Friday Shoot out - Houses

My home ground of Rio and Nova Friburgo are different than the USA in so many ways, one obvious way is the Homes. There are more apartments here than individual homes; there are high rise apartments (rich and poor), sobre Lojas (above the shops), apartments line the main streets, and there are old houses that have been converted to small apartments.

Individual homes, in smaller numbers, also come in many variety of sizes and values; Small, chronically incomplete (illegal) houses, moderate sized but expensive walled in homes on city dime sized lots, farm houses on hills or valleys with large pieces of land – horses and cows grazing. Most often the individual homes are behind high fences and you can only guess at what is there. You see a roof top, a chimney, a water tank.

This house sits just off our road to Lumiar, there is only a romantic glimpse through the trees – a veranda wraps the front with high arched windows – flowering trees add the only color other than green of the forest and white of the house. The house looks out over white fenced horse paddocks and cattle grazing land that runs at least 3 miles along the road. In contrast to this large richly designed home is this small pink house that sits on the edge of the forest on a dirt road I often walk below our house. This simple home was more than likely built by those that live in it. It is a typical style and size of homes for the local workers. Not fancy but paid for as it was built just for a bit of whimsy, I include the House of bird houses where you can find every size and color of hand painted bird houses and mail boxes.

 

 

and a play house we found at a Pousada (B&B) that was the house of Snow white and the Seven Dwarfs to delight all little girls. There was a table and chairs inside where the little visitors could have a tea party.

 

 

 

But my favorite house in the neighborhood is our house. It has all the components that make a house a Home; spaces inside and out that make room for family and friends, a feeling that the inside and the outdoors belong together, space that please the eye and welcome you in.

My favorite house