A Rainy Day and Monday

Curitiba gets about 55.4 inches of rainfall a year. That's about 4.6 inches a month.

The Rule-of-Thumb seems to be:

Never go anywhere without an umbrella.

Never let a little rain stop you.

So, doing just that, we bought tickets for the Sierra Verde Express last week - realizing that we could be doing this during rain or shine. It had rained all day Sunday and throughout the night, but when we woke up on Monday...

...it was just wet!

YaHoo!

This is the train ride we took with the Browns back in January -  through the Atlantic Rainforest and into the historic towns of Morretes and Antonina. (This time, however, we opted for the English speaking guide.) 

(It started out a little damp and chilly.)

Weather rain, clouds, or sunshine, the scenery is beautiful. And, because the train goes soooo slow, you can even stick your head out the window for a better photo.

For lunch it was the typical dish of the region - barreado - served with rice, cassava flour and sliced bananas on top. If you're not a fan of this "stew", then fish and shrimp are served as accompaniments.

The coast is much warmer than Curitiba, so we were able to shed some of our outerwear.😀 

Morretes↑  Antonina↓

So the lesson to be learned is that Rain or Shine you can still have a good time!

(Especially if you do it with good friends like Wayne and Dianne!)

Feira do Largo da Ordem

This week took us to the 
Feira do Largo do Ordem.

Known to be one of the largest street fairs in Latin America, this is a very beloved weekend attraction for tourists and locals alike.  

Every Sunday, come rain or shine, there it is! (I know, the fact that it is held on Sunday is very unfortunate.) 

This is an enormous outdoor market where you can find a little of everything: paintings, carvings, embroidery, knitting, jewelry, baskets, slippers, handbags, flowers, tablecloths, bonsai, rugs, dolls, antiques, and many “et ceteras”. All this among the colorful houses and buildings and historic churches.

So...after church, feeling a little guilt, we hopped on the bus and headed to Largo da Ordem.

One must be careful not to unleash the obsessive-compulsive shopping disorder. Everything is so cheap, so easy, so quick, and so pretty.
We seemed to be a bit overdressed for the event. 

Besides the sites, there were the sounds. 

Yes, Elvis is alive and well in Brazil!

Like any good outdoor crafts fair that is worth visiting, the Largo da Ordem street market has a large “food court”.  

I'm not exactly sure what we ate, but it was good.


In this section of town you will also find the Curitiba Mosque.

According to the Islamic culture, the mosque faces the northeast toward the holy city of Mecca. Visitors can go inside if they take off their shoes at the entrance. Women are offered a headscarf which must be worn inside the mosque. The floor is covered with original Persian carpets.

Since we didn't buy one of those books, that's about all the information I can give you.

We found out yesterday that the Wernecks will be returning to their home to take care of some unresolved health issues. We will miss them and we wish them well. 

We were able to enjoy one last chá with them. 

P.S. If anyone asks, we are still very busy working in the temple. 😊

All their bags are packed. They're ready to go!

Change is good. Right? 

This week we say good-bye to

 the Parrelas

 (Adalton & Delgia) 

They will be returning home to Florianopolis on Thursday. We will miss them a lot. We will miss their enthusiasm, stories, wheelings and dealings, humor, and dedication to the Lord.

Friday was our last "triple" date night. We let Adalton pick the place since we were also celebrating his birthday.

Since he's Brazilian and loves to eat, guess where we ended up?

He was a very happy birthday boy!!

And now for your

Word of the Week

Jabuticaba
(jaw-boo-chi-kaw-buh)

(Also known as the Brazilian Grape Tree) 

Found in Southern Brazil, this has got to be one of the weirdest trees in the world. The grape-like fruit grows directly on its trunk instead of on its branches. The fruit looks like big purple grapes. The "natives" think that Jubuticaba fruit is delicious! 

The fruit does taste a little bit like a grape. And just like a grape, all you do is put one in your mouth and bite down to pop it open. The soft pulp is sweet and delicious. If you chew the skin you will find it is quite acidic. (I can vouch for that!) Many people find the skin a bit tough and spit it out along with the seeds. (A very smart idea!)

I am really glad I got to try this unusual fruit, but I probably won't miss it that much when I go home.

General Conference Weekend

I always look forward to General Conference weekends. It's even better in Brazil because that means all the talks will be in English, don't cha know! 

No need to struggle with all that Portuguese.

Anyway, our weekend began on Friday night with a dinner/dance sponsored by the Young Men and Young Women. 

We had a great time and the food was delicious. We left before the real dancing began.


We could sleep in on Saturday and Sunday because our GC times were not until 1:00, 5:00, and 9:00 (for the Priesthood Session). 

Sadly, no matter how many treats Don gathered, he just couldn't stay awake for every single talk. 

What a wonderful two days - filled with the Spirit. I love our Church leaders and the messages they shared. Some of my favorite quotes from these two days include (in no particular order):

 

I know I will find more favorite quotes when I am able to reread these talks in the Ensign next month. Until then....what did you find most meaningful and helpful for you for these next six months?

Our Spiritual Feast was then followed with a little food feast prepared by Dianne. We missed our families but this was a good substitute!

Now, may we take what we have learned

 and 

GO & DO!!