Go to your happy place. That is what I keep telling myself. In the middle of February, freezing cold, school out at least one day a week, and my regular babysitter out of town, I resort often to “going to my happy place.” I’m not unique in this escape mechanism. I’m sure we all are doing it right about now.
What is unique about “going to my happy place” is that it is literally in the middle of nowhere. The Pantanal. Where? Didn’t you take geography in Middle School? It’s a tropical wetland in the southwest of Brazil. Never heard of it? Well join the club. I don’t even know if Brazilians really know about it either. And that is what makes it so wonderful.
It’s not easy to get there, thank goodness, or everyone would go. But when you finally arrive after a mere 3 flights (one only seating 5 people), you feel like you have arrived to heaven…or fantasy island at least. Flying in through the clouds, no physical structures can be seen for miles, just flat, beautiful landscape dissected by snaking dark rivers. Our destination was an immense ranch (fazenda) that was still slightly functioning as a ranch, but honestly functioning as wilderness adventure destination for Brazilians and foreigners alike.
So when I go to my “happy place” I go to the ranch that took me daily to fish in the rivers, to seek out jaguars, walk among the capybara, and hike past groups of coatamundi. I remember wistfully the silence as we canoed through crocodile alley practically running into the hundreds of crocodiles that were swimming and bathing around us. I also salivate at the thought of drinking fresh passion fruit caiparinhas at the end of the day, and being forced to go to bed at 10pm after a few rounds of hearts when all the electricity was turned off.
Ok, ok…I try to forget about the plumbing at the ranch…that’s not such a happy place, but I’m willing to overlook it. In the middle of winter, desperately waiting for the arrival of spring, I think I’m willing to overlook just about anything to have a few minutes of peace, sunshine, nature, and happiness.
Tags: brazil with kids, family travel in brazil, little citizens, travel with kids