Dia dos enamorados (Valentine's Day in Brazil!)

So, as destiny would have it, I have a friend from San Francisco who was born and raised in São Paulo, Brazil and whose family has been nice enough to offer me a room in their house during my time in the country. They are fun, smart, and all around wonderful. They rescued me from my isolation today and we made the long trek together back to their home in a high-rise condominium in São Paulo.

I have my own little room with my own little bed and I couldn't be happier. Today is "Dia dos enamorados" in brazil... which means - day of the Boyfriends/Girlfriends... it's basically Valentine's day and I was lucky enough to be invited to join my new Brazilian parents for their celebration.

We arrived at this restaurant called "São Paulo Antigo" - it is in the historic center of São Paulo and all of the original architecture during the time when the Portuguese first colonized this part of Brazil has been maintained. Even at night time, it is beautiful.

We entered the restaurant and the whole upstairs had been reserved for this "couples party" - I was sweetly introduced to nearly every couple there and we all proceeded to drink bottles of wine, tell stories (in Portuguese, of course) and eat a five course meal. Seeing how I hadn't eaten more than an unripened banana and a yogurt in 10 hours, my tummy and I were oh so very happy. AND... believe it or not, day two and my Portuguese is really coming along... one guy at the table even said he would have never taken me for an american - WOOO friekin' HOO!!!









So that brings me to now. I'm home in my little bed, in my little room. Safe, full of delicious Brazilian food, and surrounded by a loving Brazilian family. Now that is the way to spend my second day in Brazil.

I'm going to bed now... I want to be well rested so I can wake up and share "Cafe de manha" with the family :)

Ate Mais.