Time in Maceio & Morros

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Hello all.
I just arrived from my trip to Brazil. As usual, it's a wonderful, but also melancholic time for me.

Going to Maceio is about visiting my family. For you, who have never been there, know that there are lots of nature related sights to explore. Beautiful prestine beaches with blue or green ocean, reafs, coconut trees, delicious sea food, a lagoon witch meets the Atlantic ocean... and very friendly people, music, heat.

In Maceio, I just spend time with my sister, parents, nephews, niecce, uncles. There are hundreds of them, seriously. At Morros de Camaragibe, however, where my sister Andrea has a beach house, I feel like a resting tourist in paradise.

Morros is located less than 2 hours from Maceio. We travel thru asphalt and dirt road inthe middle of sugar cane plantations to reach the isolated retreat. The half-bay is inhabited by the local fishermen, coconut gathers and their families. It's a verry small community which care for the coconut farm. No phones, no stores, no traffic, no noise. Just the breeze from the incredible ocean at our feet. My diet is pretty much tropical fruit and fresh sea food while I'm there, although my brother-in-law insists on the middle-of-the night Brazilian barbecue, nightly.

My favorite activities while at Morros: walk on the reefs, jog at dawn, gathering of fruit from the trees (mangos, cajarana, jenipapo, sapoti, jaca...), watch the fisherman pull the fish nets, gentle canoe ride to cross the river nearby, read laying on a hammock, hike the small hills to get a even more incredible view of the ocean and coconut plantation. Sounds great? Well, that's because it is great.

For you my friends, you have an invitation to drop by. A house can be rented there as well.

This time my visit included a very special time. I managed to stay at the property by myself for a couple of days. During this almost meditative time, I had the chance to do a meaningful activity.
I have helped a local older woman with diabetes over the past few years during my annual visit. Since 5 of her maried children and grandkids live in the farm, I did a diabetes screening on all family members, only to find out that 50% of the adults already have diabetes or pre-diabetes.

I improvised an educational class using real food, blood sugar monitoring, exercise guidelines, etc. I left supplies for them to test their glucose, and they seemed enthusiastic to make changes in their diet and physical activity.

It was very rewarding to be able to help this small and special community . They were very thankful since they don't get much health care.

I think that those of us who are fortuned enough to have an education and to be able to travel, should share some of our time and expertise, whatever it might be, with those less fortunate people we encouter.
I find great joy in reaching out, even if a little bit. I encourage you to try it, if you haven't done so already.

Attached find some pictures. Unfortunatelly the ocean doesn't look as blue/green as it usually is, since it is winter time (Winter, but it's 85 degrees!!!!) here and it has been rainning.

I hope you enjoy the pics and please keep in touch... it's great to be connected.
Beijos e tchau
Patricia

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