Sao Paulo, Barueri & Guaruja, Brazil ~ Dec.18-Jan.3

I Spent a lot of time with family as was needed and was planned!

I went to my Tia Paola’s Atelier and helped her with her merchandise; I hung out with my Tio Rodolfo in the pool with Fred and Ragu; I visited Gus’s beautiful office; I hung out with Chris in the shoe store; slept through movies and had snoring competitions with Fred and watched him weave some serious butt on the go-cart circuit; drove in circles, hung out and caught-up with Du , pigged out in a serious way with Chris and Du (yummm!); had endless conversations with Tia Paola; read half of Gus’s thesis (I still want to finish it!!!); Chatted about family history and sorted out branches of the family tree with Vovo Marilha; went to lunch with Tio Lindolfo and Ana (we got kicked out of the restaurant before even getting in!!! We’re such rebels!!!) After lunch and dessert, we had coffee and more dessert! To work it all off Tia Ana and I went shopping. Holy Melissa!!! We got identical rubber shoes and walked in the rain with them :D; Visited the lovely Embu again, it was hot!! Visited Gus and Viv’s lovely apartment and stayed for dinner too!; visited with Vovo Joanna, Ricardo, Tia Rose and Tio Roberto; sipped digestif’s at various times in the day

Spent Christmas eve with Tio Lindolfo, Tia Ana, Gui and GF, Caca, Bruno, Vovo Marilha and Dani (over the phone); Spent Christmas day stuffing my face with delicious food and guessing who everyone’s and my secret Santa was (thanks again Chico!); Played several wicked game of Texas hold’em. I lost badly as usual! Poderosa!!!! Perigosa!!!; Spent the vespera do revellion in Guaruja eating delicious seafood with Viv’s wonderful family then to digest we jumped through and over giant waves. I got tossed over Viv sorta violently (sorry!) but still funny!; Spent New Years eve listing to local fireworks popping continuously from 9:30pm to 1:45am with the climax at midnight. It was wicked! Fred BBQ’d seafood, we stuffed ourselves to the brim (then continued with dessert) and barely moved for the next few hours. All during this time, the fireworks were going, going, going.

We all ate lots of food the most delicious and famous in no particular order except the first one for SOOO many repeated reasons!:
• Chocolate Cake. Enough said!!
• Tia Paola’s pizza com guarana,
• Tio Rodolfo’s chicken ceasar salad,
• Fred’s BBQ Seafood,
• Tia Paola’s lasagnas on Christmas day,
• Tia Ana’s Christmas eve dinner (a delish ham with all the fixings),
• Torta de Maracuja,
• TioRodolfo’s Caipirinha,
• The crab and sauce in Guaruja,
• Tia Paola’s Frozen desserts,
• Gus and Viv’s wedding cake!!,
• Pao de queso,
• Panetonne and
• Brazilian rice.
I learned ‘family stuff’ on this trip as I always do, but the most interesting, by a landslide is: Fettuccini Alfredo indeed, was created IN ITALY!!

I had a great time with my cousins (included the extended ones of course), aunts, uncles, grandmothers, and all extended family and friends catching up on life, sipping coffee, smoking cigars, eating fantastic meals. But most importantly, spending the holidays together which only happened last in 1979 (I couldn’t remember it!). It was another cherished visit for me and I plan to return soon. Beijos e abracos.