Wow. I am really out in the middle of nowhere. So...this morning, me and the Martin’s family piled into a 6 person plane and flew off to the family farm for the next two weeks. Ok. So, I’ve had my share of travels down here in Latin America, and I’m aware of how they ‘bend’ the rules here and there with arrival times.....business exchanges.....safety precautions......And I’ve also had my share of experiences traveling in small planes. I mean my first experience, if I’m correct, was in a booster seat. After talking to my dad.....I was ready not to get on that plane had the pilot not given me to correct response to how much ‘useful weight’ the plane could opperate on.
But, as on edge as I was before I boarded, my gut told me we’d be fine.....and we were. Actually, I was informed along the way that these planes, in specific, were used back in the 80’s and 90’s and flown deep into Brazil’s jungle to carry in and out all the necessary supplies for mining for gold. I guess they even used to fly out donkeys, horses.....people....ect. The donkeys, of course, were sedated and accompanied by a man with a gun to its head in case it woke from its sleep and needed to be ‘calmed down.’ I guess they would weigh down these planes so much (like 1000lbs on a 700lbs plane) that to get them off the ground, they’d tie them to a tree, rev up the engine and cut them loose at the last moment. Ha. There’s the latin improvising I was waiting for. The manufacturers of the planes didn’t believe that this is what was going on, or that their planes could actually do all this. So, they had to send someone out here to verify this absurdity. Ha. These planes were also used for smuggling a crap load of goods from other countries too (not drugs or anything tho ‘: l)
We flew over almost three hours worth of sugar cane crops. Brazil uses the sugar cane for a variety of reasons: sugar, some types of alcohol, but mostly....for ethenol. Now I’m quoting Roberto on this, but I guess somewhere around 90% of Brazil’s cars on the road are run on ethenol....a much cleaner burning fuel than ours. But don’t get all disappointed in ourselves, because their motives are not environmentally minded, but more for economic and logistical reasons. The oil crisis in the 70’s led them to their plan B (expanding ethenol crops). Plus, they had so much fertile land to use...it just made sense.
The views got more interesting as we got closer...canyons, waterfalls, plateaus lush with bushes/trees. I was already planning my runs on how to get to them and which ones looked like I could climb....yay! I was so excited to go exploring. Our landing strip, or dirt path I should say, is right outside the front door of the farm house. The whole family was outside waiting. The grandchildren, oddly enough , look a lot like me- blonde, light eyes. Half of them live in Boston and the others live in Florida (ages: 11, 12, 14 and 16). There should me a lot more coming....avó (the grandma) said something like 20 more. (!!!)
O avô (grandpa) took us shortly after to their favorite waterfall...just a 5 minute drive from the house...to surprise everyone with the new deck/platform he had built. This waterfall in specific they call ‘turbina’ because it’s the one that helps power their farm (from the use of a water turbine). He does all his own work on his farm....and after seeing only just a few things so far....he really is quite good at it. The watering hole was awesome. Perfect temp, rocks lined pool of water which was just deep enough to dive/flip/and play in. But the best part was the view.
First of all, when you’re in it, it feels like you are in an infiniti pool looking out over a valley of canyons and rivers. It’s so beautiful, you almost feel like it’s a mirage that you could only imagine if you were in the heat of a desert somewhere. The pool was built to act like a damn and the waterfall continued on down deep into the valley.....tiering down steps of rock . The night before I left, I was instructed ( a hem....Nevko) to do some waterfall climbing. ; ) Day 1-mission accomplished. I’m going to get into trouble ehre. I already know it. Oh and so I guess the daily plan is to go check out 1 of the 19 waterfalls they have on their land while we’re here. Maybe I’ll do OK
PS: All the adults go on a 8km run (i think) in the morning and time themselves to compare to last year and each other. I have a lot to live up to, considering they think I’m the ‘designated athlete’ of the group....and it looks like the time to beat is 42 min. That means I’m shooting for roughly around a 8 min mile pace. (8km=5 mi). I got my game face on. : )
After um pequeno descanso, we went on a truck ride down to the bottom of the waterfall we were at earlier in the day. It is A LOT longer than I thought. O avô said, as we were standing back looking up at the canyon wall at the top of the waterfall....that this whole place during the raining season is flooded by water. Pretty much, the whole view of what we were looking at would be a waterfall...and the ground we were standing on....knee deep in water. Unbelievable. Seriously. He also said that their farm house is pretty much just at the beginning of the Amazonia! I made it!....kinda. But, I can’t wait to see more!
I know this one was a long one, but I’m going to do my best to detach myself more from the internet while I’m here. Até logo. (Catch ya on the flip side....note: not a direct translation) Oh, and pictures will be posted when I get home.
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