Sardines

Have you ever wondered what it feels like to be a sardine? No, me
either. But after this first leg of our long journey from Salvador,
Brasil to Lagos, Nigeria I think I have a good idea what it is like.

Imagine 90 kilos (or over 200 lbs, for you Americans and yes, I know it
is that much because we weighed it all before leaving for the airport) of
luggage, two adults, two kids, one VERY COOL driver and Mauricio, the
doll all packed into those tiny dust buster Mercedes for three hours on
our way from Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais to my mom’s farm, Villa Maria.

Our driver, Keith (that is not really his name, but he looks soooo much
like Keith Richards that we have never known him as anything else) was
trying his hardest not to hit the MILLION potholes between the airport
and the farm, but we still had quite a bumpy ride. Then, about an hour
in to the trip, Keith congratulates Ryder and I on our “birthday”. For
the first 45 seconds we had no idea what he was talking about. So we
just did what we call the “Armando” when you just nod and smile, even
though you have no idea what the person is talking about. This is also
sometimes referred to as the “absolutamente” when you just agree because
you don’t know what the hell is going on. But then it dawns on us, that
it really is June 25th at 11pm and it really is our “Birthday of
Marriage”. Happy Anniversary to us! Seven years of great times! And so
the journey begins……

Beijos,
c