• Jan and Andrew
  • Jan and Andrew

Brasil

A short trip to meet Deb’s parents and see a tiny bit of Brasil En savoir plus
  • Début du voyage
    12 juin 2019

    Departure

    12 juin 2019, Angleterre ⋅ ⛅ 11 °C

    Up early to catch 06.00 TAP flight to Lisbon for connection to Brasilia. Yes we’re off again on another trip, meeting up with Fran and Debs and meeting Debs’ parents for the first time. Exciting.

  • Lisboa quick change

    12 juin 2019, Portugal ⋅ ⛅ 13 °C

    After a very smooth flight in the A320neo we were held up for 15 minutes on the ground due to some faulty ground equipment. Bus transfer to terminal 1 then quick trip through more security and we arrived at N44 in time to board A330-300 CS-TOW in jolly ‘Stopover’ advertising livery.
    It is a sunny day in Lisboa though only 14 degrees on arrival.
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  • Arrived in Brasilia

    12 juin 2019, Brésil ⋅ 🌫 22 °C

    Met by ‘auntie ‘ with F & D. Pleasant 27degrees and sunny. Traffic light but slightly crazy. We had a tour of the ‘airplane ‘ shape centre, south wing and briefly cathedral on the way to Debs family home and meeting her mum and dad. We also met her brother and his children Pedro and Manuela who were both charming.
    Fish supper of Talapia then time to crash.
    Brasilia is celebrating 60 years so there is plenty of 60s architecture to be seen.
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  • Off to Alto Paraiso

    13 juin 2019, Brésil ⋅ 🌫 24 °C

    A good night and up with the sun. Excellent multi fruit breakfast, all so ripe and delicious. Nino arrived around half eight to take us on a trip to Alto Paraíso.
    Several stops along the way topping up with ethanol as it got cheaper the further we got from Brasilia. On arrival we went to see Nino’s eco house which has an amazing balcony with tremendous views. We also met his children who live next door.
    Having checked in to our accommodation we had lunch at Chaupin in the delightful garden. Then we walked through town visiting the market and food stores passing the crystal, earring and clothes shops.
    Late afternoon Nino drove us 20 km out of town for a sunset, where we saw two blue and yellow Macaws or arararas.
    Back at base Fran knocked up a super pasta dish in the basic kitchen washed down by some local beers.
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  • Temas de Jequita i San Jorge

    14 juin 2019, Brésil ⋅ ⛅ 24 °C

    Today the girls went to the shops early and Nino joined us for breakfast al fresco ( and it was quite fresco) with the dog and kitten.
    Then we set off to a thermal pool which we had to ourselves for a while. The waters were very pleasant and mineral. We spent time in the waters and time watching birds, whiling away a very peaceful morning.
    We visited the nearby town of SAN Jorge for a simple fresh lunch, paid for per kilo which proved very good value too. We looked in the little chapel and a few shops. Meanwhile Nino has made contact with a friend who owns an estate outside Alto Paraíso on the road to Brasilia. The farm has a third set aside as nature reserve and did once also have an hotel. It is called Brancas.
    On arrival we met Fernando the owner, who it transpires is something of a Philosopher and clairvoyant and proceeded with an in depth assessment of each of us in Portuguese which Debs had to translate. As dusk approached we took a silent meditation walk to the lake. Very peaceful.
    Back in the town we walked out for a simple meal of bruschetta and tapioca wraps.
    A very pleasant and different day.
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  • Brancas i Cachoeira Sao Bento

    15 juin 2019, Brésil ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C

    We rose early and were picked up at 7.30 to go back and take breakfast with Fernando. He wished to have a talk with Fran & Debs.
    After breakfast we went for a walk to another lake on the estate while others meditated and chatting occurred. Later there was time to sketch, read and watch the birds tucking into the avocado. Before we left Fernando took us by car to Morra de Prece, a viewing point with extraordinary panorama over the deep valley and hills into the far distance.
    We had an excellent lunch at Crave e Canale again then drove the short distance to Sao Bente. Here there was a 3km walk to the falls, much along a boardwalk through the forest, where many trees were identified though birds were scarce. We did though hear an owl.
    At the falls the waters were deemed too chilly for a dip. Just up the path though were hammocks from which to view the dusk descend and the nearly full moon.
    Evening meal accompanied by singer / guitar was a fitting end to a quite different day.
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  • Waterfalls

    16 juin 2019, Brésil ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C

    What a splendid day! The girls were up early and went spotting Tucanos and little monkeys in the eucalyptus trees a short distance away. We went for breakfast in a little cafe in town before heading out from the bottom end of town to the nearby cachoerias de Lochainios.
    At the entrance was a bird feeder with several colourful birds visiting. The park contains two boardwalks, one busier with better waterfalls, the other quieter and more beautiful. We went up the first and the girls went in for a dip. We were visited by little monkeys who enjoyed a banana on our seat back. Up the other side we found a great place for picnic lunch with several more exotic birds including a Helmeted Manakin, black with red helmet. At the top was another waterfall though with less water; most tranquil.
    Later we visited Cachoerias da Lua, with curious moonlike rocks through which the river flows.
    We ate delicious pizza di Debora in Sao Jorge before driving back half an hour for an earlyish night.
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  • Cachoeira Cristai

    17 juin 2019, Brésil ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C

    The girls went for early bird watching before dawn. When they got back we all went to a local Pousada de Sol at Christina’s (the owner of the accommodation) suggestion on the outskirts of town. It was such a beautiful setting with a dozen Araras feeding on sunflower seeds. We enjoyed a splendid breakfast then headed a little way north to waterfalls at Cristai, where crystals can be collected and washed in the clear waters. Lunch in the restaurant at the top was excellent; then time for a siesta. There were many beautiful birds and butterflies along the trail and hammocks (or hemlocks, as Nino termed them) to rest in.
    We ended the day at Nino’s watching the sunset and full moon rise on the opposite horizon just after Jupiter. Nino lit a fire and we enjoyed a peaceful end to the day.
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  • Return to Brazilia

    18 juin 2019, Brésil ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C

    We rose to a bright sunny morning and decided on breakfast at the little cafe that does tapioca pancake wraps for the girls and yogurt with granola or apple and walnuts for us. I had a tamarind juice while the others had coffee. Then time for some retail therapy before last of the packing. Nino picked us up around half eleven and we set off south one a clear straight road.
    We stopped briefly for more ethanol for the car and later for juice/ snack and arrived back at Deb’s parents flat around 3 pm.
    We relaxed for the rest of the day sharing old family photos between the six of us, and amusing the cats. Most enjoyable!
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  • Brasilia and fly to Lisboa

    19 juin 2019, Brésil ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C

    We swapped dogs barking for the traffic of the city. Bright and sunny again for a little sightseeing then aeroporto this afternoon.
    First Jairo took us to the ‘Blue’ church of Dom Bosco, with amazing blue glass walls and chandelier which contains 435 lamps and weighs 2.6 tonnes!
    Then we went a little way to an ecumenical church with a crystal at the apex of its pyramid, and a spiral walkway inside to follow and contemplate.
    Unfortunately the TV Tower was closed for renovations.
    We had an early lunch all six of us with local juices, salad with tapioca, omelette and veg lasagne. A lovely way to complete our stay.
    Off now to the aeroporto.
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  • Fin du voyage
    20 juin 2019