New York City - before the storm...

The difference could not be bigger. 3 months on secluded beaches in Brazil 20 hours later; a world metropolis NYC. Busy traffic, freezing cold wind, no sun to be seen and people rushing everywhere. It was all overwhelming! We hurried into our hotel room at Cassa hotel, and exhausted all three of us sank into the Egyptian cotton sheets and passed out.

The next day littlebabyexplorer decided it was morning at 5 am,

Going to Brazil with a baby? Bring your own baby food!

We have spent around 2 months in one of the most beautiful and diverse countries of south America, Brasil. Samba, Capirinia, Capoeira, beach, sand, sun, culture and happy people that love children. Littlebabyexplorer has charmed her way with everyone and we have had a great time! Next time though I will bring my own baby food. Nestle has some kind of monopoly it would seem on the baby food selection. It is all that is available. I mean even in great big cities like Rio and Sao Paulo I could only find the same food. No handy fruit squeezes (like on the picture above) or nibbles to find anywhere. And Nestle only have about 5 different dinners. And impossible to find a baby porridge without sugar. I am happy I am still breast feeding and not depending on formula! Since littlebabyexplorer was only 7 months when we arrived in Brasil we decided not to give her "normal" food. I have been to Brasil many times in the past and never had any trouble, but just as an extra precaution we decided to only give her baby food. Little did I know about the baby food situation. I remember reading in an guide book from 2000 that they recommended you bring your own baby food to Brasil, but I thought surely 12 years and one booming economy later that they would have a great big improvement on this department. But NO! So lesson learnt bringing my own baby food next time ;)

Leasons learnt part 2 - In a restaurant

Littlebabyexplorer is now 10 months and we have travelled for over 3 months, and I am happy to say that we are more experienced and here are some more lessons learnt:

Eating in restaurants:

When travelling for a long time like we are, you eat an insane amount of meals in restaurants. In fact sometimes its up to 3 times pr day. Those of you who have a baby will probably wonder how its possible to keep the baby still for that long. Well most of the times its not! So you have to adjust to the surroundings, and adjust your expectations. Few tips we have learnt so far:

Kristians 40th birthday Insolito Hotel and Spa Buzios

4 decades seems like a really long time when you think about it, but he claims himself that he feel no older no than he did 2 decades ago. I would not know, since I am not a day over 25 :) Every year my close friends congratulate me on my 25 th birthday again. I like it that way. 25 is a good age I think. I know I know, all stages of lives has its own charm, that is not what I am saying, its more like deciding my brain that I am still 25 so that my body won't deteriorate...

Iguazu Falls - eternal fall in the jungle

Iguazu river flows mostly through Brazil, but the falls divide Argentina and Brazil. The fall can be experienced on both sides, and its is highly reccomended that you visit both sides. Iguazu means big water. Legend has it that a god planned to marry a beautiful woman named Naipí, who fled with her mortal lover Tarobá in a canoe. In rage, the god sliced the river, creating the waterfalls and condemning the lovers to an eternal fall...

Backpack traveling alone in Rio...

When you are travelling, the possibility of forgetting something somewhere is always present, even experienced travellers (yes I allow myself to be called experienced traveller) forget or loose stuff from time to time. There are however Continent and far less convenient places and countries to "misplace" your things. A Taxi in Rio from one hotel to another does qualify as an inconvenient place: