Local historical center

It is a funny thing when you find out you actually know very little about your own hometown. I mean, we see those same landscapes, buildings and hotspots every day and that's usually all they really are: stuff we look at. But it gets very embarrassing when someone from out of town asks you a simple question, like, what the fuck is that, and you find yourself clueless.

My friend's cousin from another state paid a visit. We took him out on this historical tour in town. There were places I didn't even know existed! I'm sure we all learned much more than we were expecting...

Carmo covent 1682

Sáo Francisco convent 1591

Ancient unfinished construction preserved

Human bones in the wall from old forgotten graves

Sao Gonçalo church 1707

hidden window

Port of Vitoria

Anchieta Palace (house of the governor) XVI

door

ancient key found

tile floor from XVII 

preserved altar 

time represented by different wall structures

Metropolitan Cathedral 1920

gothic style

Carlos Gomes theatre door 1927

three windows

chandelier

Santa Luzia chapel XVI

indoor memorial / cemetery

In the end, I have visited so many cities in my life... from Rio to  Paris, Miami, London, Prague and the list goes on... (I'm very grateful for that, by the way) but my point is, before that day I probably knew more about those other cities in the world than the one place I grew up in and live until today. Isn't it crazy?

I'm trying to catch up. It is never too late.

Trip to sunny Rio day 3

Magical sunset.

Again, we slept through the next day too. I woke up hungover and only one of us was up already. The girls announced they were going to go buy supplies which were scarce. I bailed out because I felt like poo. They came back with food, drinks, ice cream and water, oh water! We made lunch.

The others started to wake up one by one and it was too fucking hot. We lined up for shower and hung out in the cold room for most of the afternoon having ice cream. Pretty awesome conversations for a tiny little room with eight people.

After some time, we decided to go to this beach where the sunset is supposed to be this famous postcard in Rio. I think we all needed something more chill.

We walked to the beach and found a spot at the beach-walk to sit. It was such a beautiful day. We didn't go all the way to the Arpoador because it was too crowded... 

...and our view was pretty neat. 

It was kind of a magical moment. As soon as the sun started to disappear in the sky in front of us, it got a standing ovation. I've never seen people applause the sun, but hey, I thought it was cool!  (I'm serious, watch this video)

Night came at 7:30something accompanied by the beautiful moon. 

Some of us got corn and guaravita (guaraná drink), others got a hotdog and a coconut water.

Off we went for a walk around this neighborhood called Ipanema. After a long walk we decided to hit a bar and have a drink. Have I mentioned it was pretty fucking hot? We had a very late dinner.

We got home a little after midnight and went to the cold room, where we stayed and chatted until 5 in the morning, when me and my girls had to leave to the airport.

Flight was uneventful and I got annoyed with the handsome Irishman beside me.

Perfect end to a perfect tiny little trip. Hopefully we'll be back together soon. So much love for this bunch! I'll never forget these three days. No down times, no down times!

Now on to finish planning the bigger trip! No, I don't miss work, yet!


Home - isn't it supposed to be where the heart is? ;)

Trip to sunny Rio day 2

First of the year.

We obviously slept for a great part of the day. I woke up earlier than most of my friends, who were all scattered around the flat in their respective mattresses. We ate leftover from the new year's eve feast, which was awesome. I wasn't hungover, which was even more awesome. It was even hotter than the day before, so we mostly hung out in the air conditioned room. When everyone finally awoke, we decided to start getting ready to go karaoke to celebrate our friend Bia's 27th. 

I asked them to make their best "waiting for the train" faces at the subway. 

We didn't wait long.

only in Rio you see so much beach sand in the subway trains

It was past 10pm when we arrived at the club and met with other friends. 

We got drinks and chose songs

I didn't think I was ever going to sing anything in front of everyone, but ended up choosing a song, just in case. 

tough battle

After a few drinks, I already found myself onstage with everyone. When one of us had a song to sing, the whole group joined and it was so much fun!    

Singing Dig by Incubus

We tried to sing Happy Birthday to Bia at midnight, but we mostly forgot. Until we got birthday champagne. 

Some guys stole our song. So we stole their stage.

Muse - Resistance

because 'love is our resistance'

It was a great start to the year. Us, together, singing our hearts out and celebrating our friend's life. Thank god almost everyone in the club had a fine taste in music! Well, thank god we were almost everyone in the room! haha 

We arrived home at the break of dawn and I was the first to fall asleep. Again. 

Credit: pictures 3, 5, 6, 8 and 9 belong to this website

Trip to sunny Rio day 1

New Year's eve.

We had an eary 45min flight to Rio de Janeiro in the morning of the 31st and this was our reception.

Perfect start to a beautiful day.

We reunited with our friends from all over the country, and went out.

It was pretty fucking hot, though. 39ºC

After lunch, we walked around a bit and passed by a bar where there was a Samba show happening. I noticed everyone in our little group was wearing Havaianas flip flops and took a shot. (I was in my converse)

Too much like Summer in Rio. 

The day before I had busted my arse baking chocolate chip cookies.

I filled eight small bags with them and put them inside huge red cups and wrapped them up. Then gave each one of my friends one as a holiday gift. 

They seemed to have enjoyed. :)

Then shit got real. We got home with the ice and there were too many drinks to fit the freezer. We had to be creative.

Washing machine ice box

We cooked all day.

...and decorated.

 The food was delicious. I made lentil rice, which is a traditional new year's dish, here. (It's supposed to bring good luck) We had turkey!!! And other traditional holiday foods, snacks and sweets. For dessert there was this perfect Nutella cheesecake our friend Tina made. So.Good. And another thing with chocolate and grapes that our friend Sami brought. 

The counting started. 3...2....1. Happy New Year!! (Drunk people lighting sparkles indoors in the same room with confetti and ballons was probably one of the most stupid and utterly reckless and dangerous things we've ever done!!!)

No one died.

we had a toast to the year to come

I don't drink champagne #gummybear

All in all, we  all ate too much, drank a lot, danced and sang songs and played video games!!! It was probably the best New Year's eve I've had! In a city I love, with people I adore, doing all things fun. I was the first to go to bed. It was 4am and I was knackered. I refuse to say I'm too old for this shit.

So, for the new year, I vow to have more fun, be more silly and remain young at heart!

Family photo

Happy 2014!!! 

Odd Sunday

It's been so good spending time with family without having to rush to work or something. Today I bailed out on a little road trip with friends, cooked a fine meal, sunbathed with company of my grandma then went out to dinner with my brother, sister in law, baby Alice and a friend. No phone.

Earlier, the day was so odd. It was sunny but cloudy. The sky was mocking me. 

Two minutes after I shot this picture, the clouds swallowed the sun and a drizzle fell upon us whilst we swam in the pool. Five minutes later the sun came out again like nothing ever happened.

Maybe it wasn't the day that was odd. Maybe it was just me who was feeling out of sorts.