Let me take you to Sao Paulo!

It has been a long time coming since we had a free day with no work or obligations, so we seized the moment and headed to Sao Paulo, city of 10 million people.

The plan, to go to the Drive Thru Zoo. Really it is a Zoo Safari, where you can drive through the zoo. Sounds fun, eh?

We lucked out on traffic and only had 30 minutes instead of an hour of delay. We got to the zoo planning on renting a wagon or stroller. We probably should have looked into that before we left. We had 3 kids ready for a nap and had to take turns carrying them all day.

I was very impressed with the zoo. They had lots of crocodiles and camains and turtles and even tapirs! Then we walked to the other side with monkey islands and white tigers and hippos and a zebra. We couldn't see the lions. And I sat with the tired kids while Jamison went to see the birds. We hoped to leave then go drive on the Zoo Safari!

We missed it by 12 minutes! Talk about frustrating!

So we had a nice drive through Sao Paulo to find a McDonalds.

Then we found an amazing Park. It was like Central Park, on in Brazil! The kids played around on giant fallen trees made into play areas.

 Then Jamison thought it would be fun to rent some bikes are ride around the park. Ok. This is where what we think might be fun and reality take very divergent paths.

We got five bikes, and two bike seats that are up by the handlebars. We had to trade Abby's for a smaller one.  And then trade Oliver's in for a smaller one too. Then Grace's bike fell over and scraped her foot, and when I put Felix in the seat he was shaking with fear. And we weren't even away from the parking lot.

We made it across the street when Abby refused to ride the two-wheeler. So the rest of us waited while Jamison and Abby went back to get one with training wheels. She can ride a two wheeler really well, but not since we have been in Brazil.

So what she came back with a tricycle, on steroids. It was a bike with two wheels on the back.

 But we were off. A big bike parade through an incredibly busy park. With dog walkers, skate boarders, roller bladers, cyclists, runners, joggers, lovers strolling and snack vendors to avoid.

It was pure craziness.

But the park was amazing despite it all. I wish we had more pictures, but there were lakes, and bridges, and all sorts of people doing all sorts of things (slack lining, acrobatics, yoga, things with sticks, ) it was so great!

Fresh out of the "nut" coconut water (it doesn't look that exotic because they filter and cool it and put it in a plastic bottle for you)

Then back in the car. We rigged the iPad to play videos with a FM radio transceiver. The iPad is hanging from shelf that is above our rear view mirror. There are tons of radio stations in Sao Paulo so it took a while to find a free station. But we were good.

And a good thing too, traffic was pretty bad heading out.

But we did it.  We survived another family outing.  No one was left behind accidentally or intentionally!