Gramado Shopping and Natal Luz

January 7  Wednesday

Today had a pretty rough start; and it was supposed to be a fun-filled, amazing day.  Merl had been up most of the night with an upset digestive system.  The timing, the way it came on, and how he felt led him to believe he probably had a case of a food-borne illness.  Whatever it was, he was miserable.  The first thing I did was walk to the grocery store to find something that he might be able to eat and hold down.  Of course, the store didn’t open until 8:30 am, so I walked around for a while observing the morning ritual of Canela. 

People were starting to bustle around, many walking to the bus station to go to Gramado to work.  A couple of street sweepers were cleaning in front of the shops. The fruiteria loja was still setting out new produce - all that was really open was the pharmacies.  A small car passed by the intersection I was standing at. .. I didn’t get my camera out in time to get the best shot.  This is an example of the many, many uses of vehicles here - a small sedan carrying cement framing boards and a wheelbarrow on top.  I have thought more than once about sitting on our balcony and taking pictures of the bizarre loads the cars haul down the streets. 

When the store opened, I bought a chicken breast, some noodles, bouillon cubes, a package of banana pudding, a package of jello, and a bottle of tonic water.  I hurried home to make chicken noodle soup, and Merl thought that the pudding would be best first.  I quickly learned that the pudding needed to be cooked - they don't have instant here.  As it turned out, the warm pudding was soothing.  Then a bowl of soup hit the spot. 

D&A on Copa's driveway

As the time came closer to catching the bus to Gramado came, we weren't sure how Merl would handle the trip.  We made arrangements for him to spend the day at the Copa's apartment where he would have peace and quite and a place to lay down.  Turns out that was the perfect solution.  Merl had a fold down couch for a bed and a cool, dark room to sleep in.  He said it was almost too quite.  Our apartment is next to a very busy, noisy main road with neighborhood barking dogs.  A good night's rest is a premium! Then we were off to take advantage of perhaps our last chance to "go shopping" before the last month of Christmas is over. 

 We walked several streets seeing the sights, window shopping, and trying to find the best stores (lojas) with the best air conditioning.  I think David said that today was the hottest day so far this summer - about 86 degrees (high humidity and direct sun).  I was dying!  My favorite places (no matter what they were selling) were air conditioned.  We lingered a little longer in those lojas.  We had four hours to do whatever we wanted.
     Our first stop was to Tomasini, a classy apparel store close to the church.  Before the current chapel was built, the Branch held meetings in the pink building above the Tomasini store.  We had been at this store a few weeks earlier, and Ann found a beautiful silver ribbon overlay piece of apparel that she loved - but it was very expensive.  She had recently been praying that it would not be at the store when we returned so she wouldn't be able to buy it.  Her prayer was answered.  It was not there.
We walked up the road a bit to where David had heard about drinking cups being placed below a seeping wall of water.  He found the spot, along with cups on the side.  Apparently, people can come by here, use a cup to get a drink of water, and put the cup back.  David filled his water bottle and took a big drink  (staged, wouldn't really dare to drink it).  Anything for a picture!

As we walked by a walled off construction zone, I peeked around the corner and saw a big hose sucking water out of the pit.  The ground is all rock here; when it rains, the water collects - construction cannot continue until the water is gone.  Then you dig a bigger hole which collects more water.  Sounds like a vicious cycle to me. 

       It's impossible to capture everything we saw and did; and the Christmas attractions will continue to the middle of January.  Today we saw a Christmas parade going down main street and a juggler/comedy show on the side of the road.  Gramado brings a lot of entertainment to the streets to attract and keep the tourists. 

The heat was really getting to us, so we ducked into the local McDonalds for something to cool us off.  We each had a sundae and drink, D&A shared a chicken sandwich.  By the time we were ready to leave, the clouds had started to come in - and the sun was blocked.  Love it!  Eu amo as nuvens! (I love the clouds!)  We were ready to go again.


Loved the Barbie tree

     We thought we would start to head back on another street and found a covered outside mall with lots of little shops.  Inside was another Tomasini loja; Ann took the chance of seeing if they had her silver ribbon dream.  Much to her delight (or dismay), they had the exact same one and she succumbed to the temptation and bought it. 

We stopped at the 'National' grocery store and found pepperoni sausage rolls - a hard to find item in the other local stores.  We enjoyed walking through the biggest grocery store I have seen here.  Fruits, vegetables, and breads were very attractive to me.  Lots of things from the U.S. were available. 

On to the local artisans' Feito a Mão (made by hand) to follow-up on some things we liked their previously.  Ann and I each bought ribbon scarf we had seen before and had a nice visit with the lady who made them (Ellaine Lindenmeyer).  She and her husband had retired from teaching at the university in Porto Alegre and moved to Gramado.  She taught arts and crafts and now enjoys making items in her spare time.  She showed us her loom on which she makes the ribbon scarves and purses.  As we were leaving, there was another booth that had the exact thing that Ann had just purchased at Tomasini.  It was half the cost!  Apparently the artisans make and sell their goods to the local stores for resale. 

Right next to the building was the Colonial bread furnaces with men doing the baking this time.  It looked and smelled so good, but there were too many in line - and we needed to get back to pick up Merl to go to the Natal Luz show - our main reason for being in Gramado today. 

Who do you think had the more enjoyable day?






Panorama shots of the city