A Walk in the Park
Bom Ano Novo (Happy New Year)! Many places in Brazil were closed today because it’s New Year’s Day. As a result, we had the morning to catch up on rest. We ate breakfast at the hotel, enjoyed the rooftop pool, and packed up our room in preparation for transferring to our next hotel in Sorocaba. We walked to a mall for lunch because it was one of the few places with open restaurants. There were many American options including Taco Bell, McDonalds, and Burger King.
We loaded up the bus and drove to Ibirapuera Park, an urban park that is 158 hectares. Created in 1954, it is currently the most visited park in South America. The park was a gorgeous green space that includes an auditorium, two museums, a pond, an area for skating, and paths for walking, running, and biking. We spent nearly an hour and a half enjoying the beauty of the park. Many Brazilian families were playing sports and relaxing. Several of us had tasty popsicles, climbed a bridge, and fed the ducks. The museums were closed for the holidays, but we were able to admire some of the outdoor sculptures and murals. While waiting for our bus, some of us played a good ole fashioned game of Duck, Duck, Goose.
After about an hour and a half of travel, we finally arrived in Sorocaba, a more rural area in Brazil. We were given an hour to unpack, then we headed to the hotel lobby for dinner. Dinner included beef stroganoff, grilled chicken, white rice, and French fries. We also were able to have some tea from one of the smallholder farms we visited. The rest of the evening consisted of card games, conversation, and some Netflix.
