Days 7-8 Mangos and Hot Hot Heat by Carolyn Sauck

  Belem, Brazil
Thursday, December 6, 2007

Here we are, in my Brazilian home town, or at least where I lived from ages 3-6.  Belem is only 1 degree from the Equator and it is inside the Amazon basin, so it's very hot and humid.  During the day, the temperatures are in the 90s F and the humidity is near 100%.  It rains daily for roughly 30 minutes every afternoon.  It's called the Mango Tree City, and we've actually been picking them up off the ground to wash and eat.  They are incredibly sweet and delicious!

Mango Trees Lining Street of Green Garden

 

Brazilian Roadkill

 


We're staying in my parents' home in Green Garden, which is a closed community with about 85 homes, a swimming pool, a futsal court, tennis court, and beach volleyball court, so there is plenty to keep us busy.

Green Garden Casa (Front)

Back Porch Green Garden Again

Back Porch Green Garden

Pretty Flower Found on Front Lawn

Goofy Erin

Barbeque Hut

Erin Working the Bar

 

Splish Splash I was taking a bath

It gets so blazing hot here that the only time that we can get a good workout in without suffering heat stroke is if we get up at 7.  May not sound so bad for you working folk, but for us vacationers, that's just too early :)

Carolyn's "Bed"

Not too much going on right now.  I've been spending time with my grandfather who isn't doing so well, so it's nice to be able to be with him.

We went to the mall yesterday and it was packed!  Holiday shoppers, I guess.  I did get 2 new bikinis for pretty cheap, but Erin didn't have so much luck in "Midgetville" :)  We also picked up a soccer ball and a Speedo paddle ball set for the beach (picture a racquetball + 2 jumbo wooden table tennis rackets).

Our New Favorite Sport

While relaxing near the pool yesterday, I thought I'd show Erin how the natives do it, so I shimmied up a coconut tree to knock down some green coconuts.  I had an unfortunate incident while up there, as I was ambushed by a hoard of fire ants.

Coconut Tree

Carolyn Conquering Coconut Tree

Coconut Tree Fire Ants Conquering Carolyn

Last night, we hit the town with uncle Fred, at his favorite open air bar with karaoke (or videoke as the Brazilians call it).  Erin was surprised to see 5 pages of music in English to choose from, and was delighted when one of the locals belted out New York New York by old Blue Eyes himself.  The waitstaff was encouraging Erin to get up there and sing us a song, but she's not a huge karaoke singer.  Uncle Fred made up for it by singing 5 different songs of his own :)


Today, we checked off one of Erin's "to do's in Brazil" and got bikini waxed.  Yowzers!  Sorry folks, no pictures to add from that adventure!


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What on Earth did she smear on her body?