First days in Rio

So, we're at the hotel trying to fit all our luggage into the tiny closets and getting it out of the way... Fernando leaves at 6 am and the kids and I are having a hard time trying to wake up at 10 so we can make it to the breakfast buffet downstairs...

The waiters are very friendly, they try to decipher what we say, we are learning a word everyday.

Yesterday's word was napkin (guardanapo), today's was spoon (culier - not sure that's how you write it). People here keep as far away as they can from disposable things, but they don't frown anymore when I ask for a "prato descartaveis"- disposable plate- to take back to Alan who couldn't wake up today.

Our days have been very slow, after breakfast we come upstairs again, spend some time here and then go to the beach. We walk accross a street into a dock where a small flat boat picks us up and takes us to the other side of the canal. Then we walk a large block, cross an avenue and we're at the beach. The waves are high and strong now, and at that time of the day it is usually empty. Some people may be playing foot-volleyball in the sand (it looks really cool, but hard). It has been windy lately and cloudy, remember this is winter, so the temperature goes to a low 64 and Alan and I have been "cold".

The kids build sand castles while I look out into the blue sea.

Time for lunch!

There are several little stores along the beach and we get a fresh coconut and some local pastries. Delicious!!!!!

By now it's time to go back, shower and read or watch tv until Fernando gets here and we all go out for dinner.

Hey, this is tough but someone's gotta do it!!!!