being set free.....

The last week was so beautiful up here in the mountains.  It is still a little cool in the evenings, we are in winter after all, but the days have had bright sunlight and scattered clouds and  almost balmy breezes.  If we were living in Chicago it would be perfect summer temps.  Because of the beautiful weather, we decided to take in one of the last of the winter festival’s planned activities.  

Saturday, in the Praça do Suspiro, Centro Friburgo starting at 11:00 there would be music and balloons released.  Sounded like an activity for families with children and possibly a chance for few nice photos.  We parked in our favorite parking lot and walked along the canal to the praça – from several blocks away we started saying it is too quiet.... no music.  The praça, now pretty much cleaned up from the floods in January, new sidewalks installed, more parking, the horses set off on the side and a new building to house the cable car built, had about 50 adults with half as many children sitting in a circle..... no music to speak of but clowns doing tricks – the children and adults enjoying themselves.

 

And lots of colorful balloons rolling gently in the breeze...and I wasn’t the only one enraptured with all the color. 

Apparently this same scene was being enacted in both Teresopolis and Petropolis.  The balloons would be release at exactly noon in all three cities.  The biodegradable balloons containing seeds of the forest trees would float high into the sky, burst into small pieces and drop back to earth where the seeds would have a chance to grow into tall trees.... I am loosely translating the announcer here.  We were assured that the balloons were biodegradable at least 3 times.  I looked up biodegradable balloons on the internet and yes balloons made from latex – latex being organic will break down within 6 months of landing in the forest.  The children were very excited..... (so was I)  Each child was given their own balloon filled with seeds to set free with the rest.  (I didn’t get a balloon, but enjoyed myself anyway)

This little girl – name unknown – under the watchful eye of her mother was determined to let all the balloons go before noon, until she was given her own balloon, then she patiently and very seriously waited, doing her part for the environment.)

        

 

really a nice experience even without the anticipated music.