Rio!
Well I had high hopes for getting some more blog entries out while we were actually in the country, but we were too busy having fun, chasing kids having fun, and trying to get some sleep so we could have more fun :)
Rio de Janiero - aka "River of January" - was incredible. One of my top 3 favorite cities in the world (up there with Hong Kong and New York City). It meets the requirements of: near an ocean, super friendly people, interesting culture & history, lots of green, beautiful hills/mountains, and easy to get around. I definitely think I could live there.
It was so cool to see Nate back in his mission areas. To hear him speaking Portuguese and navigating around his old stomping grounds was a real treat - it was like a whole new side of him that I'd only seen glimpses of before came alive.
We rented a condo belonging to a local Carioca (what the locals in Rio are called) named Cristiana for 4 days. It made it feel so much more authentic to stay in someone's home rather than a hotel. Her little girl even had a 'princess room' which was heaven for Natalie (thankfully Lucas was too young to complain about all the pink!) It was within 3 blocks of the beach at Barra da Tijuca, one of the growing areas of Rio but nowhere near as crowded or touristy as Copacabana or Ipanema.
Some of the highlights of Rio...
Grandma and Lucas keeping good watch over the bags in the bus station. We were so blessed to have a friend of Mom & Dad's lend us their stroller. I can't imagine how we would have survived without it.
Grandpa and Natalie sporting candy teeth...one of the survival items for the 5-hour bus ride from Sao Paulo to Rio.
Our gang as we entered Rio city proper. Hello sunshine!
I think this re-defines 'sand castle'! More like a sand empire!
We took the gondola/cable car up to the top of Pao de Acucar (Sugarloaf mountain) to get a panoramic view of the city. The ride alone was worth the trip!
Little 'Lijah and Grandma enjoying some sweet hugs :)
A view of Botofogo bay and Cristo Redentor peeking behind the clouds on that pointy mountain in the distance (which we saw on our last day in Rio).
What it would have been like to take the Cable Car back in 1969 when Grandpa was a missionary!
Some of the historic downtown buildings - you can see the European influence in the architecture.
We took a 2-hour ride up to the mountainous area near Petropolis and Teresopolis, two areas where Nate served as a missionary. It was also where a lot of the recent flooding and mudslides were, which meant we couldn't see as much as we would have liked. But, at least we got to go!
The missionary couple! It was much cooler and gorgeously in bloom everywhere in the mountains. This is where the early rulers in Rio (which used to be Brasil's capital) had their summer homes.
The home of Santos Dumont - who Brazilians believe beat the Wright Brothers in the invention of the airplane (never get into an argument with a Brazilian over this matter!)
Quaint!
The chapel where Nate served in Petropolis.
There is some pretty impressive street art lining the walls of the city streets
Mom and Dad watched the kids while Nate and I went to the Botanical Gardens on a Valentines Day date. If the garden of Eden was like those gardens, I wouldn't want to leave either. The variety of flora and fauna was incredible. The gardens are celebrating 100 years since their founding.
Who's spouting? ;-)
It's Amazon country! Everything large enough to gobble you up.
Cristo Redentor in the background.
I found "shy weed"!!! (my siblings will know what I'm talking about - I was so excited!)
One of the highlights of the garden was the orchidarium - hundreds of different kinds.
There was a whole section on 'carniverous plants' - this is the venus fly trap.
Another beautiful flower I don't know the name of.
Monkeying around
Bananas on the vine!
Colorful buildings along one of the bus routes.
Uncle Joe arrived just in time to join us on the visit to see Cristo Redentor - didn't take the kids long at all to warm up to him (not sure what Natalie is looking for there...)
Lucas and Daddy making the hike up to the top
What a beautiful landmark for a beautiful city - Christ the Redeemer reaching out with his loving, protecting arms.
This shot reminds me of the scripture 3 Nephi 10:6
Fresh mango juice - yummmmmmm
Visiting a waterfall in the Tijuca national rainforest - the largest urban rainforest in the world. At one stop we got to drink some fresh water out of the rock.
Heeeere turtle turtle
President Bezerra of the Rio Mission invited us to his home for Family Home Evening and shared some yummy Brazilian treats with us. The mission is experiencing record growth and they are hopeful that there will soon be a Rio temple - exciting!
My favorite shot! Tchau Rio...'til we meet again...next stop: Paraty
Rio de Janiero - aka "River of January" - was incredible. One of my top 3 favorite cities in the world (up there with Hong Kong and New York City). It meets the requirements of: near an ocean, super friendly people, interesting culture & history, lots of green, beautiful hills/mountains, and easy to get around. I definitely think I could live there.
It was so cool to see Nate back in his mission areas. To hear him speaking Portuguese and navigating around his old stomping grounds was a real treat - it was like a whole new side of him that I'd only seen glimpses of before came alive.
We rented a condo belonging to a local Carioca (what the locals in Rio are called) named Cristiana for 4 days. It made it feel so much more authentic to stay in someone's home rather than a hotel. Her little girl even had a 'princess room' which was heaven for Natalie (thankfully Lucas was too young to complain about all the pink!) It was within 3 blocks of the beach at Barra da Tijuca, one of the growing areas of Rio but nowhere near as crowded or touristy as Copacabana or Ipanema.
Some of the highlights of Rio...
Grandma and Lucas keeping good watch over the bags in the bus station. We were so blessed to have a friend of Mom & Dad's lend us their stroller. I can't imagine how we would have survived without it.
Grandpa and Natalie sporting candy teeth...one of the survival items for the 5-hour bus ride from Sao Paulo to Rio.
Our gang as we entered Rio city proper. Hello sunshine!
I think this re-defines 'sand castle'! More like a sand empire!
We took the gondola/cable car up to the top of Pao de Acucar (Sugarloaf mountain) to get a panoramic view of the city. The ride alone was worth the trip!
Little 'Lijah and Grandma enjoying some sweet hugs :)
A view of Botofogo bay and Cristo Redentor peeking behind the clouds on that pointy mountain in the distance (which we saw on our last day in Rio).
What it would have been like to take the Cable Car back in 1969 when Grandpa was a missionary!
Some of the historic downtown buildings - you can see the European influence in the architecture.
We took a 2-hour ride up to the mountainous area near Petropolis and Teresopolis, two areas where Nate served as a missionary. It was also where a lot of the recent flooding and mudslides were, which meant we couldn't see as much as we would have liked. But, at least we got to go!
The missionary couple! It was much cooler and gorgeously in bloom everywhere in the mountains. This is where the early rulers in Rio (which used to be Brasil's capital) had their summer homes.
The home of Santos Dumont - who Brazilians believe beat the Wright Brothers in the invention of the airplane (never get into an argument with a Brazilian over this matter!)
Quaint!
The chapel where Nate served in Petropolis.
There is some pretty impressive street art lining the walls of the city streets
Mom and Dad watched the kids while Nate and I went to the Botanical Gardens on a Valentines Day date. If the garden of Eden was like those gardens, I wouldn't want to leave either. The variety of flora and fauna was incredible. The gardens are celebrating 100 years since their founding.
Who's spouting? ;-)
It's Amazon country! Everything large enough to gobble you up.
Cristo Redentor in the background.
I found "shy weed"!!! (my siblings will know what I'm talking about - I was so excited!)
One of the highlights of the garden was the orchidarium - hundreds of different kinds.
There was a whole section on 'carniverous plants' - this is the venus fly trap.
Another beautiful flower I don't know the name of.
Monkeying around
Bananas on the vine!
Colorful buildings along one of the bus routes.
Uncle Joe arrived just in time to join us on the visit to see Cristo Redentor - didn't take the kids long at all to warm up to him (not sure what Natalie is looking for there...)
Lucas and Daddy making the hike up to the top
What a beautiful landmark for a beautiful city - Christ the Redeemer reaching out with his loving, protecting arms.
This shot reminds me of the scripture 3 Nephi 10:6
Fresh mango juice - yummmmmmm
Visiting a waterfall in the Tijuca national rainforest - the largest urban rainforest in the world. At one stop we got to drink some fresh water out of the rock.
Heeeere turtle turtle
President Bezerra of the Rio Mission invited us to his home for Family Home Evening and shared some yummy Brazilian treats with us. The mission is experiencing record growth and they are hopeful that there will soon be a Rio temple - exciting!
My favorite shot! Tchau Rio...'til we meet again...next stop: Paraty
what a fun trip!! hands down for taking 3 kids with you on such a long trip!!
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