Tour of Rio on a Clear Day!

The day started off with the driver picking us all up at 730 am. We loaded the car seat into the car and took off to see Cristo Redentor before the crowd invaded the area. The ride there went perfect while Belle ate breakfast and my mom and I kept her busy.

Enjoying the view

Belle taking Nate everywhere. 

The morning haze hanging over the sleeping city at 9am.

Sugar Loaf in the distance along with the city of Niteroi.

Finally a clear view!! I didn't know that there is a stone heart
emblem on his chest.

Family photo

What really happens when a family takes photos.

Belle enjoying the wind.

Look at her hair! We had to practically teat her away from the
place when we were leaving.

View from Ingreja Nossa Senhora da Gloria (Gloria Church)

Belle running around some more to make up for all the time in the
car seat! 

Entry way or the narthex.

Ceiling in the narthex. 

It was built to be a fortress too so check out the thickness of the wall...

Beautiful

They were preparing for a wedding and we got lucky enough
to see it when they were setting up the flowers.

Plaque on the outside.

Steps of Lapa made of tile. A guy from Argentina, Soreno, started
decorating the steps with tiles and it's now a popular
site to visit in Rio.

Family photo on the steps

With grandma too.

Belle walking the steps.

The view looking down isn't that great.

Cute kitties chillin on the steps. Sorry dad I know you hate them!

At the top.

After the steps we took a mini lunch break in hopes that Belle would take a nap. We went to Amarelinho in Cinlandia and got some grilled meats, rice, fries and a few beers. Belle had already eaten all her snacks (tons of grapes, goldfishes, mango smoothie, a banana, crackers and cheese bread.) so she stuck with a bottle. Our driver did give her a her first french fry but thank god she didn't like it! Despite being up for about 6 hours and pushing her around in the stroller she failed to fall asleep. Deciding we should head home to avert disaster we went back to the car. Within 5 min of riding in the car she was out like a light so we decided to continue touring around.

The next stop we made was at a church but I am not sure the name because we were being quite in the car so she would stay asleep. I guess I could have asked once we parked and got out to look around and take pictures but I failed. Don't worry. Belle stayed in the car with the AC going and Nate and the driver looking after her. 

The church

Just breath taking. 

The ceiling above the altar.

Side altar. Check out all the detail. The entire church was like this.
I couldn't use the flash so I had to rely on the sunlight coming through a
few of the windows.

The bells :)

Just a neat picture I think.

Because I had no flash I ended up leaving the shutter
open for 1 second to allow more natural light to enter.... I didn't have a
tripod so that's why it's a little shaky. 

View looking down to the altar. I just wish I had my good camera!

After we left the church we drove by the Sambadrome (where they hold Carnival) and another unimpressive church. Both places we declined to get out. Belle slept the entire time, 2 hours, and woke up as we were pulling into the neighborhood.

After we all fell into the house exhausted from a long day my mom watched Belle and I took a mini catnap. Thanks mom!

Later that evening we had a little party for Belle where she smash her very own cake and ran around in a pink tutu. I will have to post those photos on the actual date of her birthday so you have to what to see and see it :)

Hope you enjoyed a real post for once!

Tchau,

Sara

My Apartment

Liars. I was helping out a friend who is interested in moving to Rio and I stumbled upon a model of our apartment. LIARS!! 

I like how the photo is NOT drawn to scale and it would look as though we have a huge apartment. I have to admit that for standards in Rio, our place is larger than average. Especially for one small family. Why lie to people though? Thought I would share this absurdity with you... if you even care. 

BTW, the square footage of our place is around 1500 including the walls and the maids quarters (shown on the far left by the kitchen)

Tchau,

Sara

Not Fair?

Oil royalties are now going to be redistributed across Brazil. Instead of each state collecting and maintaing royalties resulting from the drilling of oil, the monies will be spread out among the states. I really don't think that this is fair.

From what I have experienced being in Brazil most of the country is very socialist. Now Rio state will lose millions of needed dollars to support other states of the country :( I really hope this doesn't effect the plans for the World Cup 2014 and Olympics 2016.

People in Rio are protesting the decision and hopefully they are heard! Check out the article from Rio Times Online. 


Tchau,
Sara

New Apartment!

As promised here are some photos of the new apartment we are signing on! Nate picked it out and I have never seen the place. I didn't want to drag Belle back to Rio because she had a little cough and congestion. He loves it though. I trust his opinion and from the places that we have already looked at together in Rio and this place looks so much better from the photos alone. 

The grounds of the building

Brand new play ground

Indoor play area

Community Gym

Big kid play area

I think the front of the building...

Pool area- it will be nice not to have to maintain anything!

Game room 

Sorry for the crooked picture but Nate was excited- In Brazil these machines are very rare and
 I have never seen one in real life :)

 On to the apartment itself! I believe that it's roughly 1800sq ft. with 3 bedrooms/4 bath with a maid's quarters including a room and sink area. The apartment comes completely bare but we have asked that they put in light fixtures for us and we will provide the rest.

The kitchen... I am downgrading from what I am used to here!

The living room. Nate took measurements and it will fit all of our
 furniture which we had shipped from the US 2 years ago.

View from the living room and onto our deck.

Entry way

Belles room. Notice the air conditioner unit!  Yeah for brand new :)
This room also goes out to the deck.

Her view.

Bathroom... small shower here I come.

Guest bedroom. Come and visit!

Our bedroom. The built in cabinets are a huge plus! This is a very rare find in Brazil.

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Our bathroom. Thank goodness for some drawers and shelves!

I am so excited to move into the new place. Right now I am trying to go through the house and pick up so random things and get rid of other stuff. Ya know the old magazines that you collect and other knicknacks! Nate will do all the moving in and facilitating our movers. 

The company covers our move so guys will come to our house and pack everything. I mean everything... all Nate will have to do is watch carefully and cross his fingers things go well. Then they move everything to Rio and unpack- we unpacked the first time around so I am not sure if we will decided to do it again or not. 

When we did this the first time around our whole place was packed and ready to move in less than 8 hrs... I was absolutely amazed and shocked. I really believe that here in Brazil, the same amount of furniture, will take 2 full days. I hope that I am pleasantly surprised. Also, I am thankful for insurance! All of our furniture was stuff we both had from college and first year out of college. The sea air has ruined most of it so if it breaks in the move I will gladly take cash for it!!

Not sure when the move will take place but we guesstimate around mid December before Nate returns to the US. This means that I only have to live in Macae for another 3 days- omg. I just realized how little time I have left! Crap. I have to tell Claudia tomorrow what is going on. 

Ok. Off to make lists of things to get done in the next 3 days!

Tchau,

Sara