All those who dislike cheese (think I’m in the tiniest minority) will be glad to hear that claiming to be lactose intolerant will save you from explaining why you dislike cheese, especially when in Brazil where everything pretty much comes with cheese :) Had a Beriuche (sandwich) at the weekend and naturally in Brazil it has cheese as the main element, and naturally I requested it without - very happy to have just steak and salad in my Beriuche. However, the restaurant was shocked that anyone would order a Beriuche without the cheese and so phoned back to question the decision; apparently the cheese is essential in holding the sandwich together!! After explaining my intolerance they happily made their first ever cheese less Beriuche for me :) It was rather delightful and i bet just as tasty with only the slightest of moments when eating :) Feel privileged to claim the title to the first cheese less Beriuche in Higienopolis, lol!!

The rest of my week has been rather less eventful, visited the new exhibition at MASP "1000 minutes from 80 countries" which has an interesting concept in it's attempts to explore culture around the world in short one minute films. There are apparently 'one minute festivals' all around the world where the public contributes there one minute films beforehand to be potentially selected for the festival. Interesting to see people's perceptions of culture mixed with their personality and in some cases their need to fight against the world and all the negativity of their lives!!
The zoo was good fun, so different from at home with the more natural forest type surroundings - I rather liked the hippo's, they were absolutely huge! The boys enjoyed themselves and showed me all their favourite animals. I saw a toucan, such amazing colours and detail on the beak and the parrots were very cheeky, just like Stuart - they were intimidating the noises he made, lol :)

Spent this morning in my new job as the boys new k'nex building, making shields, umbrella's and the regular bow & arrow, lol - think i might take it up professionally :) Visited Rua 25 de Marco this afternoon and the central market, good for people watching and apparently for the locals to practice their English on me; one local just rambled off the few words he knew over and over again, found it rather amusing – still didn’t make me want to buy anything :)

Heading to the beach this weekend, hoping to tan before I go to Australia and sport my shorts but failing that I think I’m going re-claim my youth and go splashing in the sea, might even attempt a sand castle or sand hole :)