Xmas Holidays

Posted on 23/01/2009 19:20

Category: Uncategorized

As usual, when we enjoy ourselves time flies. I can't believe my 2 (and a half) weeks of holidays are already over. Guess I shouldn't complain though since some didn't even have holidays :P

So as I had said in my previous post, I stayed in Brasil with my father, his wife and my 2 brothers.
I spent the first week in Porto Alegre where it was almost hard to breathe due to the wet but hot weather in that region. Did some sightseeing, attended the 'End of School Year' event at my brothers' school, met lots of cool people and paid a visit to the main wine production region of Rio Grande do Sul, hidden between the mountains and surrounded by immense forests.

Then, on the 22nd, we went to Gramado/Canela, two cities known for their Xmas festivities and decorations. I really liked it over there. I went to visit the Fortaleza Canyon, attended 2 Xmas shows (one of them composed mainly by fireworks and opera which I really really enjoyed), passed through several other cities such as New Petropolis, Caxias do Sul and wandered through the pathways of the Caracol Park where I was able to see a cool waterfall. Ah! And I ate a delicious salmon followed by an equally delicious fillet mignon on Xmas eve while tasting the local beer in all its flavours.

After that, on the 25th we set forth to Florianopolis. This was by far the best period of my vacations as that little island is indeed very beautiful and the beaches were overwhelmingly inviting. I even managed to get a little tan (quite surprisingly since I only stayed there a little less than a week and I hardly ever tan)! It was also during this period that I discovered that I love trekking as it not only is good for your health but also allows you to venture through natural tracks that often provide beautiful sceneries.
As I already said, the beaches were phenomenal, the water clear and warm (in some places :P) and the female population was also very interesting :D

By now you must be eager to know what I got for christmas. I will satisfy your curiosity :D I got some money, clothes, a book by José Saramago (read 3 of them during these vacations) and an awesomely cool watch from Tokyoflash named Rogue.

The hardest part of the journey was the trip back home. Had to wait approximately 7 hours in the International Airport of San Paule for the connecting flight to Portugal which would take me to Porto. That meant another connecting flight to Lisbon and the total hours between the departure from Florianopolis and the arrival at Lisbon exceeded 24. It was incredibly tiring.