The big day has arrived. The kids are anxious to get to the Amazon (and they wake up extra early, of course). Our group leaves the hotel in Manaus at 9:30am. The 180km ride to Novo Airao takes about two hours and, surprisingly, all the kids survived the trip without having to resort to ipads […]

Our journey starts in Manaus, capital of the state of Amazonas, Brazil.  I have heard many different opinions of this city, but there’s one thing everyone agrees on: it is unbelievably hot. We arrive in the evening and, to my surprise, the temperature is a balmy 23 degrees celsius. The taxi driver claims it’s “cold”. […]

We’ve been back for a few weeks now. But the Amazon never really left us. Between busy school days, weekend trips and birthday parties, the girls (and their parents) are still entranced with our Amazonian experience. They miss their new friends. They still talk about all the animals they saw, the hikes in the jungle, the swimming in […]

I will not try by any means to cover what to do or not do when you visit Disney World. This would be impossibly overwhelming for me and it is a post that I most definitely need to read, not write. I am writing simply because I am amazed at just how much Disney has […]

Miami is such a big and happening place that it would be impossible to cover it all in one weekend. For our most recent visit in February we decided to stay in Coconut Grove. And I fell in love again with this charming and quaint neighborhood. Coconut Grove, or “the Grove” as locals call it, […]

Do you love to travel? Me too. Have you asked yourself WHY? Travel is much more than getting to know a destination. It is how you think and behave when you are exploring a new place. It is about who you are and your attitude towards life when you are away from busy schedules and daily […]

I love the fact that my daughters speak my native language – Portuguese. Even though we have never lived in Brazil, Portuguese is still their first language (I guess it’s called mother tongue for a reason). Not for long, I realize, but I am enjoying it while it lasts. However, no matter how good their […]

My love for Christmas markets dates back to 2003, when I lived in Hamburg and worked at the Rathaus (city hall) Christmas market. Despite the fact that I had never been as cold in my life, I absolutely loved the experience. The scent of toasted almonds, the friendly people, the fun atmosphere and, of course, […]

As I walk by the beautiful Amazonas Theater in Manaus, Brazil, I feel dizzy and lightheaded. Maybe it’s the Christmas lights that have taken over every corner of the main square, or the wavy pavement pattern that inspired the famous Copacabana beach in Rio. Or perhaps it’s because I have just spent 8 days on […]

The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes. Marcel Proust Our Whole Village was born from love and inspiration, and an immense desire to share positive and enriching experiences with other families and give back. Passionate about traveling the globe and getting to know different cultures, when […]