A Brazilian Casa

The houses in Brazil are a fascinating contrast to ours in the US. Everything in this large metropolis is kept under lock and key, because of high crime. The houses are mostly concrete with tall concrete fences and iron gates. The house takes up the whole land area and one house adjoins the next. Eryka's family has a very nice house that her Dad built. From what I have observed, it is higher than average standards, but not lavish enough to make it uncomfortable. There are no closets but beautiful wardrobes and cupboards.  It  includes three bathrooms, three bedrooms, dining room, living room, sewing room, laundry, and kitchen.

 There many of the houses have carports for their cars within the compound behind the gate. When a family member arrives, they drive past the house, give a beep and turn around to back in when a family member who is at home comes to open the gate. There are no automatic gate openers in this neighborhood so if no one is home, you get to open the gate yourself. After some criminals tried to get in  once when Eryka arrived home,  an electric fence was added to the top of the 8 foot high concrete fence.

The outside area seems to be part of the house with an open tiled area that surrounds the house. One side has an open roof where you can sun,  with a beautiful barbeque oven and outdoor kitchen. The other side in enclosed with a roof with fiberglass panels where the clothes can be hung in the event of rain.

 I was very much amazed as I was expecting lots of creepy crawlies, knowing that this place in tropical.  The windows have no screens and are open most of the day. The only evidence of bugs that I have seen, was and occasional fly and a few fruit flies surrounding some aging bananas. I guess there are times of the year when the mosquitoes can be a bit bothersome, but apparently right now is not the time. Perhaps the reason for the lack of bugs is the cleanliness of the home we are in and the lack of surrounding dirt. The only patch of grass is a six by six foot concrete patch that welcomes you, between the carport and the formal entrance to the house.

My favorite area of the home is to sit is the alphpendre and the sacada (balcony). Alphpendre is rather like and outside area this is under the roof where you can enjoy the balmy weather without being in the sun. You can sit there and enjoy the cooling breezes in the heat of the day. The only thing I can say about this balcony, is that it is right out of Romeo and Juliet and it soothes my romantic soul. It looks out over the carport to the street.

We feel very lucky to have landed in such a nice place with such hospitable hosts.