Final Blog - Brasil!

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TT- This will be our final blog from our adventure. Soon we will be home. The photos we have taken here are mostly of our old friends who we have not seen for years.

KF- Florianopolis is a beautiful island just off the coast of Southern Brazil. Lush green mountains are surrounded by over 20 beaches of white-gold sand. It's where people from Rio de Janeiro go for summer vacation. Tarjei had a six month sabbatical at the Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina here in 1989 when our kids were little. We still have good friends living and working here. They have been so welcoming -- true Brazilian warmth and hospitality.

We stayed a week and had time to visit friends, wander on sandy beaches, swim in the warm South Atlantic, listen to music, eat churrasco (Brazilian barbecue) and drink caipirinhas (lime juice and sugar cane liquor). It was wonderful to connect with our old friends, who had families about the same age as ours. Somehow I felt like I was in a time warp -- the babies we were cuddling and nursing in 1989 have expanded into tall smart beautiful adults with interesting lives of their own. I kept walking down familiar streets thinking I'd meet my young self, pushing a baby in a stroller (Max) with two toddlers (Nora & Karl) trailing behind. Weird!

We spent the last days of our four month adventure near Curitiba, Brazil. We stayed with friends at their country house surrounded by an orchard and garden with every type of fruit tree and plant imaginable -- from Apple to Zucchini -- including lime, guava, papaya, banana, blackberries, maracuja -- and they are thriving with lots of organic TLC. We had time with Toso (who was a student of Tarjei's on the 1990's) and his wife Angela (who is a lawyer and an amazing chef -- the queen of the kitchen).

Today, April 25th, we are heading to the airport and flying home -- Tarjei to pick up the Old Blue Volvo in Montreal, and I to Truro where I start work very soon. It has been an amazing adventure.

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Photos

First evening in Florianopolis
Andre met us at the airport and Caco and Julia joined us for my favourite - the Florianopolis broccoli pizza.

Fourth Full Moon
We strolled under full moons in Arizona, in Nicaragua, in Ecuador and in Brazil. Hard to see in this photo, but the moon is now upside down!

Vera at Jurere
One beautiful sunny day, Katy, Vera and I went to the beach. Dental floss bikinis were still in evidence, I am happy to report.

Katy finally makes to the Atlantic Ocean
After months of Pacific Ocean swimming, Katy was determined to get into the South Atlantic at least once.

A beer in the shade
After four months, Katy and I are for the most part still friends!

Julia and Paula
Beautiful daughters of Vera and Caco

Saturday brunch
Bernice, Andre and the new arrival Iolanda at brunch in Lagoa

Andre and I in Florianopolis restaurant
Katy seems to have lost weight, but I swear I have gained ten pounds

Iolanda and mom
Cris and Andre's new baby, Iolanda

Last days in Brazil
Shirley, Caco and Angela at the wonderful acreage she and Toso have outside Curitiba.

Party at Tosos
Katy and I, along with friends from Florianopolis came north to Curitiba for Easter. A great time!

Manioc
Toso showing me the intricacies of manioc cultivation.

Antonio
Son of Toso and Angela who turns 7 on the 30th. Happy birthday, Antonio!

Curitiba
Toso took us for a tour of some of Curitiba's open, peaceful parks - this one with a dramatic botanical garden.

Casa Toso
Toso welcomes all his friends from Canada to his house in Curitiba. Take notice Gloria and Margot!

LCPM filho
Caco and his classic "chimaraon" -- herba mate