Caminho das Pedras

Finally, we drove through the Caminho das Pedras (Path of Stones). There are a lot of little houses on the way that document different aspects of colonial life for the Italian immigrants. We stopped by the house that showed how the immigrants made pasta as well as the sheep house!

Our traditional-style lunch at Nona Ludia's! The food just kept coming... Capeletti soup, cheese and dried sausage, potato salad, bread, gnocchi, pasta, grilled meats, fried cheese... It was amazing. 

This is the old pasta-rolling machine!

Vale do Rio das Antas

On our way home from Bento Goncalves, we drove through the Vale do Rio das Antas, or the Antas River Valley. We saw some stunning views!

I saw a lot of these little shrines outside houses on the road.

Giant poinsettia!

In front of Ponte Ernesto Dorneles

This was literally the end of a historic railroad track.

Donald and Daisy dressed up to support the International (Marcio's) soccer team

Carlos Barbosa

From Bento Goncalves, we drove to the neighboring town of Carlos Barbosa. It's the city where Marcio's dad was born. It's also famous for being the home of Tramontina--the company that produces most of Brazil's pots and pans and silverware. We stopped by the outlet store there to pick up a few souvenirs. A little train runs between the two towns, but unfortunately, it was all full :(. Maybe we can take it next time!

Bento Goncalves

Last weekend, we took a trip to Bento Goncalves, a town at the heart of Brazil's wine region. It was such a beautiful area! We loved getting to go from vineyard to vineyard and taste the local wines. The best ones are sparkling wines and whites.

Statue commemorating the Italian immigrants to the region

Even the church is shaped like a wine barrel! 

More Sights in Porto Alegre

A couple Saturday's ago, we went back to the Mercado Publico... largely because we needed to buy more coffee! And while we were there, we also picked up two bottles of cachaca (it's alcohol made from sugar cane -- but not rum), wonderful, crusty bread rolls from a bakery and yummy papayas.

Outside the Mercado Publico

 Neat Restaurant called the Chalet

One thing I don't like in Brazil is the freakishly huge pigeons. They are at least 30% larger than Texan pigeons.

I think this is the city hall.

 Later in the day, we went to the city's most famous park, called Parcao.

The neighborhood that the park is in is named after this windmill (Moinhos do Vento).

Coconut Water! (Agua do Coco) 

Marcio enjoying the sunny afternoon

A turtle family enjoying the sunny afternoon :) 

Horse in the Road

Brazil is by and large a very developed country, but every now and then we pass a horse pulling a cart in the road. The carts are usually used to collect trash for recycling (to make money).