Rio, Rio: Ipanema + família

Last August, we were privileged to travel to Rio for the second year in a row together. After our first visit in 2014, I thought nothing could top that trip; we loved it! We had an amazing time with family and full of site seeing! On one of those nights, we had dinner with some good friends who told us they'd be getting married one year from then, and we looked at each other and knew we had to come back for their wedding. Months went by and we weren't sure we'd be able to go, but when spring time hit, ticket prices started going down and become too low to say no to, so we happily booked our flights with our good friends Dre and Julie and started counting down till our trip!!

So many months have passed since then, and it's crazy that it took me so long to finish editing our photos, but I wanted to share some of our favorite moments because they are ones I never want to forget. And honestly, this trip topped our 2014 trip because we got to share it with our best friends and have the best time ever! Most of these are from my phone, but some are from the big camera too. Not sure when we'll be back to Rio, but if there's one thing that's true, we love that city and consider it one of our many "homes."

So, in honor of the 2016 Olympics held in Rio, we wanted to share some of our favorite memories from our trip and relive our time there over several posts! Here are some photos from our first couple days...

 We met up with Julie and Dre in Houston for the flight to Rio, and got seriously blessed by getting the most high tech plane we'd ever flown in! We spent a good half an hour messaging each other from our seats and "loling"at the most stupid things!

After being on the best flight ever (no exaggeration) that consisted of no crying babies, good movie watching and sleeping most of the way, we made it to Rio! 

 Our amazing aunt picked us up and drove us to our first stop -  Vovó's house in Ilha do Governador. 

Loved this old picture of her!

It was so good to see my grandma doing so well after the unexpected passing of my grandpa a few months before. She was as happy as can be to have us in her home, and that made us very happy too. 

After heading to our home in Rio, aka Tia's house, we went to dinner in Tijuca and met up with all  our friends who came to Rio for this lovely couple's wedding! 

^^ I don't mind the blurry, becasue it's the only picture I have of the girls! And I love it! ^^

The next day, G and I ventured off on our own by train to meet up with Julie and Dre on their anniversary in Ipanema!

^  hottie!  ^

Of course we had to look around the feira first!

THIS is winter in Rio! The beach was packed in the middle of the week!

I had to bring the best version of guarana on our walk around Arpoador! I wish I could get this stuff in the Cali!

 ^^^ clearly not camera ready! ^^^

Julie looking fab!

And the funniest part of the day, being serenaded by these three to the sounds of Rio. 

Later that night G and I decided to stick around the beach for the sunset and I'm so glad we did.

I love this shot of this girl up in the air!

 Love this view!

 The next day we had lunch with another aunt of ours who loves to cook for us whenever we're in Brasil, Tia Nilda.

Can you imagine having this view every time your on your street? It's amazing!

We ended the night outside the Jardin Botanico because by the time we arrived, it was already closing soon. I was a little bummed at first, but the rodizio de pizza later that evening made up for it for sure! I have zero pictures from the pizza -- and honestly, how could you think about taking pictures when your having the best pizza of your life? I'm telling you, there is nothing like the food in Rio! Nothing. 

More posts from our trip will be coming soon!