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Hello once again!
It's been a few days since we've been able to sit down properly and give an update.
Last Friday afternoon, we were collected from our posh pousada and driven back to São Paulo. This particular journey really was unlike anything else we've experienced. The mountains really were spectacular with winding roads going through the mountains or round them; the drops on either side at times were quite scary!
Most of the return journey was done in the dark, but it was interesting and beautiful to watch the sun set over the mountains and create impressive but odd sky colours.
Sam mentioned the industrial site of Santos, which we drove through again on the way back. It was amazing to see at night. Think Victorian industrial revolution on a gigantic scale mixed with the steel works of Sheffield and the most crazy monstrous machines and factories with smoke pouring from chimneys and fire bursting from pipes many feet up in the air. Words couldn't do it justice and a photograph wouldn't have been able to catch what the eyes did.
It wasn't long before we joined the madness and traffic jams of the highway in São Paulo. A simple journey and it took forever to circumnavigate back to the house. If any of you have seen that episode of Dr Who with the traffic jams on The Motorway where everyone is stuck in their vehicles then this kind of what it's like. Just without the scary monsters down below!
But if course, we got these, eventually. It was strange as Sam and I had the house to ourselves apart from Gil the housekeeper who was there to meet us and stay with us for the weekend. Gisela, Manoel and the girls left on Friday afternoon for a family weekend away and we won't see them now until we return from Rio.
It was lovely on Saturday (our one year wedding anniversary!!) to wake up whenever we wanted and do whatever we wanted without having to pack a suitcase! In the end, we had a lazy day, and then as a surprise, Sam had arranged for us to have a meal at the Terraco Italia which is basically São Paulo's equivalent of the Shard. (Even though it is only half of the size of the Shard!).
We were dropped off by a driver who is well known to the family and we made our way up the two lifts to the top floor. The views were very impressive although it still wasn't London. We got a drink in the Piano Bar to start whilst waiting for the restaurant to open at 7pm.
I made the grave mistakes of ordering a vodka lemonade. Needless to say the understanding of each other over here really has been difficult but I didn't think I could get this wrong. Oh boy.
The waiter came over and safely delivered Sam's orange juice (!) and proceeded to give me a glass and poured in the vodka until I was meant to say stop. Ok so eventually after me practically screaming stop, I had managed to acquire probably at least 3 shots in my (small) glass. And then there was the question of the lemonade. I simply thought he had forgotten and made my way over to the bar with my glass of pure vodka in the hope of getting some lemonade to lesson the blow!
I had of course, looked up lemonade in the phrase book so I knew exactly what I was asking for. I stood at the bar and clearly stated that I would like some lemonade in my vodka. To which the bar man nodded, took my glass and sloshed in something from another bottle. He asked if I wanted more and so I said yes because it was still very very strong! He poured in some more and then I tried it to see if it was ok.
Well, that was a mistake. I couldn't believe how ordering my favourite alcoholic drink could have gone so wrong...
In my mouth, suddenly, this burning mixture of neat vodka and LEMON JUICE started to stab my taste buds with horrific force. Smiling stupidly at the barman who, probably thought I was the weirdest English woman for drinking this concoction, I hurried back to Sam and explained what had happened. To his absolute credit, he drank probably half of the drink so I didn't have to. We shared the nice normal orange juice and then hot footed it down to the posh restaurant to have the most amazing meal together.
We obviously have stood out every where we have been being English, so at least we were presented with an English menu. The food was amazing and so tasty.
The cutest and most romantic part of the meal? Actually was the couple sat in front of us. The man proposed and happily she said yes! Was so lovely to see that happening right in front of us. It made us realise just how far we have come together.
So, after the delicious meal, we took a stroll around the outside terrace of the building which was also impressive. We were later picked up by our driver and taken back to the house.
And then it was time to pack...this time we were headed to RIO!!!!!!
- comments
Mum Maybe you should have just asked for Sprite or 7up.
Donna I know - it has really made me question my drink options. Sticking to orange fanta, orange juice and water for now!