Marathon Trip to Gramado

March 30  Monday

I listened to the rain most of the night.  Everything was wet this morning, and the sky was dark.  We are planning to go to Gramado for lunch with Pres. and Sis. Copa.  The rain really poured at about 9:00 a.m., and we weren't too sure if we wanted to spend our day out on the streets in Gramado.  It didn't last too long, so we decided to take our chances - each of us carrying an umbrella.

Bus station guard dogs

David and Ann stopped by the frame shop to have a couple of mats switched, and we were to meet them at the bus station at 10:00 a.m.  We arrived and found five dogs sleeping soundly under the awning at about 10:05 - D&A arrived at 10:30 - then on the bus for todays adventure.



Easter Lily on the way to the church

Ivy covering a tree

We got off the at the center city stop in Gramado and walked the streets, stopping at several chocolate and bunny stores.  I finally succumbed to purchasing a pair of my favorite types of bunnies - straw and hemp - one for Merl and one for me.  Ann picked out some little purses and chocolate bunnies for some grandkids. 



Looking for chocolate

Construction site in the mud

I found some good dark chocolate at one of the chocolate stores and was nice and bought Merl a couple of milk chocolate bars.  I think there is a chocolate store on every corner and a couple more in between.  Chocolate is a big thing here!  By the time we had checked out most of the stores, we realized that we only had a few minutes before the bead store closed at noon.  That was also the time we were supposed to be at Copas for lunch.  We hurried to Emporium where Ann and I found the beads we needed; I was surprised to come to the checkout stand and find Merl paying for the big nativity set we had looked at around Christmas time.  We loved it but couldn't think of anyway to safely get it home.  Guess we will have to find a way now. .

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Easter Tree

It was a mad dash in a light rain shower to get to Copas across town - we weren't too late.  They have a very nice apartment by the church which has always been filled with fresh hortencias; the season is coming to an end.  We had make-your-own quesadillas with a yummy strawberry jello and a fruit smoothy topped with whipped cream.  We followed that with a game of Quirkle (which Merl won) and then chocolate cake and ice cream.


Chocolate store with giant
vine growing to the inside

A soaking rain storm came through about the time we thought we should leave.  Fortunately the sun poked out mid afternoon so we could leave.  Sis. Copa drove us to town to pick up our Nativity set and some fabric I wanted.  We thought we were heading for home, but whenever anyone said something about wanting to see something along the way, she stopped for pictures or investigation.  

Vine on the inside of the store



World of Shoes (thousands)




















My favorite place that Sis. Copa thought we needed to see was the Fazenda Pampas Hotel.  We see the hotel along the road every time we go to and from Gramado.  Little did we know that behind the main hotel are several 'cabins' made from huge wine barrels.  We drove around the back of the hotel - on a dirt road with lots of mud - I told Merl that I would like to stay there one night before we leave.  We found out that it is $R180 per night ($60).

Welcome back to Canela about 5:00 p.m. - a much longer day that we had planned.  A little grocery shopping, reading the Book of Mormon for FHE, making necklaces, and studying completed the day.