February 21 - Day 7

On this morning we all had breakfast together earlier than the usual time...easy for Tarcisio and me, much more difficult for the others. We were headed to the Central Market, a huge building with all kinds of vendors under one roof. Walkiria and Leo were going to meet us there. Patti was looking for a drum and I was looking for good Brazilian coffee from the state of Minais Gerais.

It's a large indoor market with a parking garage built over 2 floors of vendors with everything imaginable for sale. We ended up buying 3 packages of excellent coffee beans grown in Minas Gerais and a spices kit for Nathan. We were unable to find a drum even though we saw some for sale in a shop that was closed for the carnival holiday. It was exciting to see all the colors, hear all the noises of the people selling and buying, smell all the various aromas, and to mingle with with the citizens of Belo!

We then drove about 50 km out of town to Inhotim, a garden area of 97 hectares. Part of the beautifully crafted landscape was designed in collaboration with renowned Brazilian artist Roberto Burle Marx. It is complemented by a comprehensive living library of rare tropical plant species and an art collection of international relevance. Apparently the Inhotim Environmental Park is dedicated to the preservation of remnants of the Atlantic Forest and the Cerrado (Brazilian savanna) biomes, the restoration and maintenance of botanical collections from Brazil and other countries around the world, and the application of sustainable stewardship techniques. The whole complex was breath takingingly beautiful. Interspersed through the botanical wonders were buildings with a wide range of contemporary art.

Because that day there was no admission, one of the people who worked on site and who spoke English said there were over 6000 people passing through the turnstiles where normally there are only visitors in the 100's. We wandered around on this hot day and enjoyed much of what the park had to offer. Patti had a field day with her new camera.

Then we went back to Tarcisio's where we enjoyed one of his spaghetti bolognese specialties served with a very good white wine. That man can cook! After we ate, Fe and Rodrigo left to say goodbye to a cousin of Fe's. We also said "Goodbye" to Manuela who came back from her mother's place to see us before we left. Alessandra then joined us and the four of us then went to Walkiria's for coffee.We visited with her and her boyfriend, Leo, and Walkeria's mom over coffee and sweets. Walkiria brought out a large box of souvenirs from her time in Winnipeg and she and Patti reminisced a lot.

Then it was back to Tarcisio's for Patti and me to finish packing as sadly we would have to leave for Brasilia early next morning. We exhanged a few gifts. Alessandra presented Patti with a most beautiful necklace. After some tears and hugs, we bade her farewell. Tarcisio had also gifted me with 2 excellent bottles of cachaça, 2 wooden shot glasses to enjoy the cachaça, and a large bag of shelled Brazil nuts which are literally worth their weight in gold to me. When Patti couldn't buy a drum, he gifted her with his. That man is pure "gold"! We got to bed around 1:00 a.m but didn't really fall asleep until 3:00 and we had to be up at 5:30. It was going to be a short night!