onion. I made some lemon bars from a box mix that I brought back with me while I waited for her to get home from an errand (she lives 3 buildings down from me). Then we headed over to Starbucks. They have a new chocolate Cappuccino which is to die for by the way. Yadda yadda yadda got my onion and came home. So it is 11 am by this time. I have dinner in the slow cooker. Now what? I could clean. No, the maid is doing that. I could iron. No, maid is doing that too. I could clean the breakfast dishes. No, again maid. Beds? made by maid. See this is where I will get dinged.
Okay, so I practiced piano. I am trying to learn Moonlight Sonata and it is slow going. I did a little bit of bible study. I read a bit. Had a little lunch. By now it is 1 pm. Shoot! I have until 4:15 before the boys get home! Could the day move faster please! I could not take a nap. I'd feel too weird because, well, the maid is cleaning. I can't nap while she does work. I mean might as well eat bonbons while wearing fuzzy trimmed high-heeled slippers. So I just kept cycling through my "chores" and added a little sewing to the mix. Finally 4:15 rolled around. The boys got home and we did homework. I do not think any mom anywhere is ever excited about homework. We already went to school and had to suffer through it. But today, I was excited. Math with my fifth grader - fractions of numbers like 4/5 of 35, and a mini report on a city with my third grader. He picked St. Paul, MN. Did you know that the original name of the city was Pig's Eye Landing in the 1820-30's? Named after a whiskey distiller that lived in the area. He obviously was not married and thought the name was catchy. Anyway, got dinner on the table, boys took showers, they went to bed, husband went to work out (he is eating too much Haagen Daaz). Now I am sitting at my desk. I was trying to figure out a blog for our Easter trip, but this popped into my head first. Maybe I will add that to my To-do List for tomorrow. Have to have something on it, right?
I was bored today. I literally had nothing to do. Usually, I take my kids down to the school bus in the mornings, finish my coffee and then go to the gym to work out. But what to do after that? Today, I went to the grocery store after taking a leisurely shower and picked up bread and a pork shoulder for dinner. I have so much to do and think about that I forgot onions. Poor me, so I had to go back. Well, I live right next to the shopping center where the grocery store is located. So I called my friend Beth to see if she wanted to get a Starbucks and then make a quick run to the store for my onion. I made some lemon bars from a box mix that I brought back with me while I waited for her to get home from an errand (she lives 3 buildings down from me). Then we headed over to Starbucks. They have a new chocolate Cappuccino which is to die for by the way. Yadda yadda yadda got my onion and came home. So it is 11 am by this time. I have dinner in the slow cooker. Now what? I could clean. No, the maid is doing that. I could iron. No, maid is doing that too. I could clean the breakfast dishes. No, again maid. Beds? made by maid. See this is where I will get dinged.
Okay, so I practiced piano. I am trying to learn Moonlight Sonata and it is slow going. I did a little bit of bible study. I read a bit. Had a little lunch. By now it is 1 pm. Shoot! I have until 4:15 before the boys get home! Could the day move faster please! I could not take a nap. I'd feel too weird because, well, the maid is cleaning. I can't nap while she does work. I mean might as well eat bonbons while wearing fuzzy trimmed high-heeled slippers. So I just kept cycling through my "chores" and added a little sewing to the mix. Finally 4:15 rolled around. The boys got home and we did homework. I do not think any mom anywhere is ever excited about homework. We already went to school and had to suffer through it. But today, I was excited. Math with my fifth grader - fractions of numbers like 4/5 of 35, and a mini report on a city with my third grader. He picked St. Paul, MN. Did you know that the original name of the city was Pig's Eye Landing in the 1820-30's? Named after a whiskey distiller that lived in the area. He obviously was not married and thought the name was catchy. Anyway, got dinner on the table, boys took showers, they went to bed, husband went to work out (he is eating too much Haagen Daaz). Now I am sitting at my desk. I was trying to figure out a blog for our Easter trip, but this popped into my head first. Maybe I will add that to my To-do List for tomorrow. Have to have something on it, right?
Monday, April 25, 2011
Hooked On A Feeling
A few weekends ago we spent two days in Ubatuba with friends. That is such a fun word to say. Uba-tuba, Uba-tuba. Pronounce it like a drum beat and you will know what I am talking about. It is kind of like the beginning of the song "Hooked on a Feeling," hence the title of the blog. Come on sing it with me... "I-I-I-I-I I'm hooked on a feeling...!" Have no idea the rest of the song lyrics. But it doesn't matter. Ubatuba is fun and relaxing. The drive to get there is not, however.
Let me give you a geography lesson. The southern coast of Brazil is beach then mountain. Sao Paulo is actually located in the mountainous region so it is chillier than at the beach, usually. To get to the beach you have to follow the bear - go over the mountain to see what you can see. Well here is the road to get over the mountain. (I am sure the bear took a straighter route.)
Look ma, it's my lower intestines! Now try driving that back to Sao Paulo in torrential rain, hail, and lightning. Not so relaxing is it? but when you get over that "little hill", this is what you see...
That is the view from our hotel. And yes there are mountains behind these in the picture. Now can you say tranquility? We had such a great time with friends. The first night it rained buckets. Which are easier to avoid than giant rain drops that soak you in seconds. We headed up this staircase which I am ticked I did not get a picture of. It was cement or maybe big wooden blocks, my memory is not so good at the moment. But it was so steep you had to literally climb up them. Oh and no railing. If you fell? You dropped 10 feet to trees and bushes and a broken leg. We had to traverse it in pouring rain with the children. But, goodness, we had a blast.
The next day was so beautiful and clear. You know? We did not get one picture of the kids up close. Bad parents we are. But here they are on the beach just after sunrise.
You know? Ricardo and I are extremely lucky. We have seen the sunrise on the coast of Brazil. And years ago we were able to see it set almost half way around the world in Maui. We count our blessings everyday.
Let me give you a geography lesson. The southern coast of Brazil is beach then mountain. Sao Paulo is actually located in the mountainous region so it is chillier than at the beach, usually. To get to the beach you have to follow the bear - go over the mountain to see what you can see. Well here is the road to get over the mountain. (I am sure the bear took a straighter route.)
Look ma, it's my lower intestines! Now try driving that back to Sao Paulo in torrential rain, hail, and lightning. Not so relaxing is it? but when you get over that "little hill", this is what you see...
That is the view from our hotel. And yes there are mountains behind these in the picture. Now can you say tranquility? We had such a great time with friends. The first night it rained buckets. Which are easier to avoid than giant rain drops that soak you in seconds. We headed up this staircase which I am ticked I did not get a picture of. It was cement or maybe big wooden blocks, my memory is not so good at the moment. But it was so steep you had to literally climb up them. Oh and no railing. If you fell? You dropped 10 feet to trees and bushes and a broken leg. We had to traverse it in pouring rain with the children. But, goodness, we had a blast.
The next day was so beautiful and clear. You know? We did not get one picture of the kids up close. Bad parents we are. But here they are on the beach just after sunrise.
Oh, and here is the sun at 7 am. Another geography lesson, there is nothing in front of Ubatuba until you hit Africa. Totally cool!
You know? Ricardo and I are extremely lucky. We have seen the sunrise on the coast of Brazil. And years ago we were able to see it set almost half way around the world in Maui. We count our blessings everyday.
Monday, April 4, 2011
Wonders never Cease
We visited Iguassu Falls on the Brazilian/Paraguayan/Argentine border this weekend. It is so beautiful! Definitely one of the natural wonders of the world.
My boys were really excited to go there. See?
Actually, they really liked it. They just don't like to smile in photos. Ah, the teenage years to look forward to!
It is really hard to choose which photos to put in because they are all beautiful. It totally beats Niagra Falls! Sorry Canadian friends. When you get there, you walk along a path about a mile or two and head steadily down till you are even with part of the falls. Then, the crazy thing that you will never see in the States - you walk out onto the top of the falls. They never spoke about anyone jumping over, but I am sure that there have been a few suicidal maniacs that have done just that. You even get to look down into the falls in what they call the Devil's Throat. You get soaking wet from the mist, but it is spectacular! It is the coolest thing ever.
These are only a few of the great shots we got. The first is looking out over the falls. The water was about 6 feet below us, if that much. The second in my mother-in-law protecting the cameras from the water. And the third shot is a side view from where we were standing. And below is the picture looking into the Devil's throat.
We saw snails and ants the size of a thumb nail, monkeys in the trees (besides the two who were with us that never smiled), the most amazingly colorful butterflies imaginable, and these Brazilian raccoon things called Coiti. Back at our hotel we even saw a snail the size of a man's palm and the shell the size of a baseball!
We also went to a bird sanctuary while we were there. The Toucans followed you around to get their pictures taken. We even saw one reading a sign post.
Again, the colors of the butterflies and the parrots were amazing. We found out that the giant colorful parrots do not like baseball caps. Either that or they are not SEC fans (Ricardo was wearing his Florida Gator hat) because they dive-bombed us when we went through their caged area. Ricardo got a quick picture of the bomb run.
Watch out below!
We saw flamingos doing yoga, coiling snakes, and monkeys running around chasing butterflies for snacks.
The wonders did not cease when we went over to Argentina either. Ricardo and I headed for the border (too bad there was no Taco Bell) and hit the casino on the Argentine side. Now of course Ricardo has said that now that I have been to Argentina he does not have to take me back. WRONG! Breathing some funky air there sweetie if you think you can get away with that! The casino was very interesting - even though it was in Argentina, all the chips and money were in US dollars. We assumed that since the inflation rate is so high and fluctuates so much in Argentina that it was easier to run it on a more stable currency. (Maybe they should have picked the Chinese currency. Have they been watching the economic reports lately?) We got a bunch of free drink tickets though so that made up for the loss in the money exchange. Because of course why would we bring US dollars to Argentina while living in Brazil? The people watching I think made up for the fact that to casino took our children's college fund. No not that bad, just some shoe money really. Okay, yes taking shoe money is bad - for me - but I will get over it. Eventually.
We got to see another natural wonder of the world on the Argentina side too. Picture this - young women in their 20s and 30s, not bad looking though some could have used a gym and the others a mirror, wearing dresses on the short side, on the arms of men in their 60s and 70s. Truly, truly amazing to see. They were as abundant as the butterflies we saw that afternoon! But here comes the fun part. One girl sat down at our Black Jack table, and her grandfa - excuse me companion - gave her some money to play with. Every hand? She asked how much her cards were worth. "What do I have?" Well chica, you have a seven and a five so I think you have, wait let me count, ummm, 10. No that's not it, I ran out of fingers. Ah I got it - 12! You have twelve you need to hit. Or really you need to be hit. And the next hand. "How much do I have?" Let me see, a nine and a six. You have 15! You have got to be kidding me! She couldn't even count the cards that the dealer had so she would clap and then pout when the dealer took her money. You lost sweetheart. He had more than you, but he didn't go over 21. I don't think her IQ did either.
The previous night we went to dinner and a show where Ricardo was pulled on stage to dance with a girl who was doing Samba. I love me husband, but he cannot Samba. I can't either so don't think that is a dig on him. Nor would I be up there wearing a g-string bikini like she was even if I could. He was a very good sport about it and I think we all extended our lives by about five years with how much we laughed.
if you ever have a chance to go, do. To quote Ferris Bueller, "I highly recommend it." We had such a great time. I will see how to add a link to my photo gallery so you can see more pictures if you want.
My boys were really excited to go there. See?
Actually, they really liked it. They just don't like to smile in photos. Ah, the teenage years to look forward to!
It is really hard to choose which photos to put in because they are all beautiful. It totally beats Niagra Falls! Sorry Canadian friends. When you get there, you walk along a path about a mile or two and head steadily down till you are even with part of the falls. Then, the crazy thing that you will never see in the States - you walk out onto the top of the falls. They never spoke about anyone jumping over, but I am sure that there have been a few suicidal maniacs that have done just that. You even get to look down into the falls in what they call the Devil's Throat. You get soaking wet from the mist, but it is spectacular! It is the coolest thing ever.
These are only a few of the great shots we got. The first is looking out over the falls. The water was about 6 feet below us, if that much. The second in my mother-in-law protecting the cameras from the water. And the third shot is a side view from where we were standing. And below is the picture looking into the Devil's throat.
We saw snails and ants the size of a thumb nail, monkeys in the trees (besides the two who were with us that never smiled), the most amazingly colorful butterflies imaginable, and these Brazilian raccoon things called Coiti. Back at our hotel we even saw a snail the size of a man's palm and the shell the size of a baseball!
We also went to a bird sanctuary while we were there. The Toucans followed you around to get their pictures taken. We even saw one reading a sign post.
Again, the colors of the butterflies and the parrots were amazing. We found out that the giant colorful parrots do not like baseball caps. Either that or they are not SEC fans (Ricardo was wearing his Florida Gator hat) because they dive-bombed us when we went through their caged area. Ricardo got a quick picture of the bomb run.
Watch out below!
We saw flamingos doing yoga, coiling snakes, and monkeys running around chasing butterflies for snacks.
The wonders did not cease when we went over to Argentina either. Ricardo and I headed for the border (too bad there was no Taco Bell) and hit the casino on the Argentine side. Now of course Ricardo has said that now that I have been to Argentina he does not have to take me back. WRONG! Breathing some funky air there sweetie if you think you can get away with that! The casino was very interesting - even though it was in Argentina, all the chips and money were in US dollars. We assumed that since the inflation rate is so high and fluctuates so much in Argentina that it was easier to run it on a more stable currency. (Maybe they should have picked the Chinese currency. Have they been watching the economic reports lately?) We got a bunch of free drink tickets though so that made up for the loss in the money exchange. Because of course why would we bring US dollars to Argentina while living in Brazil? The people watching I think made up for the fact that to casino took our children's college fund. No not that bad, just some shoe money really. Okay, yes taking shoe money is bad - for me - but I will get over it. Eventually.
We got to see another natural wonder of the world on the Argentina side too. Picture this - young women in their 20s and 30s, not bad looking though some could have used a gym and the others a mirror, wearing dresses on the short side, on the arms of men in their 60s and 70s. Truly, truly amazing to see. They were as abundant as the butterflies we saw that afternoon! But here comes the fun part. One girl sat down at our Black Jack table, and her grandfa - excuse me companion - gave her some money to play with. Every hand? She asked how much her cards were worth. "What do I have?" Well chica, you have a seven and a five so I think you have, wait let me count, ummm, 10. No that's not it, I ran out of fingers. Ah I got it - 12! You have twelve you need to hit. Or really you need to be hit. And the next hand. "How much do I have?" Let me see, a nine and a six. You have 15! You have got to be kidding me! She couldn't even count the cards that the dealer had so she would clap and then pout when the dealer took her money. You lost sweetheart. He had more than you, but he didn't go over 21. I don't think her IQ did either.
The previous night we went to dinner and a show where Ricardo was pulled on stage to dance with a girl who was doing Samba. I love me husband, but he cannot Samba. I can't either so don't think that is a dig on him. Nor would I be up there wearing a g-string bikini like she was even if I could. He was a very good sport about it and I think we all extended our lives by about five years with how much we laughed.
if you ever have a chance to go, do. To quote Ferris Bueller, "I highly recommend it." We had such a great time. I will see how to add a link to my photo gallery so you can see more pictures if you want.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)