Maria's Birthday

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Saturday
This is a repeat blog with new photos. When we went to Maria's birthday party on Saturday, September 12, I discovered that I had left the battery for my camera back in the hotel in its charger. So, I then decided to use my iPhone camera only to discover that its battery was very low and, of course, I did not bring the charger. So, I depended on the use of another camera that a family member brought to the party. It took a while to get a copy of the digital photos. I have them now and will share these with you.

We arrived at the club Campestre about 1:00pm. Guests were expected to arrive from that time until later in the afternoon. We were here most of the day.

Some of my family members will remember this club. Maria's father and her uncle (Gustavo's father) were among the original members of the club. The only time that I met with her father before he passed away was here. It is about ten miles south of Belo Horizonte.

The camp has great pavilions with barbeque grills complete with chefs to handle the cooking and serving. We ate appetizers for hours and then had a full meal. For some reason, I forgot that there would be a meal so I ate enough of the appetizers to feed a family for a week.

Before the meal, I took a walk through the woods to see the waterfalls along the footpath. It is a nice walk up and over the hill overlooking the pavilions. After my walk, it was time for the meal. As usual, we had lots of barbeque meat, rice, potatoes, and farofa.

Maria was given lots of presents and we sung the Brazilian ‘happy birthday’ song. The entire day was perfect, including the weather, food, family and friends, both local and from afar (us).

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Photos

Birthday Outing at Campestre
Tom, Maria and Jackie relax as we wait for others to join us.

Birthday Outing at Campestre
Ester Maria & Tom. One day she will come, on her own, to visit us in Atlanta. I have know her since she was only six years old.

Birthday Outing at Campestre
Mateus & Ester Maria. He is the son of Maria's first cousin, Gustavo.

Birthday Outing at Campestre
Maria's brother-in-law, Goés, and her sister, Maria Cândida.

Birthday Outing at Campestre
Gilberto, Maria and Ester Maria.

Birthday Outing at Campestre
Jackie is happy to be back in Brazil.

Birthday Outing at Campestre
Pavilions at the campground. Barbeque was continuous during the entire day.

Campestre trails
I went on a walk up a trail behind the pavilion along a small stream. There are several waterfalls along the route.

Campestre trails
Another nice waterfall.

Campestre trails
Another view of the stream.

Birthday Outing at Campestre
Guests have arrived. In this photo are Maria, cousin Gustavo, niece Paula, Gustavo's wife Juliana, and neice Fernanda.

Birthday Outing at Campestre
Here are D. Marina (Julio's mother who will soon be 90 years), Cristiane (Maria's good friend), niece Silvia, and Maria's best friend, Julio.

Birthday Outing at Campestre
Maria's former boss, Alex, together with Maria, Adilson and Ralfo. Alex and family are returning from BH for Rio. She will miss him as she misses me. Looks like she's had the best two bosses in the world.

Birthday Outing at Campestre
Here's Maria with Dona Marina, Cristiane, and Silva.

Birthday Outing at Campestre
Fernanda, Maria and Mateus.

Birthday Outing at Campestre
The three sisters. Maria is the youngest. On the left is Maria Cândida and the right Clara. Their brother, Augusto was not able to join us due to a work conflict.

Birthday Outing at Campestre
Maria with two favorites...Gilberto & Alex.

Birthday Outing at Campestre
Here is Maria with even more friends, Mauricio & Julio and her husband Gilberto.

Birthday Outing at Campestre
Jackie, Ester Maria, Maria and Tom.

Birthday Outing at Campestre
Goés leans on Maria Câdida together with Paula and Clara.