Sunday Golf - Tony's happy place.

Life is going to be quite different here in Brazil (as opposed to our China experience) as Tony will get to play golf every weekend if he so desires.  We will join a golf club and I can relax, swim, exercise and walk the grounds and even play golf!  Our intention is to spend lots of time outdoors!

One of Tony's colleagues introduced us to a golf course located about 30 minutes from our house.

The drive is quite pretty through the rural countryside.

The golf course is called Quinta Da Baroneza = The Five Baroness. 

There is a pool and restaurant which serves a tasty Sunday lunch buffet.  The Brazilians really like their buffets.

 

The grounds are pretty with walking trails around a lake. 

Tony had a great day of golf while I relaxed around the pool and grounds and enjoyed the wonderful weather.

The flower market - Brazilian style.

After removing some large trees from our 'garden' in the house I needed to find the flower market and start thinking about what I should plant to fill in the space.  Out of the blue Hevila, one of Tony's colleagues wives called and asked if I wanted to go to the flower market! Perfect!

But first she wanted to take me to her "clube" for lunch.  It is just like a country club but without golf.

 

Hevila recommended we have the express lunch, to share as it's quite large, and an order of pastel.

 

A pastel seems to be the national 'snack food' of Brazil. It is made with a thin pastry dough, shaped liked an envelope, and than stuffed with meat and/or cheese filling and deep fried.  The ones pictured above were filled with cheese.  Hevila ordered the veal parmesan with salad, rice and french fries.  Very heavy but this is a very typical lunch for the Brazilians. Fortunately we shared it as the portion was huge!

 

We ate quickly and then headed off to the flower market.  On Monday and Thursday the market opens to the public at 1p and closes at 4:30p and on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday it is open from 8a to 4:30p.

Days of the week are indicated with a number system and Monday is the second day of the week (Segundas Feiras )because, naturally,  God gets the first day, which they call Domingo, not "first day" and so I am always confused when my teacher says to me in Portuguese - see you on the second day, which means Monday.  

 

I felt right at home in the flower market as it was just like one I use to go to in Shanghai. Lots of flowers and greenery and of course the usual assortment of baskets, garden and home ornaments, probably all made in China.

This little orchard I was told smells like chocolate, I guess I thought I smelt a faint wiff of chocolate but it was hard to discern.

 

I bought a few cilantro plants to put in my herb garden, which is now only home to basil and mint.  I am not sure yet what to put in the indoor garden but I have a few ideas now. Since I am going home for three weeks in the middle of March I will hold off on the plant purchases until my return.