Drive to Caxias

February 2  Monday

It seems like 'Activity Day' comes around almost before I get around to posting the previous one.  This is partly due to our busy schedule, competing for 'computer' time, and the frequent downtime of the internet system here.  Heavy use and rain seems to affect our ability to connect.

With that said, the Copas picked us up this morning at 9:00 - everyone was ready for whatever the day might bring.  It looked like it was going to be a hot day so we brought our sunhats and sunscreen.  The new seating arrangement for the little car was for Sis. Copa and Ann to sit in the front seat - with pillows over the center column for Sis. Copa.  She felt it was better for her to sit in the middle since her husband would need to occasionally 'grope' around looking for the shifting mechanism.  It seemed to work out okay.

Our destination today is Caxias, a city with a population of 300,000.   As we drive along the beautiful mountain/jungle roads on our excursions I try ,to take a few pictures of things that catch my attention.  Today there was a mowing crew along the highway - several men with weed whackers.  Most of the mowing here - at homes and along the roads - is done with weed whackers.  There is still much manual labor here. 
 


I have always found the cemeteries to be interesting.  The appear to be very well maintained and covered with flowers, all the time.  On our previous trip here, someone told me that if the family didn't take care of the gravesite, their loved one could be dug up and the lot sold to someone else.  Don't know if that is true or not, but might account for the attention the graves receive.   Today we also experienced our first traffic backup for road construction.


We always have time to get off the beaten path and adventure down little dirt roads to find something of interest.  We followed a few narrow, steep 'paths' looking for an elusive water falls.  We found a little campground, a few houses, banana and papaya trees, lots of sugar cane, and puppies 'guarding' a shack.  Everyone seems to have a dog that serves as a warning that someone is around and as a pet.  Somehow they are trained to do this.  My assumption is that all the dogs that didn't meet the 'guard dog' expectation are turned loose to roam the streets.  There are lots of very passive dogs that just hang out everywhere we go.

As we were passing through a small town, we saw a roadside grape stand - we had to stop.  We sent Merl out to purchase a bunch of grapes to nibble on - even if all the grapes here have seeds.  The bunches were huge, the grapes large and sweet.  This same town had an interesting block wall covered with amazing 'graffiti.'

Window washing

High rise construction and
clean up

The city of Caxias was much larger and busier than we were accustomed to.  Lots of one-way streets that kept us very confused in trying to find our destinations.  We spent a lot of time going in circles finding the right streets.  The map David picked up at the Caxias bus station was very confusing and led us to roads that were steep and apparently discontinued when the freeway was put in.  Ann was sitting in the front seat, in a seat belt with Sis. Copa, and panicked every time we came to a ledge - she knew she couldn't jump out of the car if we drove off the edge.

 (to be continued)