My lovely, intelligent and amiable niece recently went to Brazil for a friend’s wedding. This luminous young lady had also studied abroad in Spain during her college years.  I interviewed her about her experience in Brazil. How fortuitous that her visit to Brazil included a wedding celebration. She experienced both sightseeing and cultural celebrations!

What inspired you to travel to Brazil?

I traveled to Brazil for a college friend’s wedding. We went to Brazil for one of my good friend’s wedding. She grew up there, went to college in Texas and now lives in a small town outside of Campinas on a hay and eucalyptus farm! I hadn’t seen her since my wedding 5 years ago, so it was a no-brainer to make the trip to celebrate with her!

What did your trip itinerary involve?

We were in Brazil for about a week. We spent the first part of the trip in Rio De Janeiro enjoying the sites, the beach, samba and fun. After Rio, we traveled to Campinas for the wedding. Campinas is a city about 2 hours outside of Sao Paulo.

What excursions or museums do you recommend?

There is SO much to do and see in Rio. Here are some highlights: Sugarloaf Mountain (Pão de Açúcar) –

Take the tram to up to see breathtaking, panoramic views of Rio. If you can, go in the evening to catch an incredible sunset. Santa Teresa Neighborhood – This was probably our favorite part of the city. It is a small, eclectic neighborhood situated high in the hills above the city.

There are great restaurants, shops and art galleries. It is not super touristy so you can really get a feel for the city. Stop by Hotel Santa Teresa for a cocktail and enjoy amazing views of Rio. Escadaria Selarón- These world-famous, tiled steps in the Santa Teresa neighborhood are a must see! The 250 steps are covered in bright tiles representing various countries from across the world. Christ the Redeemer – Hop on a tour bus that will take you to the top of Corcovado Mountain to see one of the seven wonders of the world. It is very crowded and windy at the top but is a must see while in Rio.

Urca Neighborhood – Urca is a fun hangout for the younger crowd. Grab a cerveja and some empanadas from Bar Urca and watch the sunset with the locals while enjoy music from a street band. There are plenty of good restaurants within walking distance. Copacobana and Impanema Beach – You will definitely want to check out the beaches in Rio. Make sure to get a coconut! Copacobana Hotel is a beautiful hotel and a great place to grab dinner or a drink. El Centro – Downtown Rio is a bustling metro area. There are cathedrals and museums that you can visit. Make sure to visit Theatro Municipal of Rio de Janeiro. The Theatro has recently been recently been renovated and the architecture is beautiful. To see the theatro you have to take a guided tour. It takes about an hour and is inexpensive. Stop by Confeitaria Colombo for a coffee and sweet treat. It is a very popular spot! Samba – Check out a samba school if you can! Went to Bar Scenrium in Lapa and enjoyed a samba band and dancing!

What hotels and restaurants do you recommend?

In Rio, we stayed at Porto Bay Internacional on Copacabana Beach. I would recommend staying either on Copacabana or Impanema Beach. Make sure your hotel has adequate security. In Campinas, we stayed at the Vitoria Hotel which was excellent. In Rio, we had an amazing dinner at Aprazivel Restuarante in Santa Teresa. The restaurant is like tree house nestled on the side of a mountain with an amazing menu and wine list. It is a must do! How would you describe the perfect Brazilian meal?

Brazil is know for its Churrascaria (Brazilian steakhouse). We were treated to an churrascaria-style barbeque at our friend’s parent’s house in Campinas. Also, you must have a Caipirinha (Brazil’s national cocktail) made with fresh fruit and cachaça. Another Brazilian treat we enjoyed was Pão de queijo- a small, baked, cheese-flavored roll made with tapioca flour. They are light, airy and cheesy! It is easy to eat several of them!

Describe the vibe of the culture.

In Rio, the people were very nice but reserved. Many people do not know English and are hesitant to interact with you at first. We used our southern charm to warm people up! After that, they are very fun and will even give you Portuguese lessons!

How do you describe the terrain?

In Rio, the mountains were right on top of the ocean. In Campinas, the terrain was more flat with large, sprawling fields.

Were there any challenges in getting to your destination? What was the flight like?

Our trip went very smoothly! Going there, my friend and I flew from Dallas to Miami to Rio. Coming back, we flew direct from Sao Paulo to Dallas. The international flights were about 9 hours and both were overnight so we tried to sleep as much as we could.

A couple of tips if you plan on traveling to Brazil:

You will need a visa to enter the country. You can get this through a visa service. Learn a bit of Portuguese. We found that very few people spoke English, especially in Rio. Don’t let the bad press about safety in Rio scare you/ We didn’t run into any trouble when in Rio. We never felt unsafe on the beach or walking through the city. Leave large jewelry and rings at home and travel in a group. Find a hotel that provides security and chairs on the beach. Carry a copy of your passport with you and leave the original in your room safe. Most of all – have fun! What did you learn about yourself from this trip? How did this trip enrich your life? Describe any experiences that made you grow spiritually.

I have been very fortunate to be able to travel abroad with my family on previous trips. Going on trips like this makes you realize how large the world is and how much there is out there to see, learn and experience. I was so happy I was able to go on this trip to learn about a new country and culture and to reconnect with some of my best friends.

Follow this lesson plan to build trip itineraries with your family:

Travel Lesson Plan: Integrate the Concepts

My hens have always been homebodies…. foraging in the  yard all day…staying by their protector — our dog, Zoe. She protects them from chicken hawks and foxes. I see hawks and foxes often but they stay away from our place because of sweet Zoe.

On a very rare occasion, the hens decided to go on a trip. Did they feel cooped up? Maybe they wanted an adventure? This was very uncharacteristic of them. I interviewed the hens about their travels. The hens (a Plymouth Barred Rock and a Rhode Island Red) are named Artemoula and Constantina.

What inspired you to leave the yard?….and go on this trip?

We felt cooped up. Even though we are free range chickens, we spend a lot of time roosting and nesting in the coop to lay our eggs and sleep there, too. Sometimes, we feel like we need a break from all this work, work, work. We felt ova- worked; you know;  the American work ethic. The stress was starting to show. (see tiny egg?) That’s from STRESS.

We just felt like exploring one day so we went on a trip over to the neighbor’s yard. We wanted to see if the grass is really greener on the other side.

What did you learn about yourself over there?

That the neighbor’s yard is interesting and different but we missed the comforts of home. You always feed us chicken feed, grains, oyster shell, yogurt and your husband even feeds us, too. The neighbor not only didn’t feed us, but she came and knocked on your door to let you know that we had snuck over to her house.

What was your trip route and itinerary like?

Well, we departed from the east side of the lot and did a layover in the gardenia bushes. I like to take a dust bath there in the dirt.

It helps keep the mites away. I wanted to look good for my trip. Then, we spent some time in the red tipped photinia bushes. When we got very daring, we decided to squeeze through the fence to see what happens when you cross the border.

Do you have any recommendations on excursions, lodging or meals?

We think the neighbor’s tiered landscaping looks good. You might try looking into some exterior improvements. Their electronic garage door opener is groovy. The worms in that yard were pretty good but the worms in our yard are 5 star. You have vegetables and herbs, too…and grapes. They only had florals.

Any spa recommendations?

We didn’t stay long enough to do any spa services. Your pedicures are the best anyway. And we love how you feed us Fage or Yoplait yogurt.  The chicken scratch with oyster shell for our nutrients is truly gourmet.

How was the security?

Very good. The neighbors have a dog, too.  Our dog is always hanging with us, protecting us….all over the yard.

Was there a pool?

Yes, there was a pool. We like sunbathing on your sun deck, though. We just copy you.

How did your travels over to the neighbor’s yard enrich you spiritually and mentally?

We learned to appreciate the coop above our heads and the familiarity of family. I really need to get my talons pedicured again, anyway and I missed all those cute kids that keep coming over to see your sons. It’s fun to travel but it taught us that there’s no place like home.

We had never had a parsnip or a turnip until we went to Ireland and Scotland in 2010.  In my opinion, these are a much more delicious version of potatoes! (sorry, potato)

 Parsnip Soup Recipe:

• 1/2 cup finely chopped onion
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 1 teaspoon ginger
• 1/2 cup sliced carrot
• 1/2 cup sliced celery
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 3 parsnips peeled and cut into slices
• 2 cups chicken broth
• nutmeg to taste
• cook the onion,  garlic, ginger, carrot, celery, and the thyme in the butter in a saucepan over low heat
• Add the parsnips and broth and boil. simmer , covered, for 15 minutes until the vegetables are very tender.
• Purée the soup in a blender and return to the pan. Stir in the nutmeg add dash of salt and pepper

My son went to Ireland for a college club rugby team tour during his Freshman year. The tour lasted 10 days and included sightseeing. It was the first time he stayed in youth hostels. He went to Cork, Kilfinane/Kilfian and Dublin.

• The team also went to Limerick but my son stayed behind in Kilfinane that day.The team played 3 games total during the 10 day trip. They stayed at Sheila’s youth hostel, Ballyhoura Youth Hostel, and the Generator hostel in Dublin which was “more of a hotel”.

• He states, “Ballyhoura was nicest because…
• it was privately owned by a couple
• it had a dining hall,
• a kitchen we could use,
• a lounge area with a TV
•  guitars,
• ping pong
•  foosball table,
• sauna,
• the beds were nice,
• private showers
• and had some dogs we could play with.”

It was in a remote part of Ireland called Kilfinane. It was a 10 minute drive from the bike trail we did.

www.ireland.com/what-is-available/destinations/republic-of-ireland/limerick/kilfinnane/all/1-61882/

Traveling with the college club rugby team was already a great opportunity for my son but when he found out they take Spring Break trips abroad for rugby tours, that was a bonus! The team raised most of their own funds for travel expenses.

Rugby games are exciting to watch! The unusual maneuvers of the game make it a very interesting sport. This picture (not of my son’s team) depicts typical rugby activity. This is called a scrum.

www.sheilashostel.ie

www. anoige.ie/Hostels/Our-Hostel-Guide/Ballyhoura-Luxury-Hostel/

They stayed in youth hostels and did some sightseeing. He even got to play on the Irish team. Seeing Ireland with other young adults this time (rather than with family) gave him a different perspective of the country.

This time around, he got to play guitar in a tavern at night with these guys.He also got to go mountain biking on the reportedly “second best trail in the world”. I’m really grateful that his college rugby club experience has not only provided him the exercise, activity and fellowship with other athletes but it also has provided him a chance to travel together as a team and broaden his horizons.

www. generatorhostels.com/en/destinations/dublin/?utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Brand-English-USA&utm_term=%2Bgenerator%20%2Bdublin

Westport in Kansas City is a hip district located next to the plaza. It has historic value, too! Read about the Battle of Westport below. I love walking around Westport and admiring all of the old warehouses that have been preserved into charming cafes, taverns, antique stores, music stores and vintage clothing boutiques. www.westportkc.com/history.php My usual route involves stopping in my favorite coffee/tea house, stopping in my two favorite vintage stores: Re-runs and Wonderland, eating at Jerusalem Cafe, popping in World Market to stock up on goodies and getting a drink at the Foundry or the Ale House balcony. There was a great Moroccan cafe there a few years ago, too. The antique stores are gorgeous…..with very high quality antiques. Westport is a short 15 minute walk from the plaza. We’ve purposely stayed at a midway point (The Marriott Courtyard) so that we can be within walking distance to both districts. To me, the plaza is chic and classy with nationally known stores, local boutiques and fine dining and Westport is hip, casual and quaint. The plaza’s architecture is Spanish and European, while Westport has art deco,  and Victorian style architecture. There are a variety of pubs and restaurants. The variety ranges from Korma Sutra – an Indian restaurant, Jerusalem Cafe – a Middle Eastern restaurant to Ca Va – a  Champagne Bar. On the weekends, we’ve seen Westport turn into a block party! They close off certain streets and it’s packed with people bar hopping. A great spot to be on a sunny day is The Ale House. The rooftop bar is so much fun with its outdoor setting, darts game and sports bar feel. Cold beer on a hot roof= perfect afternoon. Mills Record Store is a favorite of my sons. 

Kona Grill on the Kansas City Plaza is one of our regular dining destinations when we visit Kansas City.  They have happy hour specials on certain days. www.konagrill.com

My favorite one is Saturdays 1-5 p.m. where we stop in for a lite lunch and glass of wine (to save our appetite for a big Saturday night meal, usually.)

Many of the restaurants on Ward Parkway on the plaza have the indoor/outdoor ambience and I like that open feeling. Even if you sit outside, you can still see the bar TVs in case there’s a game on that you don’t want to miss. There is more to choose from than just sushi—check out their menu….there are flatbreads, wings, sliders, tacos, etc. I recommend a couple of plates of sushi and wine. I saw a white wine sangria that looked great.

photos by Gina Michalopulos Kingsley

Kansas City is one of my favorite American cities for many reasons. There are so many highlights to list but my absolute favorite place in KC is the historic City Market! I found it by accident several years ago. We were looking for another building and then we feasted our eyes on the market! Now, we never miss a chance to visit the city market when we are in Kansas City. The market has produce, food, teas, spices, desserts, pastries, sauces, delis from numerous ethnicities. Brazilian! Arabic! French, Italian, Caribbean, and so many more. You can eat fast food, take away food or just sit to eat and enjoy the musicians. There’s a coconut drink stand where they cut open a coconut and stick a straw in it. There’s a beautiful florals market, gift items, and honey stands. I bought bee pollen there.

My husband likes to get fresh octopus straight out of a barrel in Carollo’s which is an Italian deli. There’s chorizo, sausages, pastas, olives, etc…

I load up on canned dolmathes for dinner parties back home. Stuffed zucchinis in a can make great gifts. My sons like bags of almonds and wasabi peas from the nut section at  Al Habashi (my favorite store). The people there are so friendly and my sons are impressed that he adds up your ticket by hand!

There’s a great coffee house with an upstairs balcony seating area. This is also a great stop for gifts–bags of coffee and coffee and tea accessories.
When you’re done with strolling and shopping, you run right into a big flea market! Tables and tables of vintage items. I always find something I have to buy!There is usually a big inflatable slide/jump house for kids to be entertained with while you shop. The best entertainment, however, are the musicians! We were fascinated by a musician who set up a one-man band on his body!- harmonica, cymbals, drums, guitar, etc, all rigged together all over him. He let us take his picture and pose with him, too.

 It’s a nice way to exit the market—all of your senses are engaged—the smells of the market, the tastes of the food, the sights of the flea market and the sounds of good music!

www.habashihouse.com/grocery.html

www.thecitymarket.org

© Gina Michalopulos Kingsley

photos by Gina Michalopulos Kingsley

The “formula” for travel planning with your children can be outlined like this:

1. Consider your childrens’ personalities and incorporate those characteristics into the itinerary. Are they athletic? scouts? artistic?

2. Have them each choose a country, state or city they are interested in. You can pick a region of a continent and connect the dots from there.

3. Have your children research their specific country by checking out books.

4. Meet together at the dining room table (or kitchen table) and work together daily to keep everyone on track. Leave the materials together in one place for accessibility. Build a bibliography from their favorite books.

5. Make quizzes for your children to take from their books’ information.

6. Each child is the docent for their specific country or city so when you tour those countries, treat that child as an actual “docent’ by letting them explain monuments, architecture, cuisine, historic facts, etc

7. When you arrive to that country, state, or city, let the child/docent who studied that particular country or destination be the first to “step” onto the soil as a a celebratory arrival. You may enter that country or destination by airplane (so let them be the first off the plane), by ferry boat, bus, rental car, etc.

Activities depending on personalities: hiking, rafting, skiing, whale watching, zip lining, camping, art museums…

*The suggested reading books I’ve included on most countries’ posts are for children and/or parents to read. Some parents have told me that reading a children’s book on a country gives gave them a simple “bird’s eye view” into what could otherwise be a complicated or complex history in adult versions.

© Gina Kingsley. This lesson plan and others are copyrighted in the book A Magic Carpet Ride.

Lessons and stories can be found in the book A Magic Carpet Ride by GIna Michalopulos Kingsley. Click on link below to read what the book is about.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/069271393X/ref=cm_sw_su_dp