August 22,

I did not sleep well – still managed almost 7 hours, but I was awake from 0130 until just after five! Anyway, it was not my knee that bothered me…Yay. We got around about 0800, having our Javas and oatmeal with our normal additions and coconut yogurt.

Just before 0930, we ventured out across the street, literally, to the Sao Joao del Rei railroad station. Jeff had booked us a ride on the oldest running steam train left in Brazil! It only goes to Tiradentes, which is 12 km (7.5 miles). At 1007, the train started out with a blowing of its horn. Woo-woo and we were off!! As we passed through town people on the side streets were waving and videoing. We were in a carriage with an extended family, or a birthday party of 10-15 little kids, ages four to seven, maybe and their parents. What fun! Along the way, one of the littlest kids burst out singing (in English!)…🎶 “down by the station early in the morning, see the little putt putt train”🎶.. It was great!!! 🤗 I hadn’t heard or thought of that song for a long time. We saw farms with cattle, horses with some colts, sheep, and goats along the short 45 minute ride.

Arrived at Tiradentes by 1048. We exited the carriage and went to watch them disconnect the engine, back it up and turn it around on via a man-pushed train turntable! I even took a video of it. So, so cool!! A big highlight for Jeff. The station was lined up with horse driven carriages to escort you on a tour of the town. There were even a couple of “horseless” carriages. The town was small and this steam train attraction is probably why it still exists.

We walked about five or six blocks, crossing a trickle of a stream and past a little park, to a restaurant, Caipirao – it’s a buffet. We collected what we wanted and then took it to be weighed. These buffet places have been a great way to really experience Brazilian cuisine. The bill was 139 BRL, which is $27.04. We left and walked the short distance back to the train station. There were still a couple of hours before the return trip. So we stopped at the little park. There was an obelisk memorial, marking the town’s 300 year anniversary – 1718 to 2018. We then crossed back over the bridge and the river. It’s still only 1245, and we don’t catch the train back until 1430. We sat on a bench across from merchant stalls, petting a dog and waiting for our return ride. The sun has come out to join us.

The train arrived at 1417, amid our shouts and clapping. The engine did its turnaround on the turntable and rehooked to the – now – front end. We boarded, with the train departing at 1439. The return was good, but not as fun without a car full of kids. We returned to Sao Joao del Rio’s station by 1530, explored a tiny bit, but returned (sooner than I wanted to) back to our place so I could get horizontal and ice my knee. Supper was a salad that Jeff went and bought at the store with some Argentine Malbec wine.

That was a fantastic day! We love trains! Woo-woo!!