I have read of the heat wave sweeping the western United States and feel some empathy. This is supposed to be the cooler rainy season in Brazil and we are sweltering in unbearable heat in much the same way.
It seemed a good moment to cut back the shrubbery surrounding my head and close by the parking lot where we spent the night in Timbó there was a barber with a beard I could envy. Among other things it’s black. His landlady Odette brought us lemonade and pets for Rusty thus we all left in a buoyant mood. Brazilians are like that. 
The plan was to drive to Blumenau and give it the once over while boosting our batteries. We’ve been living well ofc the solar panels but we have been using the air conditioning at night in the heat and we like to make sure we will have plenty of juice even if we get to park in the shade. Blumenau is famous for its German themed festivals but we saw nothing of that, just a big city with hints of a German past.
We seemed to drive for miles winding through hills and valleys and getting nowhere. 
And then of course I had my moment of panic when I turned left and found myself on the wrong side of the road, driving in the “English manner.”
I cannot stand these single blocks of driving on the left and they drive me crazy. But I am not the city engineer do I suffer not very silently and try not to screw up. Easter is April 5th but it looks like bunny rabbit festival already. 
We drive back to Pomerode unimpressed by Blumenau and sought refuge in the campground remembering fondly the bearable days and cool nights on our first visit. The city welcomed us in its own inimitable Teutonic way. 
We went to lunch in the Pomerhof across the street where Brazilian and German food are all in the same buffet.
It seemed like a good idea and the food was good but our memories of cool mountainous Pomerode betrayed us.
Sunshine, heat and indefatigable annoying children running around are a clear indicator we’ve outstayed our welcome. Time to find a beach.
Rusty evading the heat.
