Santa Maria Madalena

This past weekend we took a trip to a small, mountain town about 2 hours away called Santa Maria Madalena. We went with four other families and stayed a quiet little pousada (bed and breakfast) right up in the mountains. A running joke between the families and the choice phrase of the trip was that we were "in the nature," ha! Which we were, surrounded by the Brazilian mountains, forests, cow pastures, and small farms- complete with all kinds of animals, bugs, exotic fruits and plants. Just a good experience of Brazil's natural beauty.

Our trip started off with a BANG! Jeramie decided to climb the giant rock that is a part of the ropes course at the pousada... without a harness.... let's just say that the owner of the pousada was not pleased, haha! We thought we were about to be kicked out before we even checked in!

Jeramie atop the infamous rock

Everything laughing - except the owner who is on his cell phone calling for a ladder to get Jeramie down, haha!

Even Kennedy was watching :)

Waving hello

Funny girl

Waiting for the ladder

Group picture after the "rock incident"- Jeramie made it down all in one piece - no ladder needed!

The grounds of the pousada were gorgeous - orange trees, lemon trees, all kinds of flowers and greenery

Burns family photo op

Our first night at the pousada, we relaxed in the outdoor area. The boys played football and washers. We sat around a bonfire and the kitchen staff cooked us pizzas that we ate outside while we talked and hung out. The scenery around us was really beautiful.

A friendly game of fotoball

Kennedy and Chapel watching the game

Aaron and Blake practice up for a game of washers

The pousada had orange trees around the yard. We picked some to try and they were very sour. While Jonathon was on a business call, we decided to tell him to take a bite... this was his reaction! haha.

KK and Dad at sunset

Sitting outside by the fire

Pizzas arrive!

Kennedy getting sleepy after a long first day.

The second day of our trip we went on a hike. We saw many small farms and went up through the mountains. Afterwards, we had an amazing lunch. Freshly prepared from food from the nearby farms. By far, the best food we've had in Brazil yet!

Kennedy getting ready for our hike!

sunrise at the pousada

Breakfast! Kennedy loved the watermelon

Dad and Kennedy ready to roll

I had to try it on too... but I let Blake carry it through the hike!

Group photo op, pre-hike

On the trail

Burns family photo op, on the way down to the farm

Kennedy took a little snooze along the way

Family photo op at the back end of the pousada at the end of our hike

Almost home!

Lunch! We had traditional Brazilian dishes - pork, farofa, beans, rice, kale, chicken, cowtail, potato- Yum!

Our motley crew

This is outside of where we were having lunch - a heard of cows didn't want to walk by the restaurant

We got to watch them heard past us!

Church in Santa Maria Madalena

Dinner at the pousada

Kennedy ready for another night of partying by the bonfire

With Jonathon

Our last day at the pousada we were able to do the ropes course that they had on the grounds before heading home. First, you climb a rock (the same one Jeramie did on our first day), then a tight rope, then a log bridge, then another tight rope, they you have to cross a net rope, and finally at the end you get to zip line down the hill. It was a blast! 

Breakfast our last morning in Santa Madalena

Waving is Kennedy's new favorite thing to do

Waiting to get harnessed in for the ropes course

Watching with Dad

Blake & I, ready to climb!

Blake on the rock

Me on the rock

Blake crossing the first tight rope

Me on the first tight rope

Blake crossing the log bridge

Me crossing the log bridge

Blake zip lining down!

Me, zip lining!

Kennedy waving bye bye to people crossing the tight rope

Running with Dad

Playing baby with Mom

Girls photo op before we head home

 Excellent trip! Can't wait for the next!