Pretty Paraty

February 28, 2008 By Leave a Comment

It was a full travel day from Iguazu Falls- flying out early in the afternoon to Sao Paulo and then driving a few hours to Paraty (or Parati). The flight delay didn’t help and the windy roads at night in the back of a bus were too much for my tummy to handle. Imagine my surprise, after getting in at midnight, we awoke to this beautiful view out our window.

Mountains make me melt.

Since it was Valentine’s Day, we decided to do our own thing. We made the 30 minute walk into the city, passing by normal Brazilian life along the way. We walked through the town center and straight to the water front. Everywhere, there were people selling coconuts to drink.

Since they were cheaper than water, H and I decided to share once since neither of us had ever had a coconut. I was really surprised, and the water had a slightly sweet flavor.

The town of Paraty is set back in the Ilha Grande Bay, but it is surrounded by beautiful green mountains and numerous islands.

Paraty is also a UNESCO world heritage site, with many old buildings dating back to the late 1600′s and some great architecture including Capela de Santa Rita.

The cobblestone streets and neatly arranged grid of buildings take you back in time.

My favorite thing about Paraty was the doors. Each owner had a unique and fun set of doors, all full of bright colors and fun designs.

The stark white buildings offered a great contrast to the funky doors that lined every street.

The bay and waterfront itself were also beautiful, with several pieces of history to remind visitors of the former fort.

Luckily, we weren’t there during a full moon, when the cobblestone streets are flooded by high tide.

I took these pictures while we were out on the boat, but I loved the crisp white buildings surround by mountains and forest.

This was the main square by the piers where all the boats docked

After our day around the bay, we dropped into the first restaurant/bar/bathrooms we could find.

This unique restaurant was on the corner by the docks, so we had full window-doors on both sides and could watch all the local activity while eating our Brazilian pizza lunch and sipping in a Caipirinha.

GOOD NEWS OF THE DAY: Things are picking up at work and I’ve got lots of travel coming up.
Filed Under: South America, Travels ->

2007 REVIEW

December 31, 2007 By Leave a Comment

Holy Cow! I’m totally blown away when I stop to think back of all the wonderful things that have happened this year. Of course, the biggest thing was our wedding in February in Puerto Vallarta with all our friends and family.

We continued the party in Mexico with our Honeymoon in Cabo.

Probably the other single biggest thing that happened this years was discovering the world of real photography. As much as I loved photos with my other camera, I realized there was just so much more I could do with a SLR. I took a few classes and spent a bunch of money and I know I can’t be without my digital baby. I’ve had so much fun photographing my married life, Zoe, nature and the crazy construction (or destruction) of the world around me.

I found a new passion in my life in July as I joined the addictive world of blogging July 23rd, just after your long weekend trip to Colorado. Plus it was a perfect place for me to put all my new photos. Stephanie and Ginger came out to Texas for a visit, we hung out with the kidz in Galveston and toured downtown Houston.

I spent quite a bit of time this year recording a little bit of my history, about the stories I remember growing up and the places where I spent my early years. I’ve enjoyed all these flashbacks and I think they are an alternative way to keep a family journal or make a big album.

I’ve done quite a bit of travel for work, taking some fun photos from the airplane on my way to investigate car crashes around the country. I also spent 1 evening a week this fall volunteering to tutor GED students. Making a difference even closer to home, we were able to help out some very special boys with their Christmas.
Due to H’s job, we made lots of concerts and games. I had the chance to read many books this year and we’ve even made an effort to watch more good movies. Plus I’ve posted a few movie clips- mostly Zoe on the blog from my other camera.

We spent our Thanksgiving in Alabama, exploring the deep south and all it’s history. Christmas- all 4 parts were just awesome, including spending 40 days before celebrating the birth of Christ to reflect upon his life. Not to mention the new lenses and the Wii.

GOOD NEWS OF THE DAY: A special thanks to my blog-world friends who leave lots of loving- Christy, Amanda, Katie, Rhonda, Liza and Courtney!
Filed Under: blogging, Married Life

THANKSGIVING THANKS

November 22, 2007 By Leave a Comment

Happy Thanksgiving! I’m dedicating today’s posts to all the things I’m thankful for in my life. First, above all else, is that God sent his Son to die on the cross for my sins & I am forgiven. Nothing else in life mattes at all- NOTHING. I could lose all the blessings I will talk about below, but I will NEVER lose salvation and hopefully never lose my faith. I also look at all the blessings below as God’s favor on my life & how much He has given me. This past week I have been so blessed with some gorgeous sunrises and sunsets, which remind me daily of God’s greatness and love for his children. The fantastic picture above with the moon in the sunset is from my backyard, which I’d thought no longer provided me spectacular sunsets.

My wonderful, awesome, sexy, funny, smart, loving husband who has been by my side for 9 AMAZING months of marriage- the best my life has ever been. He loves me and my camera and let’s me take goofy pictures of him and let’s me tickle him silly and we have pillow fights and we both chase Zoe around the house. He’s my whole world & the source of my happiness and joy every day. I can’t imagine loving him more, but each day that passes finds us more in love, more in lust and more lost in each other (does that make you sick yet??)

All my friends and family are such a blessing that I am so thankful for all of their support and love and encouragement, especially over the past year. H and I were so incredibly blessed to have most of them join us at our wedding in Puerto Vallarta this past February. It’s been a difficult year for my immediate family with several deaths, but I think all the trials of life are teaching us to be closer and strengthening our bonds.

And of course I can’t forget Zoe! I’m so thankful I have such a wonderful, awesome, fun, funny, entertaining, loving dog. She always brings a smile to my face or can snuggle away the blues. We actually played on the ground last night- throwing her toy and then simply just playing games. I was literally rolling around on the ground, shrieking with laughter, as she kept “nosing” me and trying to lick my face, all the while rolling around and wagging her stumpy tail a million miles an hour.

No reading of my blessings would be complete without mentioning how thankful I am that I have such a wonderful job, that I love what I do, that I have a generous boss, that I get to travel to so many awesome places and that (despite a few rough days) I’m overall so happy with my job.

GOOD NEWS OF THE DAY: We are headed to Alabama for a long, relaxing weekend in the country with some great friends.
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Filed Under: faith, family