A day at the beach.

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Did not know if you were aware that here in Rio it is summer and I do believe it has officially started.  The temperature says 34 degrees so it must be and we have sand between our toes.  This is at LeBlon Beach, just south of Ipanema Beach - or perhaps west, I do not know.

It is beautiful.

 And the waves are quite fierce.  Stephen and I actually waited until they calmed down somewhat prior to going swimming and we did not go out beyond the breakers!  Waves like that one just about crushed us while we were playing in that water- but I liked it.

 There was also other scenery in the neighborhood I noticed on the way back to our seats.

As is obvious we were comfortable, shade, scenery - already mentioned, big rolling waves, ocean, occasional cruise ship going by and the idea of resort comes to mind.

 The beach is very broad, sand soft - and hot- after all it was at least 34 degrees in direct sunlight with clouds over the mountains behind us.

 Patt considers another cold drink

 Yes, she decides on another

 and my goodness but he did make a strong Caipirinha --lime sugar and cachaca- (a Brazilian vodka from sugar cane).  We had a very good day at the beach.

Just a photo of Grandson Raleigh (or two)

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Lest you forget, we have a grandson here in Brazil who just happens to be mighty cute.  He quickly recognizes and likes his grandparents very much.  This pleases me a lot.  

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 And of course he knows where the camera is 

 and gives that really cute smile often followed by a laugh

 we are working this week on learning to crawl, but are just now getting up on all fours.

 which leads to a tottering movement from which he has learned to launch himself forward.

 and the obligatory hammock photo of the day.  On this day Raleigh just tipped over and went to sleep.

Cristo Redentor

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I reckon if I wanted a to make a catch your breath blog or something this would be it.  But first things first.  Check our last blog.  out our window is the famous, iconic to many, symbol of Rio,  Christ the Redeemer Statue which is quite strikingly visible day and night outside our apartment.  Today we went up to the huge (130 feet tall) statue which I have learned is the fifth largest statute of Jesus in the world, and perhaps the best known?)  - anyway it is big

It is quite impressive and the day was beautiful.

What really made this extra special and so unreal is set off by the photo below.  We had spoken earlier in the morning with Laura and had gotten the wonderful news about John Paul's surgery and how well things seemed to be going for him.  Laura mentioned being able to look out the hospital window and see the statue that is right over Julianna's right shoulder.  That would be Mao of course and I do not think it is one of the largest but it is pretty large.  

We of course were at the same time able to look out the window of our apartment in Rio and see the Christ the Redeemer statue reminder and are so thankful for answered prayers for our grandchildren and children.

That would be just a fraction of Rio behind the four of us from the courtyard around the statute

 Some of the tourists that were with us at the mountain top

 and our apartment is to the left side of that middle stretch of green overlooking that patch of city invading the left center.  Our address is Rua do Oriente 314 apto 106 Sta. Teresa 20.240-130 Río de Janeiro.  Copy that address into a google map address bar and you can see where we are. Google maps are incredibly accurate here.  Most of the cabs have google maps on their dash boards or use their phones in order to find places.  

 There in the center is the statue of the Christ from our apt window

and in the upper left.

outside our back window

Our apartment while street level in the front is actually 12 or 14 stories high in the back - perhaps more, (I have not seen it from the back).  The however view is outstanding.  I keep hoping for a clear day for photographs as that little cross figure on top of the mountain there is the famous statute of The Christ that overlooks Rio de Janeiro.  

 There buildings and houses are just hung on the hillside and streets do switch backs to go up the hilll, occasionally going straight up (or down)

It is quite interesting to watch all the activity going on along the street, there are some

fancy catley looking houses, (well this is the only one)

and then at night it looks very different

 see what I mean

I a sure I will have some more photos from here 

 also I am sure I will have more photos of grandson Raleigh.  He an I enjoy the hammock that is in our apartment.  We do spend serious time in it as he does seem quite content in it with me.

 See what I mean.  Even if this is not the most flattering photo of me.  the two of us were having a grand time -- he had just finished a bottle-- and all was very very well with the world and I thought so too.

not Kansas

Finally, I think accomplished: google, internet access, and so forth.  and also a long airplane ride south and east.  We are actually two hours behind London -- so there.  Think on that -- Confuses me too.

Anyway the grandson is very very well, large and happy, no surprises there and enjoys eating and sleeping too.  Will make that toy make music sounds just about all you need to hear too.

Guess who he looks like,-- see below for answer.  Yes at times it is really a very strong resemblance.

 Both of us are very very pleased that he is happy with us, as Raleigh is social and comfortable with us playing and interacting with him and he with us.

We are staying in a historical residential district of Rio de Janeiro that has lots of restaurants, bars, little grocery and service type shops, cobble stone streets, trolly car tracks and is in a word quaint.  

A baby sitter allowed us to go out the first night in town and of course we did.  Very pleasant as you can imagine.  The food so far has been great.

I think I mentioned quaint.  The area is called Santa Teresa.  The trolly unfortunately no longer runs.

 It is also on the side of a mountain.  So going anywhere is a steep uphill or down hill walk

Happy Thanksgiving= a bit late -

This post is a bit late since Thanksgiving has come and gone now by about two weeks - or more --

the post was written weeks ago, but technical difficulties between me and the google have just now been resolved.  All is well now and we are good to go.

We were delighted for the second year in a row to host Patt's family for Thanksgiving holidays.  I reckon we now have a tradition and it has the makings of a good one too.  Brothers and sisters and spouses come spend Wednesday night have dinner, breakfast and then of course turkey and ham.  All in all a big time.

Cory and Melissa also came this year on Thursday which helped fill up the table -- Cory is one big boy.

Also helping a lot around here was a house guest that Patt and I have.  That would be Emily, as in the Emily that I most recently visited in Chicago.  Much to our surprise we have found a college sophomore  that is actually marginally useful.  ( Have you ever in your life heard of such a thing?  Yes I  know it goes against conventional wisdom and all practical experience )

In addition to helping in the kitchen with Thanksgiving food preparation, Emily helped out with some yard work, raking leaves and such.  There was much to do in preparation for Thanksgiving and just in general yard work associated with living in a heavily wooded lot.  

Emily showing us around her town- Chicago

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Friday before Mark and I went to the Notre Dame Ball game Emily came by our hotel to continue her introduction of Chicago to us.  We of course introduced her to the Deacon Central at our hotel. Em was impressed.

As one who notices concrete trucks, this one caught my eye.  The driver was a woman too.  It would have caused quite a stir at Alamance Ready Mix back in the 60s for sure.

The "Bean" was a new one to me.  It was quite a bit more impressive than our acorn here in my home town, and certainly had a lot more attention.

 The reflective ability was amazing.  That is us there in the middle,  Mark is waving, Emily is trying not to be seen with us and I am taking the photo.

 and here is the same with me just a little closer.  I thought it was a hoot.-- So did lots of others too.

We then went to what Emily said was one of her favorite restaurants, the Signature Room atop the John Hancock Building -- on the 95th Floor-- the photo below shows the view just a little better.

 That would be Lake Michigan out the window - with Navy Pier there in the far distance.

 We had a window table, the better to see the skyline - and it was nice.

 And we think Em has good taste in restaurants.  

Later we went into the Wrigley Building on Michigan Ave where there is a very nice  sore that sold original and copy Audubon paintings.  They had an extensive collection.  A museum would do well do shop there.

 Mark to my great surprise had many factoids to share about many of the birds depicted in the paintings.

 Later we went by the down town campus of the university.  Looked a lot like tall buildings to me.
But I do have the hat and I do remember Mayor Richard C Daley.  Emily knows her city very well.

The evening view over the Chicago River was clear and stunningly beautiful.

 it really was.-  and we had a delightful time there too.