If there's a will...

Yesterday we said goodbye to our Sorocaba hosts and hit the road for Tatui.  The landscape is very beautiful (think Tuscany).  We drove by large orange groves set on sloping hills.  Our hosts told us that this area supplies the US with orange juice.

We said, "Thanks" in Portuguese, of course, because we JUMP on the chance to use the phrases we can.  While we're getting compliments on our language progress we feel painfully at a loss at times.  I compared some of my attempts at getting a point across to walking through the maze of streets in an old city.  Our intelligent Mark commented, "You want to think about where you want to end up."  Good advice.

Below are two welcomes and introductions translated for us.  What a generous and practical way to build a new relationship.  The first came from a warm-hearted Rotarian, the second from Melissa and my hosts (via their son via e-mail).

Today we visit the country's most elite music conservatory.  I already know I won't want to leave.