Luazul!

Here's the picture from us going dancing for Larissa's Birthday. There's a photographer at the club who takes pictures. This was the only one of us he got!

The girls did a great job smiling, the guys, not looking so ready. Also, we have no idea who that guy in the pink shirt is.

Rain.

I'm getting to know the indoors of Brazil this week!

Yuri's Family's "Other Job"

Taken by me, edited by Yuri

The Convento

I've posted a few pictures now of the convent that's at the very top of a hill in this city. It's always well lit at night and people are there daily to pray and enjoy the view. We went this morning and managed to escape the rain for a little. It was super crowded but I still managed to get plenty of beautiful pictures.

 

 

The yellow building that says "Garoto" is a chocolate factory!

These little guys were everywhere. Supposedly there were little monkeys around too, but they hid from both us and the rain. 

Larissa Turns 23

Cake made by Tia Sandra. Moist and delicious vanilla cake with a touch of coconut.

 

 

It was a lazy day.

Pedro, on a mission.

Making holes in the sand. 

It rained on and off all weekend. What you don't see here are pictures from Saturday night. We went to a night club called "LuAzul" or Blue Moon. It was very fun. The club was half indoors, half outdoors, lots of different levels and played both American music and Brazilian music. We had a great time. We stayed dancing until past 4 in the morning! We slept late this morning and had a breakfast of fresh mangoes and coconut water, and spent the rest of the day lazing around on the beach eating perfectly seasoned grilled meats. We must have sang happy birthday to Larissa 5 or 6 times, and every time was more fun than the last. I didn't get any pictures of her, just videos, but I'm having a hard time uploading them. It was surely a good 23rd birthday :)

January in Ubu

Camila and a friend, her boyfriend Gustavo, Lucas (cousin) and Marton (Gustavo's brother) and Yuri!

THIS KIND OF TENT MOM!

Our party was family and close friends only, this is how we could tell ourselves from outsiders!

Yuri, Tia Andrea, Tia Sandra, Joao Vitor, Andrea, Tio Fernando, Camila, Larissa, Gabi, Tia Alessandra and Artur

We clearly didn't have any fun.

We had cool lights and everything!

The fireworks started sometime on Thursday night and didn't end until late Sunday night.

We spent our days riding bikes and waves, eating burgers and popsicles, applying sun screen and playing soccer in the sand. The nights were full of card games and pizza, and good movies. Good times were definitely had. We managed to stay up until about 3 on New Years but almost everyone was still dancing away when we turned in. There were stories of naked swimmers in the night and tired faces the next morning. From what I hear we'll be in Ubu almost every weekend! Could this vacation get any better? 

Happy New Year!!!

It's 2012! We made it! Yet another fresh start! Make your goals and hang on to them!

My New Years weekend was beachy, spontaneous, snack filled, and had some occasional dancing related embarrassment peppered in. I certainly can't complain!

Wishing all the best for everyone this year! Pictures to follow!