Lirio

I would recommend to get a better time frame. The airport is far from the port area. I was there last August.

A day at the Museums in Sao Paulo: Ipiranga (about our independence 200 years on 2022 and about the bandeiras I mentioned yesterday), Pinacoteca (modern art) and Lingua portuguesa (portuguese language). The pictures show the front of Ipiranga Museum, 2 main Bandeirantes, the Ipiranga Museum yards, a scupture and a picture from Pincoteca and vase from the Portuguese Language Museum. One thing that I like form the last musuem is a room where um listen to several languages from around the world like a babel tower, impossible to show on a picture.

Visiting the historic center of São Paulo which is the capital of Sao Paulo State. First “Patio do Colegio” - Where the city was first established at Jan. 25, 1554. Nearby is the house of Marquesa do Santos. In the beginning of our history, Rio de Janeiro and Salvador in Bahia were the main city. Sao Paulo was just a small poor area. But from Sao Paulo, the first pioneers moved west to hunt for Indians for slaves and in a search for gold and other precious metals. Those brave men were called “Bandeirantes” and each trip was called “Bandeiras”. In the 20th, Sao Paulo went on an industrial revolution and became to be the richest state in the country. Later I visited to the Theatro Municipal from early 20th century.

Never visited Venece before. Any recomendation will be much appreciated. And in the ports of Croacia.

I was very unhappy that we decided not to cruise this year. So we decided to change our minds and booked a 7 day cruise Venice-Venice in the Spirit next August. Plus few days on a land trip in Italy. But the best part of it: my daughter is joining us for 1st time in a cruise! Bad side: SS is not offering pre cruise hotel + transfer for us because we choose P2P. We wish we could pay to get the pre cruise 1 night hotel and the transfer to the pier (Fusina) from SS. But it is not possible. The weird is that SS doen not offer D2D from Brazil!!! So now I will start to search information about embarkation in Fusina. Weekend in Sao Paulo. Pictures soon.

I only know "When the saints go marching in" that I saw in several films....

Dixieland!!!

Living in the city of carnaval (that I do not like), I thing Mardi Gras is not the focus.....Jazz seems much better.

While you go Africa in October, I have plans to go to New Orleans for a conference in October. Any advice welcome. I may have 3 or 4 days after the conference.

I also did last August and we had the same itinerary. We arranged our own flights to Iceland and after that all was included in our fare. We wnet to Reykjavik to Kangerlussaq and back. Silversea hotel in Reykjavik was Hilton Nordica.

Sun set in the crowded Ipanema beach in the last summer Sunday!

I know your feelings when I have to go to NZ to visit my daughter......

So many jokes today...........yesterday I visited a gardem in an art center nearby my house. Flowers to you all...

I know your feelings...........

Hello @TayanaLorna how was your trip? Did you manage to do it?

Last day for this trip to Belo Horizonte. Good weather. Visited the former train station that is now the museum of arts and crafts that present the way work was performed in the XVIII to early XX century. Also visited a church on the way. Tomorrow going back to Rio de Janeiro. Belo Horizonte is the main city of Minas Gerais, land of mining (iron, gold), steel and milk. The best cheeses in Brasil are produced here. In the pictures an early mining equipment and cheese plates. Pictures also includes the train station inside and outside, box office, a river ship model, a braziliam cowboy.

I hope you make fo 2024. My best wishes.

Back to Belo Horizonte we visited Praça da Liberdade (Freedom Square) where formerly was the government buildings and palace. Now all the buildings around the square are museums, or art galleries. The pictures are of the square, buildings around it and the government house (inside and outside). I lived here in this square for some years in the 70´s. It was my playground.

I prefer collard green than Kale. I was born in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, and here how we do collard green. I have it at home 2-3x per week. https://www.thespruceeats.com/garlicky-collard-greens-couve-a-mineira-3029578

And a museum.

Today we visited Sabara a town where the first massive gold exploration took place in early XVIII century. Later the gold mining increased and moved to other areas around and new cities were established. In the pictures, 4 churches with different ages (all from XVIII century). Please note the size and decoration from the first one (smaller) to a big one with decoration outside and inside. In later XVIII and early XIX when gold mining was at the highest level, churches in the new areas are all painted in gold (I will not visit them at this trip). I hope you enjoy.

Visiting abandoned train stations in rural area, One is renovated and now a small museum, and the other almost destroyed (station, mail house and chapel (renovated)). I do like these historical stations.

San Francisco Chapel in Belo Horizonte. Design by Oscar Niemeyer, tiles from Portinari. Behind, Pampulha lake.

On the road again....It is carnaval and I am getting away of it. Going to Belo Horizonte where I was born. I will try to send some pictures......

Hi Que, I hope you a getting better every day. I am a chemical engineer, as well. Tonight house is full for superbowl!