Hello everyone, sorry you had to wait a bit longer for an update. We have been sooooo busy and an extensive internet session wasn´t always part of the programme. But I´ll update you up untill this moment.
The last few days with our families in Canoas have been pretty relaxing and fun. Last Friday, we had a free day after an intensive first week and most of us went to the beach in Tramandai with our families. As soon as we got there, we had to go swim in the Atlantic Ocean to sober up. We had been to one of the most exclusive clubs in Porto Alegre called Café Segredo the night before and slept even less that the nights before ;p
After completely burning up in the sunshine that day, we happily returned home for a good night sleep so we would be prepared for an original Gaucho BBQ at an original Fazenda at the lake. We were under the inpression that we had been having BBQ´s all week, but this hadn´t yet been the real thing.......but at least now we know what to expect when the local people are talking about ´a BBQ´ ;)
Following a fantastic first week with our host families came a somewhat emotional goodbye. We didn´t really want to leave, and they didn´t really want us to leave. But even good things seem to come to an end, so with a tear in our eye and all the love in our hearts, we left for the country side for the city of Bom Principio.
Before I continue our story, I would like to thank all the wonderful people we met in Canoas on behalf of the entire team.....so here goes: THANK YOU PEOPLE OF CANOAS FOR ALL THE GREAT MOMENTS, WE MISS YOU!!!!!!!!
Our journey continues towards the country side. Bom Principio is a small town that originally was founded by German immigrants around 1826. All the people have German surnames, but not everybody can speak German anymore. The people from the local Rotary club are very friendly, kind and helpful to us. After a very nice lunch and a rest in the afternoon we discovered what the local youth call partying. For all the Dutch people reading; there are ´Tukkers´ in Brazil that go ´Brommers Kiek´n´ and party at ´Schuurfeesten´ :D
The following days were extremely interesting, we were able to visit many places that had quite some historical value for the area we were in. We even visited an isolated settlement of German Brazilians that had supported themselves from the moment they arrived almost 200 years ago. After a wonderful traditional lunch, we went for a small hike in the Brazilian ´jungle´. We ate some of the fruits, Jo-Anne was attacked by an unidentified insect (she´s ok and stopped scratching after 2 days ;p) and we fought of some crocodiles and snakes ;)
The second day we were guided by two Rotary clubs, Ivoti in the morning and Estância Velha in the afternoon, and they must have studied our wish list very well because the programme had the most educational visits. A schnaps brewery and a technical high school for the art of leather treatment. As a result, we now know how to make our own favourite alcoholic drink and leather shoes, purses and jackets......what else do we need?!! It was a big and pleasant surprise to meet a Brazilian that spoke Dutch, he had lived in The Netherlands for 10 years but decided to go back a couple of years ago to set up his own company, I think he must have got tired of the rain all the time :)
To finish this part of our story, we would like to thank the people of Bom Principio for their hospitality and kindness, we can´t wait to see you all at the conference in Tramandai!!
At this moment we have spent some days in the next little town called Gramado, even higher up in the mountains. This small town is a very touristic place that is an exact copy of an Southern Tiroler village (only warmer) and is the hometown of Santa Claus whenever it isn´t Christmas time. In our next update we will tell you all about it.
See you in a couple of days, byebye,
Michael
The last few days with our families in Canoas have been pretty relaxing and fun. Last Friday, we had a free day after an intensive first week and most of us went to the beach in Tramandai with our families. As soon as we got there, we had to go swim in the Atlantic Ocean to sober up. We had been to one of the most exclusive clubs in Porto Alegre called Café Segredo the night before and slept even less that the nights before ;p
After completely burning up in the sunshine that day, we happily returned home for a good night sleep so we would be prepared for an original Gaucho BBQ at an original Fazenda at the lake. We were under the inpression that we had been having BBQ´s all week, but this hadn´t yet been the real thing.......but at least now we know what to expect when the local people are talking about ´a BBQ´ ;)
Following a fantastic first week with our host families came a somewhat emotional goodbye. We didn´t really want to leave, and they didn´t really want us to leave. But even good things seem to come to an end, so with a tear in our eye and all the love in our hearts, we left for the country side for the city of Bom Principio.
Before I continue our story, I would like to thank all the wonderful people we met in Canoas on behalf of the entire team.....so here goes: THANK YOU PEOPLE OF CANOAS FOR ALL THE GREAT MOMENTS, WE MISS YOU!!!!!!!!
Our journey continues towards the country side. Bom Principio is a small town that originally was founded by German immigrants around 1826. All the people have German surnames, but not everybody can speak German anymore. The people from the local Rotary club are very friendly, kind and helpful to us. After a very nice lunch and a rest in the afternoon we discovered what the local youth call partying. For all the Dutch people reading; there are ´Tukkers´ in Brazil that go ´Brommers Kiek´n´ and party at ´Schuurfeesten´ :D
The following days were extremely interesting, we were able to visit many places that had quite some historical value for the area we were in. We even visited an isolated settlement of German Brazilians that had supported themselves from the moment they arrived almost 200 years ago. After a wonderful traditional lunch, we went for a small hike in the Brazilian ´jungle´. We ate some of the fruits, Jo-Anne was attacked by an unidentified insect (she´s ok and stopped scratching after 2 days ;p) and we fought of some crocodiles and snakes ;)
The second day we were guided by two Rotary clubs, Ivoti in the morning and Estância Velha in the afternoon, and they must have studied our wish list very well because the programme had the most educational visits. A schnaps brewery and a technical high school for the art of leather treatment. As a result, we now know how to make our own favourite alcoholic drink and leather shoes, purses and jackets......what else do we need?!! It was a big and pleasant surprise to meet a Brazilian that spoke Dutch, he had lived in The Netherlands for 10 years but decided to go back a couple of years ago to set up his own company, I think he must have got tired of the rain all the time :)
To finish this part of our story, we would like to thank the people of Bom Principio for their hospitality and kindness, we can´t wait to see you all at the conference in Tramandai!!
At this moment we have spent some days in the next little town called Gramado, even higher up in the mountains. This small town is a very touristic place that is an exact copy of an Southern Tiroler village (only warmer) and is the hometown of Santa Claus whenever it isn´t Christmas time. In our next update we will tell you all about it.
See you in a couple of days, byebye,
Michael
zo mikey,
BeantwoordenVerwijderenzo te zien heb je het weer eens mooi voor elkaar. Luxe en drank, dure trips door de jungle.
zon, zee, strand en insecten ik zou bijna jaloers worden ;0
x joey