Casa de Luz
Frequently Asked Questions

Introduction

Using Common Sense

When you come to a new place, distant from home, even in a different country or continent, you see yourself almost immediately confronted with numerous questions you might like to get answered.  How do I do this?  How does this work?  Where can I find this and that?

Many of these questions are so common that we have anticipated them and summarized our answers in this "Frequently Asked Questions" section.  We have -- more or less -- alphabetized them by key words and invite you to peruse them.  If you then still have a burning question that is left unanswered, please feel free to e-mail us.  We will then gladly get back to you as soon as we can with the answer or clarification you request. 

There is one particular key word which we have called "Using Common Sense" which may be so important that we have addressed it right here:

---  Cleaning Agents: Do not use abrasive cleaning agents (such as AJAX, SOS, or alike) anywhere in the house.  (It will dull non-ceramic surfaces). 
---  Sliding Glass Doors, Screens:  Keep the screens in place at all times.  People who are sensitive to insects that can be present especially during the wet season may apply an electrically powered mild fumigator, which is simply plugged into an electric outlet and will emit a scent that is quite detrimental to flying insects.  These little devices can be purchased at the grocery store at a cost of about R$10 and will last for several weeks.  One is sufficient for the downstairs, plus perhaps one in the bedroom.  It would be best to unplug it during the daytime hours, but no problem if you forget.  We usually keep one handy for our renters‘ use.  But we appreciate if you buy a new one if you used ours, so that subsequent guests will have one, as well. The center sliding glass door in the bedroom slides in two directions:  slide it to the left only (for fresh air), so you can use the door on the very right to step out to the upper terrace.  PLEASE DO NOT MOVE OR DAMAGE THE FRAGILE, LARGE SCREEN in the center section!  It would be difficult to replace. 
---  Preventing Rain Damage:  During the wet season (Oct - April) sunny skies can QUICKLY turn to FIERCE RAIN STORMS with floods of rain essentially driven horizontally.  Therefore, we request that WHENEVER YOU LEAVE THE HOME, PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT ALL WINDOWS AND SLIDING GLASS DOORS ARE CLOSED (and locked for added security).  The driving rain would otherwise penetrate through the screens and cause great inconvenience or even water damage. 
---  Outlets and Voltage:  Note: This is an advisory specifically for our guests coming from North America, where home electric power runs at 110V.  Everything operates on 220V, 50 HZ in this part of the world.  Some of our outlets are built so that they will take American-type plugs, but they still deliver 220 volts, and anything you plug in that is designed for 110 V only will immediately burn out.  This pertains particularly to hair dryers, curling irons, travel water heaters, and similar high-wattage items that have no built-in electronic voltage adapter.  Good practice is to first look at the fine print on the item you want to plug in, and when it says “100-240 V, 50-60 Hz,” then you are safe -- otherwise WE ALL BUT GUARANTEE THAT EVERYTHING YOU PLUG INTO A REGULAR OUTLET IN THE HOUSE WILL IMMEDIATELY BE RUINED.  We do have some appliances that run off 110 Volts and must be plugged into special voltage transformers which we have installed.  Never plug the upright vacuum cleaner or the Nutribullet blender into any other outlet (if you do, they will burn out, and then paying for the damage is the lesser concern -- the bigger is how to get the foreign manufactured replacement item to Abadiania ...). 
---  Water faucets: the plumbing systems in private residences and apartments in rural Brazil do not operate on high pressure city water.  Instead, each building has its own water tank which is located (often quite unsightly) above the roof line and is filled with city water (with a toilet tank type of filling valve), and water runs from there by gravity to the faucets.  Therefore, the pressure at the faucets is low, and water runs at low flow rates.
---  Shower Heads: There is a big solar heated hot water tank in the roof tower that provides ample of hot water.  You may have to wait a while until hot water from the tank hits the faucet.
---  Toilet Paper: Please note that essentially in all of South America, and also in Abadiania and in Casa de Luz, no toilet paper (and no other manufactured items) may be discarded into the toilet.  (We mean zero, none, clean or dirty ... :)).  The septic and sewer systems are simply not designed for this "abuse." Please use the trash receptacle we provide instead. Once full, you can fold up the -- "naturally" somewhat smelly -- plastic bag and deposit it into the big green garbage bin outside in the street, opposite to Pousada Amor e Luz.  We always keep a good supply of these important plastic bags, and please do make us aware when that supply is low. You can also buy new ones at the "Ribeiro" grocery market.
--- Swimming Pool: Our swimming pool requires some regular maintenance, which mainly consists of removing leaves and changing the filter.  Most of this maintenance is done by our pool caretaker who comes three times a week, usually on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at 2PM. But it helps greatly keeping the water sparkling clear if you fish out any leaves that you see erred into the pool -- it's not a big deal.  We have described the maintenance activities usually done by our agent in a separate document that you can find by pressing here
, but we do not expect you to perform any up-keeping activities.

And last but not least:  You came here for a very special reason.  Please familiarize yourself with the protocols of the Casa de Dom Inacio.  We have posted some of the more important rules and protocols on the refrigerator.  Please read them -- and know what to do and where to go to get the utmost healing experience from your stay in Abadiania. 
Just as an "FYI," especially on your first Wednesday morning, you will appreciate when you follow the recommendation to be seated in the big hall of the Casa de Dom Inacio no later than at 6:30 AM.  You won't find a seating place much later than that.  Select a seat somewhere in the center of the hall, not in the front rows -- those are designated for the elderly and disabled, and you might be asked to move ....