Monday, February 4, 2013

Petropolis, Brazil 20 January 2013



Sunday, 20 January 2013

From my room - Ipamema Beach


Along the road to Petropolis


Along the road to Petropolis


Roadside stand - sold bananas, cocanuts, water, purses and rugs made from bikinni left overs


Along the road to Petropolis


Former Cassino in Petropolis


Me with former Petropolis Cassino in background



Royal Family just before they were expelled from Brazil


Royal summer residence of Pedro II


Royal summer residence of Pedro II


Royal summer residence of Pedro II


Railroad engine used in the past


Carriages used by the royal family


Carriages used by the royal family


Carriages used by the royal family


Carriages used by the royal family


Brazil Tree with me in front


Cathedral spire


Cathedral spire


Cathedral spire

Tomb of Pedro II, his wife, his daughter and her husband

Inside Cathedral


Tomb of Pedro II, his wife, his daughter and her husband


Houses near the cathedral


Mark swimming


Me on the beach at Ipanema

Me in the water at Ipanema



Farewell Banquet

I woke up with my 7:00 am wake up call.  This was the first night that I slept through.  I had a problem in that I couldn’t turn off one of the lights near the bed, but I really slept.  Once I woke up, I figured out how to shut the light off!  I uploaded my pictures and wrote my log before I headed downstairs for breakfast.
The breakfast was quite good.  Most of the people made a sandwich to take with them.  I supposed I should have, but I didn’t.  We got on the bus at 9:30 and headed for Petropolis, which was the summer home of Emperor Pedro II.  I was aware that Brazil had a “royal family”, but I really didn’t know anything about it.  When Napoleon Bonaparte conqueror Portugal, the royal family fled to Brazil.  When Napoleon was thrown out of Portugal, the King returned and his son Pedro I became the emperor of Brazil.  The King advised his son to declare independence from Portugal, because virtually all the countries of South America were declaring their independence.

Pedro I was a playboy who fathered quite a few children by his various mistresses.  He was married twice and had some legitimate children by his two wives.  When Pedro I’s father died, he became King of Portugal.  Since he never really liked Brazil, he returned to Portugal, where he was born.  His son, Pedro II, at the age of 14 became the emperor.  Apparently Pedro II was quite well educated and he was successful at ruling Brazil.  At a appropriate age, Pedro II sent his representatives to Europe to find an appropriate bride for him.  The only royal who was willing to come was from Italy and she was not very pretty.  A very flattering portrait was painted of her and sent to Pedro II.  He agreed to marry her and when he saw her for the first time, he was shocked because she didn’t really look like the portrait he had received.  Despite a rocky start, the marriage was a success.  They had several children, but only two girls survived to grow up.  Isabella the older signed a decree which freed the slaves in Brazil.  The support for royalty came from the farmers who depended on slavery which meant that there was no support for royalty, who were then thrown out.  There were strong positive feelings about the royal family and were permitted to return as private individuals.  Pedro II, his wife, Isabella and her husband’s bodies were brought back and buried in the cathedral in Petropolis.

We stopped at a stand (the only stand on the road) where they were selling cocanuts for the milk, bottles of water and items made from the leftovers from making bikinis.  I bought a small purse for my little Muffin, which means that I have to find something additional for my little Avi.  We continued on the road to Petropolis.  We went to the summer residence of the emperor and I was quite impressed with the building and its contents.  We wee asked to wear slippers so that we wouldn’t damage the floor.  We were not allowed to take pictures inside the building.  From the palace, we went to the cathedral, which contains the tomb of Petro II, his wife, his daughter and her husband.  The cathedral was much nicer than the cathedral in Rio, but I’ve seen more impressive.  From the cathedral, we went to the place where we had lunch.  It started raining.  Driving down the mountain in the rain was not exactly my favorite thing, but the driver got us there in one piece.

By the time we got back to Rio, the rain had stopped and we went to the hippie market.  I treated myself to a necklace and a pair of earrings.  I was looking for a wallet like the one I had seen at the ranch, but I didn’t see anything like it.  I did see one lace dress that I’m sorry that I didn’t buy for my little Shoshi.  One of the people was not on the bus when she was due which had most of us concerned because she is not the type to be late.  Most of us were quite concerned.  It turned out she went to the wrong corner! 

After we got back, I raced up to my room to change into my bathing suit.  I had to go on the beach at Ipamena.  A few people came down and Barbara took pictures of me on the beach.  I actually went into the water and went out a short distance.  I didn’t trust my swimming skills since it has been so long since I’ve gone swimming in the ocean.  At about 6:40, I went up showered and changed into suitable clothes.  Naturally I wore the jewelry that I had treated myself to.  The food was quite good.  I had a glass of wine. At about 9:00 pm, I came up to my room. 

We were warned that tomorrows trip may fall apart as a tree fell down on the railroad tracks which leads up to the cross.  We have to leave at 7:30 am to make sure that we get back on time.

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