August 20,

I awoke around 0730, having slept some better. We got around, had our Javas and breakfast of oatmeal with PB, Nutella and/or raspberry jam. While eating we were keeping an eye out for our visitor…which I forgot to mention yesterday! We’d had a Black-tufted Marmoset (classified as a new world monkey) sitting in our window, but he did not return today. Jeff discovered some peanuts in another window sill when he couldn’t close it. So someone was feeding it. Anyway, after we finished, I blogged and Jeff read/planned.

Around 1300, we set out for lunch and exploration. Jeff had found a local restaurant with good reviews, called Barzim da esquina – da nossa familia para sua familia, which translated as Barzim on the corner – from our family to your family. It was busy! I ordered a mushroom stroganoff that came with fries, rice and beans; and a tangerine drink. Jeff ordered beef steak (like minute steak) with onion that came with beans, rice and fries; and a limon drink. Both meals came with a small lettuce & tomato salad. It was a good meal! We went to pay and got an impulse buy of a Jabutica popsicle. The total cost – 106 BRL, or $20.61.

We drove heading a long, less-traveled road to Sao Bartolomeu. It was a fun and nice drive on a newly grated dirt road. The views were great. We spotted several different birds, including a quick glimpse of a hummingbird. We climbed up to a pass, with Jeff’s Altimeter App reading at 4,792 ft! We arrived looking down onto Sao Bartolomeu about 1440. There was an older, seemingly abandoned church overlooking – keeping eye on the town! The town below had one street canopied with decorations. It was windy, but how cool that view was! This church was not open so we drove on down into the town. On the main street under the canopy sat another church. It was closed as well, but that street was so unique! Most of the other buildings seemed to be housing for miners?? As always… Questions. We parked here and explored a tiny bit, but most of the buildings seemed closed. There were a few people just sitting about…small town.

We headed back out toward our place, via a different route – the more traveled route. We passed by a train tunnel, getting out for a gander and rousing some Crested Caracara birds. They are stunning birds of prey. We arrived back into town around 1600, and went to the grocery store. “Stuff” acquired, we went back to our place and had another salad for supper. We settled in and went to bed by 2200.