Lots and lots of meat is what is usually for dinner. The food in Paracatu is simple but delicious. Outside the hotel is a pop up tent BBQ where we like to go for a simple and quick meal. You will find all kinds of roasted meats that come with cassava root, cheese bread and a tomato salad. The cassava root is like a less starchy potato that we like to eat with the hot sauces on the picnic tables. Chicken hearts are a common thing roasted and even though those are not my choice Ken says they are good. Nick and I’s favorite restaurant for lunch is across the street there we find roasted meats, different types of tomato and cucumber salads. Nick likes the fried fish and french fries there. French fries are something you find everywhere and they serve them with pretty much everything. The most interesting appetizer with fries came with cheese whiz on top with pork belly. Rodizio pizza places are common here. It’s a bit stressful to figure out when to say no because they come to your table and offer a different type of pizza every few minutes. After the pizza comes the French fries and then fried chicken. When I say pizza it is not like the pizza we have in the United States. Pizza here comes with so many toppings that I would have never thought to put on pizza like, cream corn, bananas, and cream sauces. Our favorite breakfast place serves an avocado toast that Ken and I love and we always order the cappuccino. Nick likes the pancakes there, but you won’t find syrup because they serve them with honey and fruit. The coffee is something to get use to here because it is strong like rocket fuel. I am a person who drinks black coffee, but here I have to add some milk to it. On Sunday’s we go to our favorite breakfast place where the cappuccino tastes like home. We recently went to a new restaurant that is a Rodizio style steak house. We will definitely go back because it was so good. They had lots of side options and then the meat was cut table side with so many options of different kinds of meat. Now lets talk drinks…I am person who enjoys different kinds of drinks, and I have found some I really like. Brazil’s national drink is a Caipirinha. It is a drink made with Cachaca, lime, sugar and mint. It is a very sweet drink but so good. My other favorite drink is creation is made at Liberte. Liberte is a restaurant around the corner from us that has an indoor/outdoor vibe. My favorite drink there is the cerrado flower which has strawberry purée, vodka, lemon soda, lemon juice and a homemade ginger foam. Ken usually orders beer or wine and the wine is not sold by the glass so he leaves with the bottle to enjoy later. Our favorite soda here is called Guarana and is sold here in Brazil. It’s kind of like a cherry ginger ale. On Sundays we go to the farmers market and pick up our produce for the week. You will find lots of fruits, few type of vegetables, meat and fish. We get a coconut to sip on as we shop around.

Leg update: I am now walking without the crutches and have been able to put a shoe back on. It’s slow healing, but at least I am limping around again.

Yesterday Ken, Nick and I visited the orphanage here in Paracatu. I will have a lot to share with you all soon. Nick and I will be spending sometime there volunteering and loving on these special children. More to come…