First of all MERRY CHRISTMAS to everyone. I hope you all have a wonderful time with your family and friends. Secondly apologies for the lack of ews I think it is probably going to sound weired if I say that I was on holidays hey... But that is sort of what I have been doing. And let me tell you it feels soooo good to sleep in a normal bed, eat proper food, be surrounded by Renato and his loveky family and to sleep in tranquility (besides the occasional moskito attack..) My last day in Buenos Aires I spend at San Telmo market where they sell lots of jewellery and crafts.. of course I couldn´t resist... and somehow everything magically fit into my luggage. and then off I was on monday the 14th to Sao Paulo where I spend the night in a hotel at the airport. Renato arrived tuesday morning at 7am and I met him and his family directly at the airport. Off we went in direction of home ( which is in the state of Sao Paulo about 2.5 h drive land inwards from the airport). Renato is from a dutch colony called Holambra (Hol-Holanda, AM-America, BRA- Brasil) a cute little town with lots of Dutch houses and Dutch immigrants ( quite a few blonds around here).. We spend tuesday and wednesday relaxing at the pool. ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh and eating the so delicious fruits. My breakfast always consists of Mango and Passion fruit.. but not the tibny weeny ones like back in Europe but BIG JUICY, SIMPLY DELIC. Whilst it looks like you guys in Europe are having one of the coldest winters in years over here it is one of the hottest summers. It is boiling hot and very humid. simply put quite tropical.
On thursday (until sunday) we left for Ubatuba which is a beach town on the coast. To get there you cross through quite a few mountain ranges with stunning views. Though much to my regret the Brazilian government has not catered for viewpoints where you can stop to take a picture ( there is loads of cars behind you so a bit of a mission impossible).. It was really nice to unwind at the beach, go for walks and play loads of games like UNO with the entire family.. takes quite a while with 11 players. I also went Bikini shopping with Renatos sister and sister in law.. quite an experience.. haha I would rather like to call it MINI Bikni what people wear here.. good to ly at the beach but on wave and it is all gone... I feel like every time I buy a Bikini here ( tis is the third time) the size goes down.. I cannot picture myself with a string tanga next year haha... Renatos mum said if she sends a picture to my parents they will not let me come here again hahah. Well I like to call it *adapting to the culture*.. well and its not that bad but takes some time to get used to. another thing is that the Brazilian women are very emotional when it comes to shopping... so every few minutes you hear a ay que LIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIINDO.... que BONITIONHOOOOOOOOOOOOOO. haha with my german reserveness it did cost me a bit to join in the exclaims of joy about every other item.. but hey I am getting there.
Back in Holambra we simply relaxed, went to the cinema etc... a big highlight was however the CELEBRITY encounter... me not being Brazilian of course didnt have a clue of who this person is.. one of Renatos university friends is going out with Ana Paula Arosio who apparently is a Brazilian super start starring in films and and soap operas and who has also worked as a model... We had lunch with them and they came over to renatos house.. I am telling you I am sooooo glad that I am not famous...During lunch every 5 min somebody came and wanted to take a photo or have her autograph. CRAZY.. I was already getting annoyed after the 3rd one. But after all she is just a normal person.. very nice by the way... Renato showed me some pictures of her on the Internet later.. and that was kinda weired though..
Tonight its christmas time and tomorrow we are headed to the state of Minas Gerais where there are plenty of beautiful little colonial cities. We will come back on the 1st of January and then on teh 4th I am already leaving for Lima.. time flies by.
I wish you all a Merry christmas
