Aline's virtual garden

Aren’t they sweet? Look at these flowers I ‘gathered’ in Saisies and Pralognan-la-Vanoise. ;)

Little flowers...

And wild ones:

Keep trekking!

Saturday morning: my baby boy wakes up with something that in Portuguese is called « estar com a Macaca »! Sorry the ones reading this who are not Brazilians but this is not something really explainable. A little bit too naughty, almost unbearable… But hopefully it gave us a wonderful idea: to visit the Vanoise forest!

After eating some Brazilian meat in Buffalo Grill restaurant, we got the route to Pralognan-la-Vanoise. I got the car because Régis ate too much (by the way, he got a giant Canadian Buffalo burger!)

We were prepared to trek and by chance (as always!) we discovered a trekking path called “Sensorial route”! It was really nice, something which was probably made for children, but which was completely adapted for adults like us! ;)

To play the sensorial “game” we needed to follow the small hands painted around. And the trick was to find the next little hand. Little hand found, we needed to discover the nature around using our senses: scented trees, smooth rocks, rough ones, soft lawn… so much sensations! One part of the route we needed to do with closed eyes, just let us be guided by a rope!

We discovered some little caves done by the rocks. Observing the rocks I had the impressions that they were all in a mess! And yes, I had the guess! Actually, a long time ago, a glacier has passed there and it transported a lot of things, including the rocks which were let all in a mess. But it was not the only amazing thing which happened in this place!

In 1988 a big avalanche slipped in this valley, destroying all it found in its way. Exactly where we were they could find about 10 meters of snow! But look how sharp are the montains:

We also discovered the river which collects the melted snow and that sometimes gets very angry and comes out of its stream bed. Take a look how water is so clear and almost blue!

And we also saw so many beautiful flowers! But these ones you’ll need to wait a little bit. Be back soon and you’ll found then in the “Aline’s virtual garden”!

Giullieta e Romeo

The most fascinating part of this trip was a discovery we did: Verona is the town of Romeo and Juliet!

Walking on the streets we saw an entrance plenty of people who was even climbing in the gate!

In the entrance tunnel we found love messages written all over the wall.

Everyone was agglomerated there, trying to find a little space to write his/her own. Sure we let ours as well! As we hadn’t think about putting a permanent marker in our backpacks, we wrote our love post in small papers and we glued with chewing-gum!

Crossing this entrance, we discovered Juliet’s balcony! Just below it we found her statue: I don’t know if it’s a tradition or if it brings lucky to lovers, but EVERYONE was taking a photo holding Juliet statue’s breast! Take a look on the photo: her right breast is even polished!

After a wonderful pizza at S. Matteo Church ristorante, we did a walk in the castle close to the river to take some more pictures.

Time to go home, back to France.

But before leaving Verona, we passed in front of a Ferrari shop, just for a classy “arrivederci”! ;)

Buon giorno Verona!

Next day, early morning we started a new exploration at day’s light. At the piazza Bra, the first thing which amazed us was the bike’s parking. Take a look on it:

Actually, Verona’s habitants can let their cars parked and get a public bike to go around!

They have a special key to unlock it and Eureka! : A simple, ecological, cheap and sportive way to go shopping!

We went shopping as well as shops are opened on Sunday. Italian times, but opened, as Italians are doing the siesta ;)

9h30 – 12h30 a.m.

15h30 – 19h30 p.m.

An ancient coliseum is the centre of this square and it’s currently being restored.

We could also appreciate a panoramic view of the river which embraces the downtown and a beautiful cathedral close to it.

And ...

Salve, ciao!

That’s Verona’s habitants manner to say hello!

The 4 to 5th September we did an Italian weekend. This is the second time we visit this country and I’m getting keen on its language!

When we cross Petit St Bernard’s pathway, we immediately receive Italian frequency in the car. Italian sounds like music in my ears, even if it’s a rugby match commented in the sport radio station! You see, I’m even able to distinguish what they’re talking about! ;)

Petit St Bernard is a magic place. A mountain’s ocean populated by marmots, such funny creatures. But we were much far than that! Aosta, Torino, Milano, Monza, Bergamo, Brescia: after facing the biggest storm of our lives and almost crossing Italy, we arrived in Verona! No hotel booked, first reaction was to find a place to sleep. Not easy once hotels are not as cheap as in France! But we are lucky adventurers! We got something really correct, right in downtown! Good shower and we went out by feet to explore the town at night!

It was pretty amazing to see that everyone is outside till late at night! Children, seniors, adults, teenagers: people are in the streets, in the restaurants, it is vacations’ ambiance. Girls are dressed like Brazilians, people are talking like Brazilians. I felt at home, like in Savassi square, with twice more people!

We were in Italy! For dinner, Régis took lasagna and I took a Hawaii pizza, garnished with pineapple and delicious mascarpone cheese. Red wine and so romanticism in the air!

We walked around to get to know the bars, cafés and ‘ristorantes’. Bars there are so style!

We finished our night with a giant yogurt ice cream, covered with a lot of Chantilly and red fruit cream! The final detail was a giant straw on it, which was about one meter high! I hope you can imagine the scene; it was really funny!

Comme back soon to hear the best part of this trip!

Tignes

We’re trying to visit most of the ski stations around, to go right in the aim when the winter time arrives! I can’t wait to try my new ski boots!

This time we were in Tignes, a very beautiful place, with its impressive dam and view.

Unfortunately, it’s not a ski station for Lili as it doesn’t have many easy slopes. but we'll keep searching!

Lili : the Giraffe

Such work of art!

Produced by Mathieu, Régis’ friend (thanks Mathieu!)

I think Picasso could be jealous about that!

Lili is getting famous!

'... «Il faut s'astreindre à écrire régulièrement, trouver des astuces pour animer sa page, attirer des commentaires. C'est un vrai défi», reconnaît Aline De Almeida Andro, l'une des participantes, en deuxième année à l'Ecole nationale supérieure des mines de Saint-Etienne. ...'

Take a look at the whole article 'Le blog en vogue', written by Valérie Lion, appeared in the French newspaper L'Express .

Do you like to read?

Yes, I do. And it’s my way to go out when it’s rainy … Sure, I’d rather go trekking outside and breath a bit of fresh air than stay at home but when I have no choice, I prepare a mint tea sweetened with some honey (often offered by my grandpa :), I kidnap a pullover from mi teddy bear, and so I can stay reading till the sun decides to appear again.

My favourite books are the ones which are able to make emotions come out while I’m reading. My very favourite books are the ones which are able to put a smile in my face even if I’m not reading, but just thinking about it! They are not essentially amusing but subtle, sweetly or even particularly realists.

So, from inside Aline's box I bring some suggestions for the courageous enough to ready the same things than Lili! ;)

# Métaphysique des Tubes - Amélie Nothomb (novel)
# Stupeur et Tremblement - Amélie Nothomb (novel)
# Life of Pi - Yann Matel (novel)
# Citoyen du Monde - Carlos Ghosn (biography)
# Desert Flower - Waris Dare (biography)
# The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People - Stephen Covey (business, leadership)
# The Gift of Fear - Gavin De Becker (self defence - astonished ? :)

Hey, sure! You must be thinking that I'm in France so I should be enjoying the great classic French authors... but I do! So I suggest you to try these:

# Les Misérables - Victor Hugo (novel - too classic? :) That's why I read it in Portuguese! And it was quite complex, as I was 12 years old)

# Madame Bovary - Gustave Flaubert (novel)

# Troi Contes - Gustave Flaubert (tale)

# Le Horla - Maupassant (tale)

# Vol de Nuit - Saint Exupéry (novel)

An eclipse ??? Not yet ...

have a guess?

It's almost my favorite car... :)

Lili is desperately searching for an Eclipse in France, but she’s getting persuaded that they just DON'T exist here! The closest she could approach to a Mitsubishi machine was this Lancer, which I could say that it’s “ordinary” here, compared to Eclipses… I mean, she saw 3 or 4 of them since she’s living in France, against 0 Eclipses!!!

However, such oil crisis made me already give up about 4x4, and if I keep caring that much, I’ll end to give up about such machine parked in my garage as well... I’m really not that sort of radical ecologist and I confess I’m a cars’ fan, a big one. Even though, I have currently bad conscious when I think about turning on car’s air conditioning system and believe me, weather in Europe it can be much hotter than in Brazil. My trips by car can get worst than my 45 minutes by bus to return from university in BH…

As I need to drive 30km to go to work and 30 to come back home, my oil’s consummation raised enormously. At the beginning, my husband had bugged me about going to work by feet. But if I really get to turn into an experienced trekker, I’ll think seriously about it! It’s a pity but living in the country I got more serious problems with public transport than living in BH! Just to buy some bread we get 15 minutes by car… It’s a paradox but the decision to live in such piece of paradise requires me to generate a lot of pollution!

Anyway, I keep crossing fingers really firm that even Eclipses will have the right to have an alternative energy model!

Brasil, meu Brasil brasileiro...

vou cantar-te nos teus versos!

This last week I was in a nostalgic period. To celebrate our wedding’s birthday we went to Aix-les-Bains for De Palmas concert! We had to wait about an hour to get in, and it was in that moment that I started dreaming about being in Brazil…

Pop corn scent came out of my mind and I wished so much I could have such half sweet, half salted one. I used to buy it in Belo Horizonte streets. Oh yes, I couldn’t walk around the downtown without eating one. And to avoid nickel back, I used to get such caramelized coconut pieces…

I miss Brazilian food very much. Some times I get myself dreaming about a sunny Saturday afternoon beside the swimming pool, all friends together, a great barbecue grilling not so far, some vinaigrette (red, yellow and green sweet pepper, tomatoes and onions all thinly cut out, in a bath of vinegar) and white rice. Or just to buy a small “cat barbecue”! hihi that’s the way we call the barbecue sold on the streets!

As good as Saturday’s barbecue are Sunday’s lunches in family...

My mom could prepare a pork meat cooked in ananas sauce. To accompany, some “farofa”, sort of mix prepared with manioc flour, a little bit of olive oil, spices, bacon, smoked sausage, corn, green sweet pepper and all you creativity allows you to invent. Some curly kale well thinly cut out and quickly cooked in the butter could also please me… Some boiled corn, or some cooked and fried manioc! Oh Gee, I love it.

I miss biscoito de polvilho and the cheese bread, the famous “pão de queijo”. The first one is a sort of biscuit prepared with some manioc flour, eggs and a very hot water. It’s so light and not so flavorful that I am able to eat hundreds! The second one is also prepared with some manioc flour, and the best Brazilian cheese, which comes from my state, Minas Gerais. The name means “general mines” and it’s due to all the gold that found there about 18th century. Well, as we are talking about food, there is another dish originate during this period which merits to be mentioned: it’s called “feijão tropeiro”. It’s a mixture of cooked red beans with some smoked sausage and bacon cut out in little pieces, mixed eggs, curled kale, onions, manioc flour and a bit of olive oil. It was invented by the explorers who went into the country to discover new lands. They traveled long distances by horse and their food supply, all in the same recipient, was mixing together during the trip and at the end they were eating something their called “explorer’ beans”.

Hey, I was about to forget the delicious desserts: milk candy, coconut candy, peanut candy, rice candy, corn candy and all the fruit jams: guava, fig, orange, quince… Even potato candy and this is very delicious with some cinnamon over it!

Well, Brazil is so huge that I couldn’t talk about all the variety of dishes we can I prepare. I can talk about the specialties of my region, which by the way are the best ones ;) but I am sure each Brazilian from each different region could present you something completely different, completely new, even for a Brazilian like me. Maybe we all agree about “feijoada”, the national dish! Prepared with some red beans, pork meat (this time, all parts of the pork that you could imagine: ears, feet, even the curly tail!) and a lot of spice, feijoada can be accompanied by white rice, curly kale and orange slices! It was invented by the slaves, who recuperated the rest of their patrons to eat. They prepared it in a so good way that it became the most famous of the Brazilian specialties.

Well, I hope you’re not dribbling a lot! ;) And Now I need to go to prepare my dinner! It could be a good idea if my Brazilian friends could come and tell us which their favorite dishes are as well, even if it's rice and beans! ;)

See you all!

Feliz dia dos pais!

Papai,

Como a distância nos impede de estar com você hoje para comemorar esse dia, nos decidimos fazer um pequeno presente virtual :)

Espero que você goste da sua camisa da seleção da França (mesma se ela vai demorar um poquinho pra chegar de verdade ...)!

Um grande beijo e Feliz dia dos pais pra você, pro vovô e para todos os tios!

Aline e Régis

Régis, modelo oficial da équipe da França, exibe com orgulho essa graciosa camisa. Infelizmente, ela so tem um unica estrela...

E tinha que ser contra o Brasil.

Zidane de volta na seleção, mas o Brasil não desiste não.

2006, hexacampeão? :)

Passeio em Mégève

Saturday afternoon: a perfect time to visit the neighbor villages… Yesterday we were in Megève: a popular ski station during winter time and a sweet familiar town in summer time. We still participated of a village fair and I had the occasion to taste some local specialties.

Sure, we were in the Megève airport, just to have an ice cream and to appreciate the view ;)

Take a look in such charming boyS :)