Maskerade.....

During Carnival thi year the streets of São Luiz de Paraitinga are ornated with all kinds of pretty masks. Just to show some of them.... here is a selection.

Carnival.....

In São Luiz de Paraitinga some "Blocos", groups that perform a theme during Carnival, present themselves to the public before the "real Carnival". 

This day there was the Bloco of "Juca Teles do sertão das cotias" that went through the streets. Juca Teles was the nickname of the local artist and protector of the local culture, Benedito de Souza Pinto (1888-1962). Now his son (already and old man) portrays the person of Juca Teles. 

It sure was a colorful happening. With many, as they say here, "fantasies". The streets were soon completely full of people who were having a lot of fun. 

What a surprise as it seems that God and the Devil both take part in the festivities.....     

Neptune is also present.....

Safe above the crowds....

Exotic.....

Or just hatters......

All ears.....

 

Pretty .....

Kissy ......

Muddy .......

 

"Joaquin Baboza" ..... (sounds familiar.... and looks like a certain  judge....)  But what does he do with these nuns???

Juca Teles
Arrived from the "Cotias de Sertão"
Bringing  news, confusion
Shooting arrows
Many at carnival
And nobody cares a shit
And nothig is....
Don't get us wrong (o, o,o)
And don't get us wrong

Cry o,o
Show o,o
Sing o,o
Sing

Juca Teles
Mulberry flower
Mouth of the people
Good words of love

Rain - São Luiz de Paraitinga

When I look outside the rain gushes down the windows. It doesn’t matter if you are in Brazil or in Europe. It rains. Only the temperature is different. This makes life in Brazil in general more comfortable. But when it rains there, the consequences are more serious. Landslides destroy houses. And now there are even many deaths.

 In 2009 I spend Christmas and the New Year in Brazil. Christmas was in Aparecida (the town with the huge cathedral) and on January the second (2010) we planned to go to the beach in Ubatuba.

It had started raining  after Christmas. It kept raining all the time. The road from Taubaté to Ubatuba was blocked by landslides. Paraty could not be reached. What was more serious was that the river Paraitinga had flooded São Luiz.

It took us 4 to 5 hours to get to Ubatuba by the road of Caraguatatuba. We were lucky we didn’t come back like all the people from São Paulo going home. It took the taxidriver almost 12 hours to get back.

After some days, on the normal way back to Taubaté, we passed São Luiz. The beautiful (recently restored) Church had dispeared. Only rubble. The square with the big old houses of the coffee barons and the colorful market were covered with mud. The beautiful little town was unrecognizable.

We need rain, but let’s hope it gets dry soon.

If you want to see more pictures (and larger ones) 

klick here

With abraços for my Brazilian followers.