November 21, 2009 at 11:55 am (Brazil, Home, Seeing the world, Travel, international relationship, long distance, long distance relationship)
There is a thing about us that I love. Whenever we are together, we are home. Wherever we are.
For four days in October home was here in Teresopolis. Here where we ate breakfast and drank our coffee on the patio each morning. Where we swam in the freezing pool and made new friends with other guests’ children when we were the only adults who would play frisbee. Where we kicked each other’s asses at ping pong, and fought off the resident psycho kitty. Where we spent as much time as possible together, while that time lasted, and where I tried my best to not let him out of my sight.
And if he did leave my sight, I knew this thing was watching out for us.
I’m still not sure if we were supposed to be protected by it, or afraid of it.
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November 16, 2009 at 11:01 am (Brazil, Photos, Seeing the world, Travel)
I stood in this spot for 5 minutes, just looking at it all.
It’s possible that my mouth was open while I was staring.
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November 14, 2009 at 12:47 pm (Brazil, Seeing the world, Travel)
Houses, neighborhoods, favelas, shacks, teetering stacks of homes. It’s like someone threw a jugsaw puzzle in the air and this is how it landed. I wish I could go walk around and explore, looking inside to see how these people make it a home.
But first, coffee. Tasty, tasty Brazilian coffee. I only wish the cups were bigger. And I wish for a to-go cup. Or maybe not. I kind of like the way it feels to slow down and have a face to face chat while we stop to sip our drinks.
I saw this, and already loved Petropolis! I wonder if those are big enough to hold a tall American woman, who may or may not be about four times the size of these kids.
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November 11, 2009 at 11:33 am (Brazil, Seeing the world, Travel)
What happens when you follow a sketchy tourist map, a few rickety signs and a road that is only just barely a road through a part of town that makes you think you might not come out alive if you got a flat tire?
You find the most impressively dangerous waterfall you have ever seen. This huge wall of water slid right off a sheet of rock down into a crack barely 4 feet wide, where it made a sharp 90 degree turn and gushed out the side into a narrow channel at the bottom.
Judging by the number of shrines and candles scattered all over the area, I’m guessing quite a few people got swept down this river and over the falls. There is no way anyone has ever survived that. Wow.
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November 10, 2009 at 11:34 am (Brazil, My new life, Seeing the world, Travel)
Serra dos Orgaos National Park. Our day, which started with the intention of driving out to see the grand views, quickly fell back on alternate plans.
I’m glad it did. This place was stunning in the mist!
This man. How could I spend a day in the mist and rain with him and not smile? This park holds that memory close, and it will always make me smile.
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November 9, 2009 at 10:56 am (Brazil, Seeing the world, Travel)
A walk. A morning of early exploration to see what the town holds for us.
But first, coffee! A little hole-in-the wall coffee shop where we (two big gringos) got sideways glances by the regulars until we ordered in Portuguese. Then, a “Good morning, how are you? Enjoy!”.
Then a dog.
Which was the funniest thing I saw all day.
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November 6, 2009 at 11:34 am (Brazil, Seeing the world, Travel, international relationship, long distance relationship)
A Pousada is like an oversized Bed & Breakfast. This one had 3 buildings with guest rooms in them, a game room, a pool, spa, hot top, exercise room, and a dining area. With our room in the center building overlooking the pool through our big window, I think we got the best spot.
Our hosts were wonderful, the food was good, everything was spotlessly clean and comfortable. Little details like these little guys gave our room some personality. Staying here was our haven, and our own little corner of the world where we could get reacquainted again after months apart.
Being in such a long distance relationship has it’s brutally difficult moments, but there are also benefits. Those reunions, and what little time we do have together, are amplified and intense, and so good because we pay attention to every moment. We know we don’t have many moments, so we make sure to enjoy the hell out of the ones we have, and we pay attention.
Our own little world surrounded us here, which was just what we needed. Perfect.
Oh, and just a note of warning if you do ever stay in this adorable place. Don’t pet the cat! Sneaky little shite bites hard.
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November 5, 2009 at 10:55 am (Brazil, Seeing the world, Travel)
Our little Pousada (like a big bed & breakfast) called “Mansardas”. Found via Google search, and perfect for our long weekend. I got to practice breaking in my Portuguese with the owners and their daughter who also spoke English very well. Good thing too, because after 7 months away my Portuguese was terrible!
We loved it here and will definitely want to stay here if and when we go back to Teresopolis.
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November 4, 2009 at 11:13 am (Brazil, Seeing the world, Travel)
The road to Teresopolis. Admittedly, I didn’t see as much of the scenery as I might have because I couldn’t take my eyes off the driver. With months between visits, I’m greedy for the sight of him.
When we did stop to take in the view, it was beautiful. After the crazy tangle of people and cars in Rio, it was a welcome thing to see the peace of the mountains and forest.
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November 3, 2009 at 10:11 am (Brazil, Things I don't like, international relationship, life is short, long distance relationship)
I thought the caterpillar was scary. Give me a basket full of caterpillars any day over that phone call.
That phone call with the fading voice, telling me to call our emergency contact while I could hear the heart monitor beeping in the background.
That 10 minutes of scared scramble when I couldn’t find her number.
That second phone call with the words “Heart attack”.
That third phone call with the request to come, to be there, knowing that meant things might be bad.
That mad dash to the airport, praying for the phone to ring and afraid that it might.
That long, long overnight flight with no contact for almost 12 hours.
That walk through the hospital doors, not knowing what kind of news waited inside.
These are things I hope I don’t have to face again for a very, very long time. Hopefully never.
He’s OK. He’s recovering and should be totally fine. My heart still beats.
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