Mountain and sea

Live together in harmony... rainforest... calm waters... just 3 hours away in Ubatuba. Good to visit during Summer time, we had a great time there.

Houses by the sea level

Paraty... I love this charming colonial town and its cobblestone streets constructed by the Portuguese settlers over 300 years ago. That is where we spent our honeymoon almost 15 years ago.

The full moon floods happen when the seawater invades the streets. It was pure luck that we were able to be there on vacation last week during full moon and high tides! I can't take any credit for that.

Where did you go on your honeymoon?

Dutch shoes do grow on trees!

A pittoresque Dutch town nearby and their traditional shoes on trees... A nice place to visit if you are looking for that Dutch accent, with beautiful flower shops, nice Dutch food restaurants and an European look and feel.

A view from my car window

I took this picture as we were arriving in Sao Paulo. I love driving, but during a road trip with my family I feel more comfortable in the passenger seat with my camera ready to complement the fun! While I enjoy the view, I take a few shots to make some fond memories.

Did you notice the airplane on top of the blue building? Always take pictures... you never know what your lenses may catch, and there is only one way to find out!

Just like the old days

- Honey stop the car!
- What? Here? It's a highway!
- But the steam train is coming! Here, a dead-end roaaaaad! Pleaaaaase.
This dialog seems to have taken an eternity. We were on the road on the way back from church exactly at the same time as the steam train was coming! It only takes tourists on weekends and I was going to miss the chance to take pictures? Luckily, right after the bridge there is a dead-end road and I was able to photograph "Smokey Mary" or the steam locomotive-hauled train. The train rides about 16 miles (25 km) to a nearby town. School field trips have taken my kids to ride the train and they learned all about old train cars and wagons in a very amusing way.

As simple as that

They say fish is good for you... Every now and then we go to this seafood restaurant located in a nearby town that offers mouth watering seafood dishes. And for the meat lover, they also have a few choices on their menu. Simplicity is the word for this place that offers a cozy atmosphere, filled with bamboo fences, poles of eucalyptus, lots of plants, a small pond, and trees. More pictures here, on their website.

Walking in the park

We live near an ecological park to which I had really never paid much attention. They revitalized it after years suffering from neglect and we started going there again. My kids ride their bikes, we take a walk and enjoy the beautiful sights. I took the second picture and only when I was choosing which one I would post I noticed the sidewalk had a similar pattern matching the roof.

The grass is always greener

In my hometown... This is on the way to a small town, where my mom was born, with dirt roads that hide beautiful and calm small farms. When we visit, our favorite pastime is to drive to different villages on Sunday mornings. The green pastures and the quiet waters... they restore our souls!

Tulips make me happy

The nursery at the mall supplies flowers all year long, making our shopping sprees more relaxing and enjoyable. The tulips make their appearance for a week and beautifully decorate the flower beds near the escalators and some vases spread all over the mall. Some people even touch them, wondering if they are real.

I have been tagged by Diyadear to tell five things that most people probably don't know about me...
Here are some highlights:
1) I am the fifth child, out of seven, and was a little spoiled as a child.
2) I was an exchange student in the US, graduated with honors, went to the prom!
3) I have been to more states in the US than to states in my own country, and I feel embarrassed to say that, but many trips were on business.
4) I love yard sales and antiques and blogs are a great place to meet people who like them.
5) I shot a TV commercial once, this is odd huh?

So, here's the challenge, I will not tag anyone, but if you would like to take part, just sign up!

Waterfall

After so many nice comments to the coffee post I had a blogger's block! :-) I want to thank you all for your heartfelt comments. This waterfal is located near my hometown, and it is 230 feet high. Just to think that we discovered this place a couple of years ago, all my life living there and I had no idea such a beautiful place existed. We spent some time listening to the stream and observing the animals around, and they will be the subject of another post.

Take a seat

At the country restaurant we were seated in an old dining room of the centennial house. The ambiance was cozy. Lots of plaid fabric in greens, yellows and blues. The table by the window overlooking the farm was spetacular.