News from Lebanon

Dear all, 
These are the pictures teacher Natasha Habli has just sent me from Lebanon. As you can see Cristal and Teddy are having a great time with their new friends there.

In teacher Natasha's words:

[18:02:57] Natasha H.: Teddy and Christel joined Makassed Aisha School students on a tour to some outstanding historical sites in Saida Downtown Lebanon .   They really had a fun time together promising to be friends forever .

I would like to thank teacher Natasha and her students to take a good care of Teddy and Cristal for us. They seem so happy in Lebanon.

Teacher Natasha has just told me they tried a Brazilian food: 'coxinha'. They liked it a lot! All students ate from our recipe and enjoyed it. The father of one of her students lived 17 years in Brazil and learned some Brazilian recipes himself.

I told teacher Natasha we would like to try a Lebanese recipe and she recommended me 'Tabbouli' which is the most famous salad in Lebanon. Well, now we have our first Lebanon experience for 2015.

David Heathfield (Storyteller) tells Four Candles, a story from Serbia

May the candle of hope keep always burning in our hearts.

Merry Xmas.

Bye Bye Anay!

 Teddy Bear family gathered together to say good bye to Anay. After a short visit to our school, he is on his way to Argentina. Hope he has enjoyed his say here with teacher Adriana Loyola's students.

You can check Anay's journey on http://correios.com.br/correios/english?set_language=en using the tracking number RR023220906BR

Saleem from Lebanon and Anay.

Arzeh from Lebanon and Anay.

Arzeh, Anay and Saleem

Arzeh and Saleem will stay with us up to February or March depending on teacher Natasha Habli's schedule.

Anay and Brad from Canada.

Brad, Bucky and Max are  staying with us up to July when I am handing him personaly to teachers Mali Bickley, Jim Carletom and Carlos Chiu during iEARN conference in Brasilia.

Anay and Max from Peru.

Anay and Bucky from Canada.

Anay and Mahee from Pakistan.

Mahee is staying with us up to March when I will sending her back to Pakistan.

Visit also http://trendyteddiestravelling.wordpress.com/

Ladies' Adventures in São Paulo

As usual, our starting point was the platform of Vila Matilde tube station, Only ladies this time: Arzeh from Lebanon together with her friend Mahee, from Pakistan.

 Then we visited a few points of the city such as, São Pedro Theatre http://www.theatrosaopedro.org.br/institutional-orthesp/

We also visited Praça da Sé where a group of tourists asked to take a picture with Arzeh

The following day, we visited Paulista Avenue at night for the Christmas lights and only stopped our walking because of the rain. 

The gray sky announces that we will have to interrupt our journey because of the rain. 

São Paulo is beautiful and crowded even under the rain.

As the rain persisted and started to become heavy, we have to take the tube at Trianom - MASP station, green line,  and go back home.

Hope we are luckier next time!

Saleem in Sampa

The platform of Vila Matilde tube station was our starting point for the journey today. As kids are on holidays now, it was my turn to enjoy the day with Saleem, our guest from Lebanon.We soon arrived at our destination Luz Park. You can get to know it on http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jardim_da_Luz

Luz Park is not big but it is very beautiful, full of charming spots.

We can see the tower of Luz Station at the background which is just opposite the park.

 The Park is full of sculpture work. The ones bellow were donated by the Lebanese artist  Odette Eid.

One of the reasons for many beautiful art work in the park is Pinacoteca Museum, where we can visit and enjoy really good exhibitions. You can visit the online collection on http://www.pinacoteca.org.br/pinacoteca-en/

Luz train station.

Another place to visit in the neighbourhood is Museu da Língua Portuguesa. It is a museum that tells the story of Portuguese Language. http://www.museudalinguaportuguesa.org.br/info_ingles.php

 Then we caught the train and visited São Bento Monastery.Where Pope Bento XVI decided to stay when he visited São Paulo  http://www.braziltravelbuddy.com/Sao_Paulo/sightseeing/Sao_Bento_Monastery

Then we turned the second block on the left side of the Monastery and got to Ladeira Porto Geral, close to 25 de Março street, very crowded, a popular commercial spot of the city that attracts people from everywhere.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rua_25_de_Mar%C3%A7o

Santa Claus is greeting indifferent people who are more concerned on their own xmas shopping. People are always in a hurry here.

Our next destination was the Municipal Market, Mercadão do Parque D. Pedro http://flavorsofbrazil.blogspot.com.br/2011/03/sao-paulos-magnificent-municipal-market.html

where we can find food from many parts or the world, a temple of gastronomy. Besides to buy good food, you can enjoy the restaurants and cafes. You'll need a friend to help you with the incredible mortadella sandwiches. Pretty big these ones.

Back to São Bento Monastery before we move on. We joined a group of tourists who were gathered together for a Free Walking Tour through the city. We learned that they have a site and the tours are free of charge, visit their site: http://www.saopaulofreewalkingtour.com/

Viaduto Santa Efigênia http://internet.comunicacao.sp.gov.br/en/conhecasp/turismo_pontos-turisticos_viaduto-santa-ifigenia.php

Street food for all tastes.

Then we visited the Santa Cyclist at Prefeitura building where the mayor fo the city, Mr. Haddad works.

... and the huge and beautiful map of Brasil inside the building.

We finished our city tour here at Conjunto Nacional building in the company of the holy family. It is a very nice place for its bookshops, cafes, restaurants and cinemas.

Keep checking for news on Teddy Bear Project. Next time,Arzeh and Mahee will have a ladies tour through São Paulo.