Porto de Galinhas

Shellye and I did our first getaway together since we came back from China. We went to the northeast of Brazil to a beautiful place called Porto de Galinhas. It is in the state of Pernambuco about 30 miles south of the capital city of Recife. We had five days, four night without the kids who stayed at home with one of Jesse's teachers.

The first full day we were there, I tried my hand at surfing and got up on my feet on the second try. It didn't hurt that I was using a nine-foot longboard.


This guy was incredible weaving all kinds of different things with palm fronds. We bought three bowls (not the hat).


Here's a shot up the beach (north).


Here's down the beach (south). Right around where the sailboats are is where the main part of the little town is. There are several streets that are pedestrian only and plenty of yummy restaurants. We ate seafood everyday except the last when we opted for a nice steak.


Shellye had a lot of fun on the boogie board...


...and sitting around in a postcard setting.


This guy, whose name incidently is also Brian, was my surfing teacher. All surfer stereotypes apply to Brian; he was a lot of fun.


I got up each morning at six and surfed until seven when Shellye got up so we could have breakfast together. This is the last day. I did have visions of granduer, "Man picks up surfboard at 40, becomes World Champion within a year." It was kind of scary thinking, Hey I could sell all, move my family here, and surf everyday.


Reality was that the surf pounded me more than a few times an here are the results from the last day...a pocket full of seaweed.


Here's my one an only groupie having a cup of coffee, she got up early on the last day to watch her man.


We didn't want to leave. Here's us just before lunch on the last day.


All checked out and ready to go back to the airport.


Last picture. This was the name of the pousada (inn) where we stayed, Canto do Porto (corner of Porto). Click on this picture and note the little lizard-boy in the background on the wall to the right of Shellye. He popped up his little head for the picture. You can see more pictures of the pousada at their website www.pousadacantodoporto.com.br.

Sarah funnies!

Hi everybody! I've been lax at putting up pictures but we're going to do a couple of postings tonight. This one is about Sarah.
Sometimes Rachel and Hannah get tired of dressing their dolls and they need a live subject. Sarah usually handles these episodes patiently. Here she is with the Stewart Tartan outfit and as a little shepherd girl (with sequins). The big sisters really love spending time with Sarah and there is always much giggling.



Happy girl at the breakfast table.


We walked into the kichen one morning to this scene and had to take a picture. Guess she wanted Alpha-Bits and didn't want to wait for mom or dad.


Sam and Sarah in their Chinese oufits as we had some pictures made during Chinese New Year.


Sarah likes to play in the bathroom as we get ready. One of her favorite things is climbing into the bede where she watches daddy shave or mommy put on make-up.