Brasilia’s National Forest

 The National Forest in the Federal District covers about 14,000 acres in the northern area of Brasilia.

But before we get to that I should point out we first went to lunch. Layne’s former colleague, a teacher from Key West came too, the day before school re-opening in Brasilia. So we went back to the Japanese place and raw fish was on the menu for the women.

I’m not excited by sashimi but there were cooked dishes too. I feel expensive sushi is wasted on me so I encourage Layne to enjoy it with other aficionados. 

Of desserts two came with our lunch,  fried plantains and chocolate strawberry cups. 

That set me up to go for a walk. I left Layne to pay the bill and caught an Uber for a half hour ride to the forest.

This would never have been great for my elderly dog on a hot sunny afternoon but the sign was there forbidding him of course. 

This is Brazil so there was no charge for admission. I just walked in and checked the map. I found the shortest walk and took off at 3pm.

I decided a four mile loop would be sufficient as it was two hours to closing time and I’m a gringo. When it closes you are out and don’t get locked in. I may have overthought that. 

There were a few people around, and  this forest is a popular mountain bike area as the longest of four trails is 23 miles long so I saw spandexed cyclists not walkers. 

Check this out, US Aid and the US Forest Service helped create this place. Back in the days when the US helped its friends and earned goodwill. “From the American People.” Makes me nostalgic. 

Paths of the National Forest..

I saw no one on the trail I walked for nearly two hours. All to myself on a Sunday afternoon.

Termite mounds:

Last year about 5,000 acres burned in what was suspected to be an act of arson by someone protesting the lack of affordable housing in the federal district. No one really knows as no one was caught. 

The AP had a report on it. 

And it looked pretty awful. 

The area is growing back slowly. This walk reminded me a bit of the Watson Trail on Big Pine Key, especially the part that got burned accidentally years ago. 

There were the chirps of birds and the distant sounds of traffic on the highway but I could see no sign of any human. 

I wanted to see the meditation spot so called where I hoped there might be somewhere shady to take a seat.

The US Forest Service helped to build this place but forgot to remind them to put some benches strategically along the trails. 

Unless I got it wrong this was the meditation spot, not a bench in sight but there was a bridge over a stream. Not good enough. 

Time to hit the homestretch. It was 4:15. 

At last I got back around 4:45. I saw no gate on my way out and indeed a family arrived as I was calling my Uber so I guess at 5pm the staff goes home but how they close it I don’t know. Weirdly Brazilian. 

Rusty was glad to see me but wanted a walk; I was ready to pass out.