weekend at the farm house estate

This weekend we went to another farm of a family friend which is only about an hour away. Let me just say...this place is BeAuTiFuL. They call it a fazenda (farm), but it is more like an estate. I guess this is a really old one at that, built sometime in the early 1900's. Insides it's ornately decorated, and outside...well, of course the house was built so that people spent their time outside. I like that about central and so. America homes. Of course, the weather is conducive to this lifestyle, but also mandates it at times. The house is surrounded by a porch with ample seating at every corner. Dining of course is outside as well. The patio is lined with vines that grow these beautifully bright pink, purple and peach flowers. It kind of adds to this place's antique feel.

On the first day we arrive around noon and then spent the rest of the afternoon finding things to do. Me and the kids had lunch then took a horse-drawn carriage ride to go watch them milk the cows. We brought out lonche (snack) which was bolo (pound like cake) and banana so that we could later have a piquinique (picnic) down by the tree with a tire swing. The we rode over to the lake to go fishing in the pond. The whole weekend went like that, just me and the girls doing all that farm-like stuff.
Most days we went swimming and at night, I'd get a chance to go in their sauna in the center courtyard and star-gaze for a bit. (not anything compared to Motto Grosso though). The sauna was crazy hot and humid. I think the temp was somewhere around 48 (celcius) and I only lasted 9 minutes. Haha. It had a shower in it, and I actually showered there instead of my bathroom both days because it was kinda fun to take a cold shower while breathing in hot air. Backwards, yet fun.

I went on a few runs out here through their sugar cane and latex crops. The soil is pretty sandy and is this really dark red. The crops are really green and hilly. It makes for a great view. So, there I was running...alongside latex trees and barbed wire fence...arms swinging....hoping not to snag one of those wires. These sandy hills are pretty, yes, but are also adding a lot my run too. I was advised to run out of the property and onto the road for a flatter run, but forget that!

As much as I rely on others opinions sometimes on things in new places (especially places they know)...I'm starting to be that girl that does exactly the opposite of what I'm told or suggested. (with some due diligence of course). Haha....'you don't need to go downtown, there's nothing there to see...it's boring.' >So I go, and have an awesome day (I need to post something about that soon btw)....or.....'you wouldn't like that trip to that waterfall...too much walking up and down these hills, no pathway....' >yeah, right, I'd probably love it. (I unfortunately couldn't control that one though). Actually, Roberto's family was a pretty good fit for me...miss that bunch actually. But for now, I'm rolling' solo on my adventures...which can add some different elements to an experience as well.

Actually, speaking of adventures. On both of my runs at this farm this weekend, I ended up running part way home in the dark. (Don't worry Mom, it was all on their property...safe...promise). I actually ended up seeing my shadow from the moon. Even though it was pretty bright, it still was hard to see out. The only scare I had was when I was listening to reggaeton and I heard these dogs barking. Half thinking it was in the song, these two mangely looking muts were fastly approaching me. They freakin' scared me! I screamed and everything...haha. But they were essentially harmless and not that big, so I just ignored them and they left me alone. Actually, quite honestly, the tall stalks of sugar cane were looking kind of creepy as it got darker out there. I thought, this is exactly why I don't watch scary movies. I'd prefer to have any shiver of fear come on because of having an real instinct than just a runaway imagination...thank you very much.

We'e on our way to another farm today actually and I'm hoping this weekend I'll be visiting a friend I met in Breckenridge in Sao Paulo.

*beijinhos* aka *besitos* aka *smooches* ; )