On July 9, 2009 they held Redneck Party in Águas da Prata, which will hopefully become an annual event.
At this party they had Redneck Games, Beer and BBQ.
Here are some pics showing what this party was like.
In this game they have a ring of about 25 little houses each with a number on the roof. In the middle there is a house with a Guinea Pig in it. When they lift the middle house the Guinea Pig comes out and runs into one of the houses in the outer ring.
The person who holds the ticket with the number that is on the roof where the Guinea Pig runs wins a BBQ Chicken.
They had a fish pond with prizes for the kids.
The town folk gathered for a beer (or maybe 2).
The important people in town had some Brasilian BBQ. See! Here is Urso Branco enjoying Brasilian BBQ.
An expert cook manned the BBQ.
A smiling lady handed out the BBQ meats.
Everyone else sat and had a beer (or maybe 2)
It was early in the evening so the crowd was not too big. The party had just started.
What Redneck party would be complete without the dogs?
A great time was had by all, including the stray dogs in town.
Lets hope it develops into an annual get together. It was fun!
Photos by Urso Branco
Welcome
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Redneck Party Jul 9, 2009
Happy Birthday 2009, Águas da Prata
This year they changed the format slightly but the children were there as usual.
The opening event was the arrival of O Inspetor Carlos Miranda, O Eterno Vigilante.
The Mayor and members of Council welcomed everyone.
A Choir sang the national anthem as the flags were raised.
Then the parade started with all the children from the local schools.
Many photos of the parade follow. Do you recognize your child or his/her teacher?
Photos by Urso Branco Read More, See More Photos and Read the Comments . . . CLICK HERE
Happy Birthday 2008, Águas da Prata - Áurea Soares
Now begins the walk of the public school Áurea Soares.
The kids walking with the teachers.
They stop walking a little.
Stop a little again.
There`s even people in wheelchair participating.
That was the walk of the public school Áurea Soares.
Photos by Urso Branco Read More, See More Photos and Read the Comments . . . CLICK HERE
Happy Birthday 2008, Águas da Prata - Timótheo Silva
Now begins the walk of the public school Timótheo Silva.
The flag bearers.
Now the band begins to play.
The teenagers playing the drums.
Now the band stops walking.
More flag bearers.
Even this fellow see the band passing through.
And this was public school Timótheo Silva.
Photos by Urso Branco
Happy Birthday 2008, Águas da Prata - Urias da Silva
Begins the walk of the school Urias da Silva.
The flag bearers.
Walk with teenagers.
Walk from third age.
Look there`s even a mascot.
The dog looks like is enjoying the walk.
The mayor in the Reviewing Stand.
The mayor clap for the third age.
That was the walk from the school Urias da Silva.
Photos by Urso Branco
Happy Birthday 2008, Águas da Prata - Banda Marcial de S.J. de Boa Vista
Now begins the marcial band of São João da Boa Vista.
Little kids dressed like military Soldiers.
The flag bearers.
They carry papers that looks like flower petals.
Oh! For that they carried the petals to make a flower.
Now the band with instruments.
The band begins to play.
This was the marcial band of São João da Boa Vista.
Photos by Urso Branco
Happy Birthday 2008, Águas da Prata - At the Reviewing Stand
Begins now the band playing at the Reviewing Stand.
This band has many drums.
A teacher seeing if nothing goes wrong.
There`s many people seeing the band playing.
The mayor, his wife and the councilors.
And this was the band playing close to the Reviewing Stand.
Photos by Urso Branco
Happy Birthday 2008, Águas da Prata - Studium Joelen Ballet Clássico
Here begins the baillarinas mirins.
The older baillarinas are doing ballet while the little ones just watch.
A high jump of ballet.
Now the little ones begin to dance.
They stop a little to see the band.
All of them full of gifts.
Girls with chinese clothes of ballet.
Look at this girl`s hair looks like a real chinese girl.
Girls thanking the public.
This girl is dancing very good.
The girls dressed with chinese clothes of ballet again dancing very good.
This girl is dressed like a real baillarina.
The girls thanking the public again.
This girl looks like a baillarina doll.
And that was the Studium Joelen of Classic Ballet.
Photos by Urso Branco
Happy Birthday 2008, Águas da Prata - Gymnastics Demonstration
A little gymnast.
This is the gymnastics demonstration.
Looks like they pratice very much.
Making gymnastics in front of public.
Acrobatics sundry.
Making cartwheel.
Conturcionists.
And that was the gymnastics demonstration.
Photos by Urso Branco
Happy Birthday 2008, Águas da Prata - Banda Marcial - Poços de Caldas
Here begins to pass the Marcial Band from Poços de Caldas.
This is de band`s mascot.
The flag bearers of the band.
Now the entire band is passing through.
First pass the drum players.
A girl with symbols and in the other side another girl with symbols.
Boys with trumpets.
The rest of the band passing through.
The band`s mascot with the kids from other school.
The band turning around.
The flag bearers making acrobatics with the flags and the dog over there looks like wants to participate of the band too.
And that was the marcial band of the public school from Poços de Caldas.
Photos by Urso Branco
Carnaval in Águas da Prata - 2008
Carnaval in Àguas da Prata for 2008 was from Friday to Tuesday nights, Feb 1 to 5. They did not have a parade, nor costumes, but there were 5 nights of loud music and dancing.
Here is the Praça das Bandeiras with preparations in the day time.
Here are night scenes from Monday night. They had many beer tents.
It had rained very hard Saturday and Sunday nights but the music went on until 3 in the morning. They got these tents for the revelers.
Following are photos from Tuesday night.
There was a discreet Police presences but they kept off to the side.
When the lights went up and the band started the revelers began to dance.
Everyone had a great time!!
Photos by Urso Branco
Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays
Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays all the world comes to Águas da Prata, SP, Brasil
When they come to Águas da Prata some people walk!
Some people come by motorcycle!
Some people come by bus!
Some people drive by car!
And some people come by horse drawn carriage!
They all come to see the Chalets, the Parque, the Praça, other sites in the neighbourhood but most of all they come to see . . . the monkeys!
Photos by Urso Branco
The Chalets
The main highway from Poços de Caldas to Campinas runs through Águas da Prata. On Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays this same strip of highway becomes a fair with one way traffic.
There are many Chalets here selling all kinds of foods, doces (sweets) crafts and knickknacks. Following is a series of pics of all the Chalets, the traffic and the people. Enjoy the travelogue!
The sign says Chalets of Food and Artesans local and from the region.
Here is the Chalet of Flavio Carvalho, our artist friend. He sells his Mel (Honey) and Propolis here.
This Chalet sells Orchids and is located beside Flavio's Chale. All the other Chales are across the street.
This is one of the many food Chalets. He specializes in products made fromn corm. They are very popular here in Brasil.
This Chalet is serving more corn products to a small group of patrons early on Saturday before the crowd arrives. They serve Pasteis.
This Sergio's Chalet. I have never seen Sergio but he serves my favourite food. BBQ Chicken on a stick (Shishkabob style).
Here you can get more variety including cheese.
This Chalet specializes in making you a Pastel (pasteis plural). Is is something like a Jamaican patty. It is stuffed with meat or cheese then deep fried. This is an extremely popular snack all over Brasil.
What would food be without desert? Here is one of two ice cream chalets. Most of this series of pics were taken Saturday morning before the tourists arrived so that is why you don't see many customers.
Bolo de Milho (Corn Cakes), Suco do Milho Gelado (Cold Corn Juice). Pure heaven for corn lovers.
Now here is my favourite. I never met Sergio but he sells terrific BBQ Chicken on a stick (Shishkabob Style). This is also a favourite all over Brasil. It is sold with Chicken, Beef or Cheese.
This Chalet sells Roupas (clothes) handmade by local artisans.
Knickknacks and souvenirs.
Another Roupas Chalet.
Toys, trinkets and decorations.
Doces (sweets) Queijos (Cheeses) Mel (Honey) Bebidas (Drinks). Now this is what you must call a Sweet Chalet.
Crocheted and knitted items such as table cloths, blouses and scarves.
More little souvenirs. Trinkets and stuff.
Beads, broaches, bird houses and toys.
A leather shop seeling only things made of leather.
Another sweet place selling juices and puddings. Notice the sign saying Caldo do Cana Gelado. That is Cold Cane Juice. They squeeze the cane right there!
T-Shirts! All kinds and all sizes! A favourite with the kids!
Another Snack Bar (Lanches) with refrigerantes (pop) y cervejas (beers).
Pastels and water bottles. Now that is a combination that is different.
More Lanches (snacks). See the sign Xtudo? That means all dressed or everything included. When they say everything they mean EVERYTHING you can think of.
More Snacks and beer.
Even more Snacks and beer.
Many Delicious Flavours of Swiss Crepes!
A real sweet place. Chocolates! Chocolates and more Chocolates!
The second Ice Cream Chalet.
This Chalet sells Sunglasses and cases for them.
The bus brings many tourists to Águas da Prata to this fair.
Hundreds of motos show up (Brasilian for Motorcycle). Look at the outfits on these two guys.
The weekend is always big business for this horse and buggie.
This is what the street looks like just before sundown on Saturday. By the way, that is our car driving along in the foreground.
This is the same street on Sunday afternoon. Lots more cars and people and motos.
There are hundreds of motos parked everywhere. Riders of all ages come on motos.
This is the crowd on Sunday afternoon.
Many folks check out the Chalest.
Sometimes they fill the sidewalks.
They line up for ice cream. My favourite flavour is Coconut.
Look at all the traffic on the street! Remember, Águas da Prata is a very small town.
Everyone loves to eat and drink here, even little kids!
No Parking at this spot. It is a bus stop! Here you can see the long row of Chales.
Lots of people!
Here is a view of the bus depot across the park. You can see the Cometa buses coming and going.
Photos by Urso Branco
The Park
The park has a number of fountains fed by the mountain springs in the Mantiqueira Range around Águas da Prata. They even has a a very large factory for bottling this water. There are several bottling plants around the area.
This particular Fonte is named after Sr. Vilela. They name them after people or locations.
This is the main fountain of the City of Águas da Prata.
The sign says drinking this mineral water is considered the best radioactive water of the Americas and is good to treat renal (Kidney) problems. People come from miles away just to get their drinking water here in Águas da Prata.
This sign says the water helps treat a weak liver, cholesterol, toxins, staffolococcus, inflamation of the kidneys and bladder.
This is the main fountain of the City of Águas da Prata.
People come with all kinds of bottle to fill up. This is where we get our own drinking water.
The Park includes the Bosque Estadual (State Forrest)
This is also the Reserva Estadual (State Reservation) to preserve and protect the flora and fauna.
The Park has mainy Chalets serving food so the monkeys love this place as much or more than the people do.
The Main Highway from Poços de Caldas to Campinas comes right through Águas da Prata at this location. See this gazebo right beside the street. The monkeys come right to the street.
There are many interesting trees in the park. Here is a small tree hugging a big tree. It actually grew right around the big tree.
The forest is very dense in places. A perfect location for the monkeys. They get lots of protection from the town dogs who love to chase the monkeys. The monkeys also love to provoke the dogs.
This is one of many paths throughout the park.
There is a playground for criances (children) with swings and bars to climb on.
There are several gazebos to sit in and relax, eat and drink and watch the monkeys.
Some gazebos are close together and others are far apart. They are great for family outings.
Look at this interesting tree running along the ground about 15 meters before it rises up.
There are several of this special tree in the park It is called Fijueira. It is common and there are many others like it.
These paths go all over the place.
The parking lot is the highway, right beside the fountain, the forest and the chalets.
Photos by Urso Branco
The Square
The Praça Basílio Ceschin is one of many squares in Águas da Prata. This one has an Illuminated Fountain, walking paths, an artificial lake and two fountains of mineral water. Across the street is a shop selling bananas, a bar/restaurant, the bus depot and the train station.
There is a bridge over the river that lets you enter the Praça Basílio Ceschin from the Chales.
The river flows all the way through Águas da Prata and has several tributaries. The water level varies dramatically from the rainy season (Summer) to the dry season (Winter). Here it flows southerly past the Chales.
Here is the same river from the same location flowing away from the Chales to the other end of town.
From the same location you can see the Bus Depot across the artificial lake.
The sign says NO FISHING in the artificial lake! Also, the time is almost 2:00 p.m.
The other end of the artificial lake.
There are many different trees here and lots of benches to sit and rest.
A beautiful and restful setting under the palm trees.
Ponce de Leon had it all wrong. HERE is the Fountain of Youth. The sign says Mineral Water with Bicarbonate for treatment of the digestive system.
Here is the other fountain in the Praça Basílio Ceschin. It is part of the main Fonte Vilela across the street.
We cross the river back towards the Chales.
You can see the Chales from here.
The bridge leads over the river, across the street from the Parque to the Monkeys.
Photos by Urso Branco
The Monkeys
The Monkeys of Águas da Prata are Capuchin Monkeys, MACACOS PREGOS. Cebus apella.
Black-capped Capuchin Monkeys have a black face, black hands and feet. Their body is brown, with a lighter colour around the face. They are the largest of all the Capuchin Monkeys.
Capuchin Monkeys - Physical Description
Capuchin Monkeys are diurnal and arboreal animals. These are very intelligent monkeys that are common as pets, trained performers, and therapy animals. Capuchin Monkeys are numerous in captivity in the USA and Europe. Organ grinders have used these animals for decades.
The origin of the name comes from the appearance of a black skullcap. Capuce is a French word for a skullcap. The Capuchin Monkey's hair is very similar to the cowl or capuche worn by Franciscan monks. Capuchin Monkeys have a supple and slender body with thin limbs.
The Capuchin Monkey's hand is similar to the human hand. The thumbs and big toes of the Capuchin Monkey are opposable to the other fingers and toes.
The head of the monkey is round with hairs at the back darker than the rest of the coat. The long hairy tail is partly prehensile. It serves as an anchor or prop when Capuchin Monkeys travel through the trees.
Scientific Name: Cebus Capucinus
Life Span: 15-20 years
Length: The length of the head and body is 12-22 inches. The length of the tail is approximately the same.
Weight: Capuchin Monkeys weigh 3-8 pounds
Capuchin Monkeys - Habitat
Capuchin Monkeys live in low-lying forests, in primary or advanced rainforests. They are native to Southern Central America. They are found from Costa Rica to Paraguay and Trinidad.
There are many monkeys in Águas da Prata in the forests around the city but we see them mainly in the forests at the Chalets.
The monkeys come down from the forest in search of food two or three times a day.
They arrive in gangs of up to 20 or more, both young and old. You can see them coming by watching the trees moving as they swing from branch to branch.
The monkeys love to eat all kinds of food, even the food that isn't healthy for them. That sounds like humans doesn't it.
This fellow finds a fence post is handy but must watch out for the dogs.
They run to the Chales to reach people better as they look for food. They know where the food comes from.
Of course they love bananas. They will stay and eat them as long as the supply lasts.
It is a lot of fun to watch them eat the bananas. They grab them from your hand and go up the tree or onto the chalet roof to eat them. There they peel them and throw the peel back at you or at the dogs in the Parque.
They come down any chain or branch for more food even when they have their mouths full! But they keep a wary eye out for dogs that frequent the park. When they see the dog coming they let out an alarm and run for safety.
MMMMM That is delicious!
They sit on the roof waiting for someone with food to come along.
Another favourite food for them is corn on the cob.
Mmmmm! What a lovely looking banana!!!! (Yes, that is my hand.)
They follow you everywhere if you have bananas for them.
This little gal is enjoying her banana so much she doesn't bother to peel it.
This sweetheart is less than a year old and is only twelve inches tall and probably weighs less than three pounds. She walked up to Judy and ate out of her hand.
They are very persistant in scrounging food. Unfortunately they will eat anything you hand them. There are many fried foods and sweets served in the chalets and people, not thinking, hand it to the monkeys. The City has had to post signs saying it is forbidden to feed the monkeys. But the monkeys can't read so they still come for breakfast, lunch and supper.
Now people are learning that corn and bananas are okay so the monkeys don't get much bad food anymore.
Mother and Baby look into Chalet for food.
A face a mother could love.
Up a tree!
Can you see all six on the Chalet?
Keep coming back for more monkey photos.
Photos by Urso Branco
Other Places
In the immediate neighbourhood of the Parque, the Chales and the Praça there are other places of interest.
This sign is in front of the Thermos. These were public baths but they were closed many years ago. It is named after Teotônio Vilela.
This is another sign on the street for the Thermos.
There is an auditorium (the round structure) still in use. It is half underground. Many of the offices within are used by City Health Services.
The State of São Paulo is putting a lot of money into a project to restore and revitalize the thermos which had been closed because of political infighting years ago. The goal is to help promote tourism for Águas da Prata.
Here is the Fonte Balneário outside the Thermos.
It is one of several fountains in the area that have Bicarbonate of Soda naturally in the water. It helps in cases of indigestion, diabetes, cholesterol and gas in the stomach.
Here is a very special place. This is the club for Senior Citizens. It is right behind the Thermos. It is always busy with folks playing cards, drinking coffee, eating snacks and gabbing. It should sound familiar to my friends at CoffeeTime in Toronto. They also have monthly dances for the members and their spouses and friends.
