http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/Uel-and-Amy/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Uel and Amy en-us Wed, 16 Dec 2009 08:16:56 +0000 Wed, 16 Dec 2009 08:16:56 +0000 Thank you so much for reading our blog. It was a fun first experience to document a vacation in this way We hope you enjoyed it as much as we did. Well we're back in sunny cold Camarillo CA. Fofi our cat is ecstatic we are home and showed it by meowing outside our bedroom door off and on throughout the night After a long late afternoon nap I woke the kids up from a hard sleep they watched L http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/California/Camarillo/blog-361508.html With some sadness we leave Brazil tonight to head back to the good ol' USA. We are looking forward to being in our own beds the kids being back in their rooms and taking a break from rice and beans Amy is at least. We will miss the times of fellowship with the relatives the tasty churrascu a meat lover's dream being spoiled by Aunt Marlene and seeing new places in Brazil. Please pray for http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Brazil/Distrito-Federal/Bras%EDlia/blog-360686.html Uel's biological father's mother came for a visit and to meet her great grandkids. She hasn't changed since we saw her 6 years ago It was nice to spend an afternoon catching up and watching her interact with our kids. http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Brazil/Distrito-Federal/Bras%EDlia/blog-360684.html On our last trip to Brazil I discovered pao de queijo cheese bread shaped in a little ball. Uel's Aunt Marisa is famous for her recipe so I eagerly asked to learn from her and she happily obliged. So the bread is definitely not new to me but making it is. I just hope I can get the ingredients in the USA to make them myself http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Brazil/Distrito-Federal/Bras%EDlia/blog-360670.html In downtown Brasilia they have a display of religious and secular booths. We especially enjoyed the nativity scene with the big star The Christmas tree that cost several million dollars and continuously changes its design for about an hour was amazing It was a fun time with the kids and our relatives. http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Brazil/Distrito-Federal/Bras%EDlia/blog-360668.html We are heading to Caldas Novas today. We'll be travelling by car since it's about a 4 hour drive. Uel and I went there on our last trip. It's a vacation destination for Brazilians since there is a huge water park there. They have many natural spring pools waterslides water aerobics classes saunas etc. We won't have internet access there so we'll update you when we return on Friday. Have a happ http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Brazil/Distrito-Federal/Bras%EDlia/blog-358470.html Since I was the first one of the adults to bed it wasn't too painful when Daniel jumped into bed with us at 730 a.m.. I couldn't hold off having them open their gifts from one of their aunts. They were gleeful over their presents. Once again we had a big churrascu lunch late this afternoon and had fun playing Uno with the cousins. Uel's mom went crazy arranging photos of the cousins the aunt http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Brazil/Distrito-Federal/Bras%EDlia/blog-357195.html The custom in Brazil is to stay up until midnight on Christmas Eve eat a HUGE meal and then exchange presents. So we put the kids to bed at their usual 8 p.m. bedtime and headed over to the family's home next door for the evening. Unfortunately some people's tradition is also to set off fireworks and play loud music on Christmas eve so the kids woke up freaked out around 1230 a.m. so Amy cut h http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Brazil/Distrito-Federal/Bras%EDlia/blog-357194.html We really enjoyed our time at the resort. Uel and I enjoyed the nice gym allyoucaneat restaurants international Japanese and Italian pool time with the kids and dancing by the pool under the stars. The beach was beautiful and Amy enjoyed several vigorous long walks with friend Karen who was there with her family as well. Water aerobics and volleyball in the pool were also a good way to http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Brazil/Bahia/Salvador/blog-357191.html We rented a car for the morning the driver was also our tour guide to check out the city of Salvador. After a few days at the all inclusive beach resort Stella Mares we were ready to venture out beyond the pool and beach The tour guide showed us the best and worst of Salvador. It was humbling to see how the majority of people live day to day. The contrast between the poverty and the rich area http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Brazil/Bahia/Salvador/blog-357186.html Day 2 at Iguau took us across the border into the land of Brazilrsquos fierce soccer rivals Argentina. I immediately thought of a couple Argentines Walter Ortiz and my coworker Leticia as we drove into the small town of ldquoPuerto Iguazurdquo bombarded by the blue and white Argentine colors. Although Brazil dominates on the soccer field it pains me to have to give the nod to Argentin http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/blog-355930.html A few more pictures from the Brazilian side of the falls... http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Brazil/Paran-/Foz-do-Igua-u/Igua-u-National-Park/blog-355916.html Day 1 A great work of man and an even greater work of God Itaipu Damn and Iguau FallsWe began our first full day with a visit to Itaipu Damn and hydroelectricity plant one of the 7 wonders of the modern world. For you engineers out there it has a capacity of 14000 mega watts generated from 20 huge turbines that leverage the power of the Parana River. How much power is that Itrsquos enou http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Brazil/Paran-/Foz-do-Igua-u/Igua-u-National-Park/blog-355589.html Bedscribs covered in Mosquito netting. After Lily's initial shock over the mosquito netting over her crib high pitched wailing for a few seconds she seems to like having her own little space. At least that's my motherinlaws opinion. I think she's jetlagged and exhausted so doesn't care just wants to sleep Uel and I have one on our bed but we decided not to use it last night. So the edge o http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Brazil/Distrito-Federal/Bras%EDlia/blog-353980.html After one more flight arrangement we arrived in Brasilia Brazil to a warm family greeting at the airport at 8 p.m. Friday evening. Upon arrival at the house we received waves of family coming by to give us hugs bem vindos welcomes and beijous kisses on the check including Uel's grandfather who was so excited to meet his only great grandchldren. On top of the greeting they made delicio http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Brazil/Sao-Paulo/S-o-Paulo/blog-353762.html This entry finds us at the Mexico City Int'l airport in the last bit of a 4 hour layover. We were surprised to find Internet Libre free as a wireless server available. Lily has been enjoying the wide open territory of the airport and has been walking up a storm. It's been amazing and exhausting to keep up with at the same time a 19 monthold ditching 4 adults.The day started off with a good http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/Mexico/Distrito-Federal/Mexico-City/blog-353532.html The Leite family is leaving tomorrow December 11th for Brasilia Brazil and will return January 7. We will post to this as often as we can to update our family and friends about our travels. Thank you for checking out our blog http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Brazil/Distrito-Federal/Bras%EDlia/blog-353182.html