Paris in 16,172 steps...

The Louvre - This, our first morning, was cold and rainy. Only about 60 degrees Fahrenheit. What happened to summer in Europe?! I was hating myself for not having packed any pants.

Arc de Triomphe - After a quick power nap at the hotel, we were ready to take on the day. Luckily, the sun decided to come out so the weather wasn't as miserable as before. We climbed a bajillion stairs to the top and enjoyed the view.

Champs Elysees - We walked along the main street and its gardens.

The End - We had dinner in a little cafe. Wine. Fois gras. Quiche lorraine. Yum! Later, when we got back to the hotel, B found the Women's World Cup finals on TV. We caught it just in time to see the Japanese team win. I said to B that even though of course I'm supposed to be rooting for the US, it was really moving to see the Japanese win because it obviously meant so much to them.

I hope you all have a good week! Tomorrow we're off to see Versailles.

I searched HIGH and low

and I finally found my newest nail polish color: "Braziliant." You could say I was a bit crazy looking for this particular one... just because of its name. Last week I went to five different beauty boutiques looking for it. Apparently, it's one of summer's hottest new colors because I never found it! I had given up. And then today, I just happened to be in the beauty aisle, and I just happened to glance at the Essie colors. And it just happened to be sitting there, alone, not in its right spot. Can you believe that I finally found it in the place I figured I was least likely to find it?! You know what happens to watched pots...

Saturday at Grandma & Grandpa's

I love my Grandma and Grandpa!

And I'm so glad they bought a house on the water. I'm even "gladder" that they love to host crab feasts!

The delicious Maryland Blue Crab (before)

And after! Nothing beats a hot, steamed crab with a sprinkle of Old Bay on top.

The view from their shore:

And from their pier:

And from the boat! My brother took us "kids" out for a ride. All the way out to the Solomon's Island bridge and back.

Okay, check out the moon in this one (below). It was still way too sunny for the moon to be out! Also, take a look at the bluffs (cliff) in this photo. Whenever I see coastlines like that, I can't help but imagine what it must have been like for the first settlers, sailing up the waterways and looking for places to establish new colonies.

Along those historical notes, the boats that carried the Englishmen (who eventually marched up to the White House in DC and set it on fire) are known to have been here. Crazy.

Wordless Wednesday

Farmer's Market Fresh

A Bit of Indulgence

Oops!

I confess. I (the one who never goes to McDonald's) have been to McDonald's twice already in the time I've been here in Brazil.

The thing is, they have this sandwich -- the Cheddar McMelt -- and it's different. And quite yummy! Hamburger, cheddar cheese sauce, and sauteed onions on a whole-wheat bun. That's it!

I guess you could say I'm hooked. So what have you indulged in recently?

Roadtrip to the Mountains

Today Bruno's family treated me to a beautiful day-trip. We drove about 2 hours outside of the city. The roads curved around the sides of the mountain, so the view was lovely! Our destination was Friburgo, which happens to be the city that was devastated by the flooding and mudslides.

While in Friburgo, we stopped at a Delicatessen that specializes in cheeses and sweets. Their business tactic was brilliant! They gave you a taste of anything you wanted, and even some things that you didn't. We bought candied fruits, cheese, and cookies.

On our way back home, we stopped at a Brazilian steakhouse. An authentic one! The food was delicious, and the restaurant was beautifully landscaped. We really enjoyed the day.

Breathtaking!

Hoity-toity gone wrong

Lots of times, companies here like to use English words to seem "cool," "worldly," or "desirable." I couldn't help but chuckle last night when I noticed the paper napkin I was using. The brand name was printed directly on the napkin. I'm not sure that Snob is really an appropriate name for a paper-products company. Hehehe...