A special visit from Italy: my mum!!!

From 3^rd to 22^th July I received a very special and most welcomed visit from Italy: my mum!! After being apart for more than 9 months, I was so looking forward to seeing her again and to spend time together. So, when she arrived at 5 am at the airport in Rio de Janeiro, I could not hold my tears and I cried like a little baby while hugging her :-)

It was the first time in our lives that we travelled „alone“ together (meaning without my father, who did not want to travel so far and stayed at home) and we had an amazing experience. We stayed in Rio during the first week, discovering the „Cidade Maravilhosa“ and having a lot of fun. Even if my mum was very sceptical at the beginning, I made it: I convinced her to try out CouchSurfing! And it was GREAT, thanks to the exquisite hospitality of our host Paulo (eternal thanks to him for hosting me during the Rio + 20, with my mum and after she left, for a total of 20 nights!).

After Rio we went (by bus, it took us 24 hours) to Iguacu to see the waterfalls, both the Brazilian and Argentinian side. There was much more water than during my first visit in February and the views were simply spectacular. After a short break in Sao Paulo just to show my mum how a huge metropoly (unfortunately) looks like, we went to the quieter old colonial town of Paraty, with a wonderful historical center. The following highlight of the trip was the 3-day stay at Ilha Grande, a real tropical paradise with breathtaking beaches and cool walks in the forest.
Sad but true, the departure day arrived very quickly, and it was time to say goodbye again. I did not cry this time, because the prevalent feeling was happiness for the unforgettable time we shared. I deeply thank my mum for her love and patience and for supporting such a crazy son like me. In around 4 months I will be back to Italy, and I can't wait to see her and my dad again!

Pao de Açucar in Rio

Iguaçu Falls

Jeep excursion in Paraty