Getting away for a break from the often-unvaried lifestyle lived is like a breath of fresh air. Taking a chance out to meet up with likeminded friends is also similar in that warmth is felt from such connection and experience.
It makes total sense to travel not too far away. Atibaia Ranch is around 50km from São Paulo, so the journey is quick. Autumn this year is agreeable, as the last few days have been around ten degrees centigrade overnight and throughout the day approximately 20 degrees. Writing this right now, it’s 16 degrees at 8 o’clock in the evening.
Andre our host served us caipirinhas of passion fruit, mojito cocktails, and whatever tickled our fancy, outside in the barbecue area when we arrived. There was a proper chimney for grill fumes to go, and marble sink top surface for preparing drinks and cutting meat. There was a range of cold cuts, brie and gorgonzola cheese amongst crisps, peanuts, and savory biscuits which we enjoyed whilst sipping our drinks before lunch. His twenty-year-old villa, made to his liking really is very splendid indeed!
Three couples including my wife, and my granddaughter were present. By the time we got there it was around midday, so the host’s wife was in the kitchen preparing lunch while Andre barbecued steak and sausages. Lunch was served just after one o’clock with a wide range of meats including chicken, rice and beans, aubergene salad, and several others. It was a great start to a very enjoyable weekend!
Their garden pool was a great way to finish my four-kilometer trek before breakfast every morning. They warned me that it was very cold, but that didn’t stop me. By golly, they were right; it was freezing!
Andre had used his ap to book a horse ride for Vicky at 10am on Saturday. She initially got excited, but then took it all in her stride. I think she’s done it before. However, it was my first time to take her to the horse stables which were within the ranch and walking distance from the villa.
Steam saunas are my preference which makes a change from the dry sauna at my apartment complex. So, it was nice for us guys to go and chill out in a very hot steam room. We maneuvered between sweating and taking cold showers. Hot steam does wonders for cleansing skin pores while cleaning the walls of the lungs!
The Atibaia Ranch also provides many facilities like gym with weight training equipment, Olympic sized swimming pool, tennis courts, beauty and message therapy unit, amid other incredible nature spots to appreciate.
All in all, the weekend was fantastic.
Take care!
Prof. Carl Boniface
Vocabulary builder:
Breath of fresh air (idiom) = if you describe something new or different as a breath of fresh air, you mean that it makes a situation or subject more interesting or exciting.
Whatever tickled our fancy (idiom) = if something takes/tickles your fancy, you like it and want to have or do it: I looked in a lot of clothes shops but nothing really tickled my fancy.
By golly (idiom) = an expression of surprise
Cleaning vs cleansing = Clean and cleanse both mean "to free something of dirt or impurities." Clean is used more generally to address everything from washing to tidying up. Cleanse is used more specifically to address removing dirt or germs, especially via washing, and is also used figuratively as seen in "cleanse the body/mind."
Pores (n) = a minute opening in a surface, especially the skin or integument of an organism, through which gases, liquids, or microscopic particles can pass. "It helps get rid of stubborn acne and can also prevent breakouts and clogged pores."
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