Day 1.
After a 20 hour journey we arrived! Our firt encounter with Brazillian culture was great. A young woman comes over to us as we stand at the end of the long immagration line and says "excuse me, follow me please you have priotity." And we are guided to the front of the line because we have children.... They are so much more welcoming and considerate of children in other parts of the world. (More on that later).
We waited for Jack at baggage claim and then breezed through customs. We were greated by Rio Holiday Staff and driven to the house in our mini bus. The drving is a little scary.
The house is at iticotiara beach, one road in and one road out. Our house is behind an iron gate up the hill, we are imbeded in the rocks.
We only drove through Rio near the airport which is Favela after Favela, poverty stricken cement blocks piled high and the only way you know people actually live there is because there is laundry strung between blocks. This is the boring details I will spare you. We have not yet seen Copacabanna or Ipenima..... I can't wait for that.
THE HOUSE. It is a jungle style tree house with lots of levels and stairs and open air and you feel really at one with the outside..... aka HOT :) We look down over the beach and bay and ocean, it is very beautiful. The kids LOVE the pool!
THE HERALDS arrived and I was asleep as I did not sleep a wink on the plane. (K was stretched out over 3 seats snoozing well and I watched her hapilly with envy). I was relieved to see Bets as I knew then I could hand off the rains as cruiz director! Sure enough, she had already arranged for Alfredo to come back and we went off to the grocery store to stock-up.
We ate a nice meal prepared by Bets and then walked....gulp um yes... walked down down down down down the hill to the beach club to the kids party. This was a local beach party just for the children. There was dress up, music and no alcohol alowed for parents because the kids are proirity. We stayed long enough for Z and B tobury K in the sand then we walked... gulp um ah gulp... UP the hill!
Everyone slept very well!
posted by The Hardy family | 2:48 AM
3 Comments:
Hello my darlings,
Your long flight sounded like an echo to many we've taken with you in the past. The drive from the airport is an eye opener isn't it. Sounds like it hasn't improved since we were there eons ago. The house sounds great, and I imagine everyone is going to be "really fit" by the end (all of the climbing ugh!). Hope that isn't going to be a hardship on you Jack? So sorry to hear it is so HOT -ah-dah! Actually went up to 40 here yesterday, felt like spring.
Hope there are pink beads left over for Kayla-coo! Lots of love to all and big kisses and hugs to Z and K.
TTFN
Nini and Paw
If you find the stairs impressive, how is Jack doing? The heat sounds impressive as well. You all have airconditioning in the bedrooms, right? I love the idea of a kids only party. Well, enjoy.
Love
Margaret
Hi all,
How hot is it? Is living in a tree house fun? Do the kids negotiate the living quarters OK? I know you all will settle into a routine soon. Adventures are not supposed to be perfect, but I hope yours is far more good exciting than problematic exciting.
Jack, I am sorry I was not home to get your call last night. Jane and I went to dinner near Dali in Somerville/Cambridge and did not get home until about 10:00. I am not out again until Sataurday night when I go to CE and Helen's.
Love to all,
Margaret / Mom / Gee
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