Happy New Year!

To kick off 2007, I've decided to start a blog. I hope this will be an easy way to stay in touch with family and friends.

Marc and I recently returned from a two-week trip to Brazil. We were last there in 2004 for our honeymoon. This time, we got to go with his parents for Christmas and New Year's.

Here are some photos from our time there...



We celebrated Christmas with my mom's side of the family in Sao Paulo.







My grandpa with his daughters, including my mom. He was surrounded by 8 of his 9 grandchildren and 4 of his 5 great-grandchildren!






Sao Paulo has 19 million residents. It is a HUGE city, as you can see by the view from our hotel room!






Next, we headed to Angra dos Reis, located in a gorgeous part of Brazil known as the "Costa Verde" (Green Coast). These pictures should give you an idea of the immense natural beauty of this place, said to be dotted with 365 islands.




On the way back from Angra, we stopped in Paraty, a charming colonial town.



We spent our second week in Rio, where unfortunately it rained most of the time. But, we were still able to have fun and spend plenty of time with my father and grandmother.



We rang in 2007 on Copacabana beach, along with about 2 million other people! In Brazil, everyone dresses in white on New Year's Eve, to symbolize peace (something the world could really use this year).




Finally, for those who don't know, Brazil is a land of many contrasts. Despite its natural beauty and beautiful people, it is plagued by violence and poverty. Fortunately, we were safe during our journey, but millions face a daily struggle for survival. The favelas pictured here cover the hillsides and outskirts of cities such as Rio and Sao Paulo. My wish for 2007 is that the poor in Brazil and around the world will have hope for a brighter future.