Chestnut Festival

It's been a very sad week. Strong colds and emotional pain. But life goes on, and hopefully we will be back to our normal selves soon, Happy Richters :)

This pictures were taken last week. Hope you enjoy it

Chestnuts have been in the Market for about 2 weeks now, they are plentiful and big. I love it and couldn’t believe our luck when I saw the ad for the Chestnut festival. It implied in carefull planning of the bus timings. So we left home early to get the bus downtown. The place is called Nun’s Valley and we’ve been meaning to go there for a while. Perfect combination – food and sightseeing hehe

Happy Richters

This is called Bolo do Caco, a typical bread of Madeira Island. It is so fresh and delicious, they serve it with garlic butter.

Folkloric Dance

My King got into the spirit...

We know this dog, he is famous, and goes to buy bread in the mornings by himself.

Of course, at the Chestnut Festival he was carrying chestnuts

Typical Madeira dress, in front of the Municipal Market downtown

Chestnut necklace

Typical local girl

I had a few but want more !!!!!!

Marc BBQ our own espetada

Espetada is a typical thing here, at the street party they sold it in real fashion

Scary roads on the way to Nun's Valley. +1000 meters high

Stands selling local spirits and .. Chestnut soup, bread, cake, sweets....

Going towards the stage to perform

Prince Hunter Lindo Richter

Hunter is getting old by the day. Since he arrived from Africa life has been more and more difficult for our super doggie. His back legs are weak, specially the right one. He cannot get up on his own anymore, however he is so smart that he developed a communication technique: he barks in a very funny way when he needs to get up. It always sounds like a big emergency. We run. We have been blessed with this time off, so both of us can take good care of him. He loves to wake up in the middle of the night and have parties. Usually I run and open the balcony door and Marc carries him outside to pee or poop. We have to hold him until he finds his balance. Many times we miss it, and have to mop the wet spots. He likes massages and has been eating once a day. He takes now heart medicine, arthrites medicine and a new antibiotic for his nose infection. He also takes a corticoid injection every 5-7 days. We might have to increase this dosage though. He sleeps most of the time, and doesn t walk for long periods. He cannot make turns inside the house, he gets suck in the corners...

We love him so much, hug him all the time, give him kisses, and I cry when I see how hard things are for him. It is not easy to get old, but I know this is nature. It is nature to grow old, it is nature to walk slower and less. It is nature to eat less. It is how it is supposed to be. Marc also gives him lots of hot baths to help with his arthites and keep him clean. He seems to enjoy it. He is a lovely dog. Our best friend.

Alexandre & Rhamayana

My youngest brother Alexandre got married last week in Brazil. Unfortunately, I could not share the joy of this special day with them, but here they are, Xande and Rhama, in a perfect picture ! Long life to their marriage and life, and many nephews and nieces for me hehehehe Can't wait to become an aunt :)

Cost Meals our Kids

Dear Donors

I have finally received the cost of meals for the kids 2009-2010:

ETB 1.60 breakfast = U$ 0.1268 = aed 0.4658

ETB 6.00 lunch = U$ 0.4756 = aed 1.7466
http://finance.yahoo.com/currency-converter/#from=ETB;to=AED;amt=1.6

We will keep accepting donations in our bank accounts in Brazil, Dubai and Portugal.

I am communicating to Genet through her son. I think things will work out this way !

Thank you all for supporting our project !!! Love, Connie

Churchill in Madeira

I forgot to mention that we visited the place where Winston Churchill

used ot hang out in the 50's

http://www.madeiraisland.com/english/famousvisitors/Winston_Churchill_in_Madeira.shtml

This one is specially for my brother, like Barravas Fla !!!! I love you my darling...

Fisherman Village in Camara de Lobos

Happy Monday !!!!

…. and in exchange for 3 hours of our time listening to the time share presentation we got a voucher for a 3 hour cruise in the Atlantic Ocean. The dolphins were very playful and made us laugh all the way. To close the beautiful afternoon with a golden key – waffles with ice cream ahhhhhhhhhhhhh perfection !!

nature....

Queen Victoria & Queen Connie

King Marc

What ? Vacations? Unexpected ? Ok...

Mr & Mrs Richter

This was hilarious, the dog was about to jump from the boat!!!

Madeira Ocean.... So blue... so beautiful...

Happy Sunday !!!

After a two hour walk by the ocean from Funchal to Camara de Lobos, enjoying some typical Portuguese "tremosos" and cold beer ahhhhhhh super refreshing !!

Drying fish in a small fisherman village

The stones of Madeira beaches

Old boiler for steaming enginee makes the scenary very interesting

An we finished our nice Sunday at our favorite restaurante - As Vides -The Best !!