Author: marniesteve

Ho, Ho, Ho! Off we go!

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Phoenix, AZ


After spending a fabulous evening celebrating the Finley family Christmas, we are off to Argentina, the land of tango, beef, and Malbecs. Last night Marla offered up a scrumptious meal of Honey Baked ham and turkey, cheesy potatoes, fresh green beans, and so much more. After missing the family Thanksgiving celebration, which Marla also orchestrated, it was great to all be together for an evening. We hadn’t all been together for quite awhile, so it was a special way to kickoff the trip.

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Marla, Becca, Tom, and Michelle

After spending the night with Mom and Dad, Steve’s parents Judy and Larry took us to breakfast and then dropped us at the airport. After an hour delay we were off to Dallas.

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Sugarloaf

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On our final day in Rio we visited the famed Sugarloaf mountain, the iconic landmark of the city.  We also did a nice walk around the base of the mountain to see monkeys and the bay.  Nice way to end our spectacular trip to Brazil.

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Half way up

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New Years Eve in Rio

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New Year’s Eve in Rio de Janeiro is legendary.  Over three million people pack Copacabana beach to celebrate the new year with a mix of music and tradition.  All wearing white, the party starts early and is capped with a spectacular fireworks display at midnight.

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Fireworks at midnight

We were fortunate enough to have booked a week with Marta at her guesthouse, which overlooks Copacabana.  It was a perfect base from which to watch the festivities, while enjoying our own private party complete with a DJ and traditional Brazilian cuisine.  It was a night to remember!

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