The Sustainability Center (Senior center) and art museum

Day four and it is off to the Sustainability center after a late night we are to be there at 9:30 and we ended up getting there at 10:30. Our reputation is getting solid at this point. But we didn't miss that much, Getting there was a trip in itself. Starting out late we had to go from Santana in the north to the south of Sao Paulo. We took roads that had to have 50 right and left turns. Boy would I like to drive here myself (yeah), but fortunately we have Formula One driver Iracema who knows how to get around. We arrived just in time for the band to set up. it was a great band of senior citizen who assemble each week. the Coloha de Retjalho (Patchwork) band consists of 4 10 string-guitars called Vilioas, an accordion, electric guitar and bass, curved horn and floor drum and 15 singers.There were 29 locals and our 13 ambassadors in the audience.The band started playing and they were good. then one, and two and then many started dancing - oh my gosh, everyone was dancing up a storm.

On and on for an hour - is this really a senior citizen center. It was hard to believe. We conga lined, snake danced, circle danced, it was out of control.  The band played on. The singers singing away. The most beautiful song was of the river Matarosa taking ones love away down stream. Then it was the Austin ambassadors turn as we sang America the beautiful and Let there be peace on earth. This was wild and I wonder if we Americans are too stuffy to every do this kind of emotional outpouring. Before this I thought we did a pretty good job.

Next we the food - what a spread- a combination of four foot long sandwiches, local dishes, salads, cheeses, the works - and the desserts were endless. there was no way these old timers (us) would consume this much food. I now eat my words as most was eaten. Hugs and kisses and mangled languages abound.

The sustainability center was made from an old dump burning and recycling site that we a chemical nightmare converted to a beautiful garden and education center. We did some good birding there and had some life birds.

But now off to the Fine Arts museum.It was beautiful, of course. It was of Brazilian artists and was converted from an old University building.

We tour for an hour or so and then had cafe and strolled in the adjacent park full of bird and enormous trees. One of my favorites was the "End of a Love Affair" (the horse and dead rider) Good day. We came home for soup made by Iracema and a leisurely time in her condo. Thanks for that.