Speaking of kids...mine are doing well, not complaining much and growing like weeds. I think it's the food in this country. It's not so "dirty", meaning full of chemicals and GMO'd (it's actually pretty "dirt" dirty, like actual mud on the veggies). The cook (me), has also taken our diet to a new realm. We're trying to be grain, dairy, sugar, and soy (no exceptions) free. I'm strict with myself, less so with the kids, and David is still able to practice "free-will". As the kids say, "We don't have anything fun to eat in our house anymore". Well, if processed foods are fun, we're boring in a "whole foods" kind of way. For example, today was an exciting grocery shopping trip. What made it so? I found quinoa/flaxseed milk at Walmart of all places. What couldn't I find (after two stores)? Fresh milk and bacon! I refused to try three stores today. I'll have to tomorrow though, as I don't think our house guests will enjoy seed milk in their coffee.
Yes, we're having house guests and coffee, caipirinha's, carnival, beaches, Corcovado, and pao de quiejo, are just a few of the things we're excited to share with our friends from Michigan during their week long visit. We have a full itinerary including the Carnival parade, Rio de Janeiro, and the beach. We'd love to lay by the pool, but the weather just hasn't been that warm lately (although it's summer here). I guess when you're leaving cold, snowy, Michigan, our 75 degrees feels pretty good. It's always fun to show people Sao Paulo and see what they are most intrigued about. For my Mom, it was the crazy motoboys. I have feeling it may be related to bikinis and speedos this time around. Or maybe the beauty of Carnival.
Yes, I said "beauty"....not nudity, drunkenness, or mass insanity that I think many people envision when they think about Carnival. I know I had a very different impression until I experiencedCarnival in Sao Paulo for myself. We were so nervous about the madness of it our first year, that we headed to a quiet beach town to get out of the city. Last year, a little more experienced, we decided we needed to see it for ourselves and took part in a guided tour. To say I was amazed is an understatement. The eight hours (9pm -5am) flew by in a blur of artistry, passion, culture and camaraderie. We didn't see naked people, drunks, or sex. We enjoyed it so much, that this year, we bought our tickets and are taking a taxi to the Sambadrome to enjoy the event with our Michigan friends. We're also bringing our good camera, something we were afraid to do last year, so I'm hoping for lots of great pictures.
I think if we lived in Brazil long enough, we may someday brave a "bloco" or block party, which is more similar to what foreigners imagine when they think of carnival, something like Mardi Gras in New Orleans. Carnaval, which began as a small town parade in the 1800's, has evolved into a grand competitive parade of Samba schools. They are judged in an official arena called the Sambadromo, built specifically for Carnaval. These schools begin preparing for next years competition the day after this years conclusion. There is an official song for carnival each year, that every school parades to. Each school creates elaborate floats, costumes, and choreography revolving around a central theme chosen by the school. I was overwhelmed with the complexity of their floats, unlike anything I'd ever seen. Think Macy's Thanksgiving parade on steroids. Using the floats as centerpieces, the Samba schools dance and sing down the route, being judged like an Olympic event. As spectators, we sit in the stands, eat and drink, sing along (you eventually learn the song after five schools or so), oooh and aahhh, and yes Samba.
I'm sad to think this may be my last year to enjoy carnival in Brazil, but I know every year my thoughts will fly back to Brazil. They say that people are born with the Samba in their blood and there's no better place to see it than Carnaval.
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