Last 2 Days & Departure

This might not be the most interesting footprint to read .... but it is what it was.

Sunday brought steady rain, giving us the perfect excuse to stay in and enjoy a quiet, restful day. By afternoon, Marli was busy in the kitchen, preparing a special dinner for us. She made feijoada, Brazil’s beloved national dish, a rich, slow-simmered stew of black beans and assorted cuts of pork, traditionally served with white rice, farofa (toasted cassava flour), green cabbage, and a fresh mix of finely chopped tomatoes and onions. It was absolutely delicious. I would have gladly gone back for a second helping, but I was already completely full and even had to pass on Marli’s wonderful caramel flan for dessert.

Monday unfolded at a similarly relaxed pace. We briefly met Marli and Wally’s next-door neighbors, a lovely couple in their forties with a son in middle school, who kindly helped us return the rented chairs and tables from the party. Such a thoughtful gesture. That evening, we insisted on taking Wally and Marli out to dinner at a restaurant of their choice. They picked a perfect spot, Empório Dodôra, just a short drive away, offering a beautiful view over the twinkling lights of Araxá. The setting and the food both turned out to be excellent.

On Tuesday morning, we had an early breakfast before Wally drove us the three and a half hours to Ribeirão Preto airport for the first leg of our journey back to DFW. The drive followed a paved two-lane road with steady oncoming traffic, stretching through vast agricultural landscapes. In the beginning, the terrain was quite hilly, dotted with cattle farms, eucalyptus forests, cornfields, and several large Niobium mining craters. The land then gradually flattened, giving way to expansive coffee and sugarcane plantations.

Ribeirão Preto airport turned out to be quite small, so much so that we briefly wondered if we were in the right place. It has a single runway, an easy-to-navigate terminal with check-in desks, a security area, and a departure lounge. Our kind and generous hosts stayed with us until check-in, and saying goodbye was not easy. Our flight to São Paulo was delayed by about thirty minutes, as a heavy downpour prevented boarding, but otherwise very pleasant. We are now relaxing at the Admirals Club, waiting for the announcement of our overnight flight to DFW, where our friend and good neighbor Mike will be picking us up in the morning.

This completes our wonderful visit with Wally and Marli in Brazil. 🇧🇷Read more