Reflections

Had a lunch date in the Botanical Gardens with my friend Julie, back from Bolivia, where she's currently working, for a brief visit. Our guests came along for the ride, and so did a friend of Julie's, who re-routed us to the restaurant at the Instituto Moreira Salles, as the one in the Gardens has no air-conditioning. The same friend, an artist and former TV presenter with a giant personality and loads of stories and information to impart, kept us amused through an excellent lunch, but J had to get back to do some work and I was conscious that the girls, who are half our age, weren't getting to see much of Rio.
 
Anyway, due to the extreme heat, we were all happy to stay in the cool and had the chance to visit a wonderful exhibition of photos by Otto Stupakoff, a pioneer of Brazilian fashion photography and much more. Have to confess I had never heard of him before, but his work is superb - and he had an amazing career. The reflection is of one of our guests admiring..in one of his photos .
 
Afterwards, J and her friend went their separate ways, and the girls and I went on to the Gardens. Crushing heat, though, even walking along the shady rain forest path and round the small lake in the middle, and I suspect they'd have been just as happy to go straight home.
 
Back home and pooped, it was some time after supper before I saw a message from one of our oldest friend's, whose birthday is today, inviting us to join her and her family for some cake and drinks. It would also be the last chance to see her daughter, my 'co-mother' (she's godmother to our older daughter) and family before their return to England. So we scrubbed up a bit and headed over there - so happy we did. It was just great to see everyone, three generations of a family we've been close to for over 40 years. Too bad the battery ran out on my camera and I had to use the mobile, but even so, the reunion has left me with a big smile on my face and lots of happy memories.