12 December 2009--A Day of Firsts

Today we left our home-away-from-home in Curitiba and flew to Rio de Janeiro where we have to visit the U.S. Consulate next week. Though there was some bittersweet sadness lingering as we departed Curitiba, it was a day of many "firsts" for the kids:

• First time all of us traveled together as Fulltons.
  
• First visit to an airport and first time in an airplane.
• First time out of the state of Paraná and first visit to Rio de Janeiro.
• First time at the beach.

We are so thankful that our morning flight went off without a hitch and was pretty painless for all of us. We stuck together in the airport and through security, and everyone was pretty good on the flight considering how excited the kids were. Before takeoff they got an extra-special treat when the captain invited all the kids in to see the cockpit. The flight was practically empty, so once airborne everyone even got their own window seat, which definitely cut down on sibling scuffles! We had a great view of Rio de Janeiro as we landed at Santos Dumont airport, Rio's downtown airport.

Our friends Ester and Leonel met us at the airport where we caught two taxis back to their apartment. A yummy Brazilian lunch was waiting for us when we arrived, and we enjoyed feijoada and farofa lovingly prepared by Ester's mom. Yummm.

The kids could hardly change their clothes fast enough as we prepared for the beach after lunch! We caught a bus to world-famous Copacabana beach and enjoyed a couple hours of sun and surf before walking along the promenade, sipping agua de coco, and eating corn from a street vender. Just so you are reassured, I'd just like to report that everyone was really good for such a crowded and exciting place (we've learned over the past few weeks that new and exciting places tend make kids forget that rules exist!), no small children were washed out into the Atlantic Ocean, and all Fulltons are fully accounted for!

Considering we were only in Rio for one day on our way down to Curitiba and the kids have never been before now, I expect that there will be many more firsts to see and do this week, but today just seemed especially important to mark. Stay tuned for more excitement!