It is no secret…

In this house anyway…That I would move to Brazil in a skinny minute…

The few times I have been…I have loved meeting the people, the culture…It is a giant and beautifully diverse country

And in my dreams…If when I lived in Brazil…I would live wild…inhaling the surroundings…I would live here: In a house shaped like a giant leaf…seriously.

The natural shape of a leaf protects the home from hot and humid weather…and the

tropical rains

The tall open spaces can capture the sultry trade winds

I would love to invest in and become a part of the surroundings.Surround myself with water...and swaying palms...and warm breezes. Isn’t that what it is all about when dreaming of beach homes?

Dinner for 14…anyone? Come visit. You are always welcome

Oh the hammocks…and the spiraling architectural details…

Rattan ceilings…

Ok…so maybe I would need a splash of white paint. shhhhhhh.

We all need to step outside of our box once in awhile…and live under a leaf.

Doncha' think?

I guess I could do it here

twist my arm.

Fabulous architecture by Mareines and Patalano.

check their vision out here

Did I mention the color?

Brazil was cloaked in unabashed hues.

No rhyme or reason

Authentic…sometimes grubby…never shy

Just a celebration of color

Painting was happening everywhere

you would think the Olympics were coming or something

Celebration and joy was rampant

Just because…

And Art….Oh the art was in every corner

I was invited into so many studios…

It was humbling what beauty happened... with so little

Our Pousada (hotel) was a once beautiful mansion…

we had a huge terrace overlooking the city…

Our room had no glass…Just shuttters…Ocean breezes kept us cool

…our view…

Olinda is a sleepy historic colonial city…almost from another time…

A bay and a whole world away from the big city of Recife in Northeast Brazil.

Breakfast was always a spread of local foods

Rice and cornmeal with coconut milk, tapioca crepes filled with cheese, bananas in syrup

always fresh juices…Guava…acerola…pineapple...

One night we had a meal of shrimp and lobster cooked in passion fruit juice served in a jerimum (like a pumpkin)

It was superb although the pic might not look like it...blush

Olinda Brazil

A feast for the eyes…

For the soul.

Next…The bustle of Buenos Aires…

Cool…faster tempo…a City’s City

Juxtaposed with the genteelness of San Isidro…a town outside the city.

Thank you soooo much for all your wonderful comments…

I don’t want to bore you to death…but will post some more of Argentina tomorow…It felt like a whirlwind of three amazing and tremendously different places in a span of two weeks.

And Now…we are home.

Ahhhh

Kinda sorta.

...and it all started with a parade at dusk...

Really.Just For us.
or so we thought
In the languid, steamy colonial town
of Olinda Brazil.
Touching the equator
or so it felt

Even the dogs were immobile in the afternoon
heat.
speed bumps

The pace was
slow
sleepy

Color in this laid back town
was less than shy.

And now 8 hours further south
by plane
we land in the just melting spring of
Buenos Aires.
Leather boots, jackets
the energy of a BIG city.

...the adventure continues...
when we can find internet access.

An Artists giveaway...I'm IN!

Debbie at 'reflections of debbie' is having a great artist giveaway this week.

She asks that you post a photo, a fave photo (of your own doing)

on your blog. She will cruise around the web, looking at all these fantastic pieces of art.

She will choose one to make a drawing of.

She has posted some lovely colored pencil drawings

on her blog! Check them out here.

So, I am throwing my hat in the ring. (but I really wanna' jump

up and down waving frantically and scream... Pick me , Pick me...but I won't. I will refrain)

Below, are some recent pix from Brazil (my banner pic is from this same place).

I love Brazil.

I love the passion and the heat, the rawness and the color.

This last trip we took (to the north east state of Pernambuco), we were really able to work and sweat and play with the Brazilians.

We stayed in a beautiful, soulful little town on the outskirts

of a big city.

These Brazilians of little money, but big heart, adopted us as a neighbor allowing us a glimpse of the

town through their eyes.

they laughed and sang and fed us well. So well.

They took my heart.

Check out Debbies' challenge....do post some pix of your own!!

Still practicing with posting pics

These are all from a beautiful brazilian resort... http://www.fazendadalagoa.com.br/