To Grandmothers House We Go!

On Tuesday, Vivian's parents took us to the area where they grew up! It was absolutely stunning.   It is a small town, about 2.5 hours away, very close to Santa Cruz.  The large German influence can be seen int the architecture, signs, and people!  It was very mountainous and we got some great views!

We loaded up at 6:45 and made it to town around 9am.  We stopped at this really old church that was recently repainted.  The stained glass and intricate details were very impressive!  Afterwards, we walked next door to a school where several of Vivian's aunts worked and cousins attended classes!  We walked around the school and we were even introduced to a classroom.  "These guys are Americans!" he he It was fun!  After saying goodbye to her family, we walked to the newspaper office.  Yep, that's right.  We made it into the small town newspaper.  (Granny, I couldn't help but think of you and how it was exactly something you would do...)  They took our picture and asked us how we liked Brazil.

As we left town, we headed straight up into the mountains.  The view was beautiful!  We passed a small foot bridge and many small country homes.  We even stopped at a farm that had a team of oxen hooked up and did the touristic picture thing!

 Foot Bridge 

 Yep, jumped in with a random farmer.  "These are Americans!"

 Mom, Can I have one? 

 One of the many cool houses we saw.

Great views!  My pictures don't do them justice!

After several winding roads we made it to her grandmother's house!  It was absolutely adorable!!   We explored around the house and saw the old bard where they use to have a lot of dance parties.  We also saw the old tobacco shed where they dried the tobacco after picking it.   The house was surrounded by fruit trees.  There were several different types of oranges, bananas, and lemons!   Her grandmother prepared a huge, wonderful lunch for us.  She was so nice.  She even made homemade ice cream using fresh milk from her two cows.   I know I've been told to not drink milk that isn't pasteurized but I couldn't pass up this opportunity!  It was delicious!!

Eating oranges off the tree!

Free range chickens 

(um, actually one was served for lunch...) 

View from the back yard!

Banana Trees! 

Picking oranges!

 Part of our delicious lunch!  Notice all the ice cream!! :) 

 The lovely cow that contributed to our lunch! 

After stuffing ourselves, we headed over to Vivian's great aunts house.  AND IT WAS A WORKING DAIRY FARM!!  Really, I thought I might have died and gone to heaven.  I wish that I could just show each of you how awesome of a place it was.  Of course,  here is when my camera decided to die so I only got a few pictures.  :(   But regardless, It's one of my favorite places I've been so far in Brazil.  Just picture this cute little house, on the edge of a mountain, surrounded by dairy cows, barns, a huge garden, flowers, and tons of fruit trees!   I, of course, got super nerdy and asked all about the milking herd, milking protocols, nutrition, reproductive programs, calf management etc!  It was a small heard with a two stall milking parlor but it was very nice!   They showed us around their garden and sent us home with a ton of fruit.  We again picked several different  types of oranges, along with many avocados!  The avocado trees were HUGE!  They were really, really neat.  I need one!  I also tried star fruit for the first time.  (Not actually sure what they are called.)   Next, they showed us how to  hook up the two oxen to the waggon and had us get in!  It was awesome!!!  Finally, they dragged me away from the cows and inside the house.  There we ate delicious dessert and talked with her dad's aunt, godfather, and cousin.

Jersey cows are still my favorite!!  

 Milking Parlor 

Avocados! 

A small part of the garden

 View from the farm!

 They plant crops for their cows and themselves on these hills!

Yep! Here we are again!  They depend on these oxen because the hills are so steep.  Tractors can be dangerous. 

We piled back into the car and headed out of the mountains but not before we stopped at the church where her parents got married and saw the old graveyard where most of their family is buried.  They showed me the grave of the original family that came from Germany.    On the way out of town we stopped at a small store to visit more family.  They sent us on our way with a chocolate bar!  YUM!

The day was amazing!  I loved getting out of the city and seeing another part of Brazil.   I'm so fortunate to have been able to visit her family and I truly appreciate all their kindness!

If you want to check out my roommates view of the day you can visit her blog!  She has some pretty good pictures! :)  http://othersideofcenter.wordpress.com