After a 9 1/2 hour flight, we arrived in beautiful Rio. Marianne and I were thrilled to have our SFO friend, Anne, working with us on our flight.

We woke up after our nap to beautiful sunshine!

We were ready to walk down to the beach and see what fun awaits us!

Our paradise was found!

We had some time to kill before meeting up with 2 more crew members for dinner, so we ventured over to an upscale mall to take in the Brazilian fashions.

Time for dinner!

We ate at ViaSete, a top-notch restaurant in Rio, where elevated dining meets a relaxed atmosphere. It was a perfect blend of delicious food, great company and a night full of laughs!

The next day, Marianne and I embraced the overcast skies and went for a walk.

You can find magic on the beach in Rio, even on a cloudy day!

I looked up while we were walking and my breath was caught- Christ the Redeemer breaking through the gray clouds, untouched by the gloom.

Even under gray skies, we still found joy wandering through our happy place.

Rio, you gave us more than memories. You gave us perspective. You taught us the simple joy of being present! Thanks for leaving us with warm sunshine in our hearts.