Obrigado anne_ct, I've been there three times accompanying my wife who was there for conferences or other meetings associated with a US/Brazil exchange program she was running between two universities in Brazil and two here (Ohio State and University of Virginia) Since she was often in meetings or conferences I often spent that time traveling around the city alone. Its such a city of contrasts: the beaches, the mountains, the urban buildings, the tijuca forest, the skyscrapers and the favelas. This is looking down from somewhere within the Santa Marta favela out over the skyscrapers below. and looking down the length of Copacabana Beach toward Sugar Loaf. The bridge for the trolley from Rio Centro to Santa Teresa Tudo Bem

It is a heavy art paper. I didn't realize until we got the magpies home that we have two other pieces by the same artist that we bought at the Camden Art Festival. I believe the artist applies paint (or ink) to a block and then she presses the block to the paper. There were a couple of other pieces of art depicting birds that I really liked, but I got "out bid" on them. They were embroidered with fine silk thread onto cloth.

When I lived in the Dallas house we had a roadrunner that was enamored with me or my dogs or cats not sure which but every day it would come to the pool patio and tap tap on the window, they went to the floor, and it would keep doing that till I came over and talked to it. Then it started bringing me treats, grasshoppers, other bugs etcetc. It would leave them right at the window where I could see it. It was always hanging out around the pool but never in it, it would get on the waterfall and drink. I loved that bird!

So beautiful, Casey - always go to find your photos first - you make my day start off beautifully! Thank you.... Didn't think I would be posting publically. Here's some white Wisteria with Cecil Bruner Rose to greet me every morning - nope won't post but I did try... :)