A long weekend. Definately have to get out of town. And what's happening? About 2 hours north of Sao Paulo is the town of "Holambra", named for HOLland, AMerica and BRAzil. A bunch of Dutch immigrants came over in the late 1940s and tried some farming. What we're left with is some dutch food, "dutch style buildings" and an annual flower festival, Expoflora.
It was a fun day--sort of like going to a big school fair. We bought some bulbs, some baby orchids, a poinsetta for my office. Ate some gouda & potato pancakes. Drove some bumper cars, ran through a fun house, and rode a frighteningly fast "Roto-Disco" type ride. Seriously, that thing was going at least 50mph. I thought I was going to throw up gouda & potato.
My first full-sized windmill....in Brazil.
Things are looking a little bit Dutch:
But some of these "Dutch" dancers were surprisingly dark skinned:
Can I mention it was a HOT spring day? This person agrees with me:
New for this year's expo is the Rain of Petals. Where over 150kg of petals are shot over the crowd. It is said that if you catch a petal in your hand your dreams will come true.
My translation of the sign: Mentalize and Realify your Dreams!
Tulipo, firing the petal cannon:
Petal rain on Chip....and about 15000 other people!
The boys on an Oliver tractor, at the "old tyme museum of early Dutch immigration"--when did the Dutch come over again.....oh yeah, the late 1940s. So some people who came over and established the town ARE STILL LIVING THERE!
http://www.turismoholambra.com.br/
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