A different Christmas: our family cruise through Brazil

When I think about that cruise through Brazil in December 2007, the first thing that comes to mind is not the beaches or the ports we visited.

What I remember are the people who were there: my parents, Pablo, my children Madelyn and Tomás, my sister and my dear aunt Juani.

We were three generations sharing an adventure that would end up becoming a happy memory as we embarked on a cruise along the coasts of Brazil.

Madelyn was 14 years old at the time and Tomás was barely 10.

They were in that beautiful stage where they still fully enjoy family vacations, where each excursion is an adventure and each port an opportunity to discover something new.

From the moment we boarded the MSC Armonía we felt that a different experience awaited us.

The mornings began observing the infinite horizon from the deck and the nights were filled with conversations, shows and long after-dinner meals shared among those we loved most.

But if there was something that made that trip unique, it was spending Christmas on board.

Celebrating Christmas Eve sailing, surrounded by our family and with the ocean as a backdrop, was an experience that is difficult to describe.

While many celebrated in their homes, we shared a different Christmas, floating between wonderful destinations and creating memories that still accompany us today.

One of the stops we enjoyed the most was Búzios: its beaches, its transparent waters and the charm of its streets conquered us from the first moment. I remember walking by the sea watching the kids enjoy the beach while us adults simply let ourselves be carried away by the tranquility of the place.

We also visited Angra dos Reis, one of the most beautiful corners of the Brazilian coast.

The small islands, the tropical vegetation and the color of the water seemed to be part of a painting. Everything conveyed a feeling of calm that is difficult to find in other destinations.

And, of course, we arrived in Rio de Janeiro.

Stepping onto the famous Copacabana beach was one of those moments that we all hoped to experience. The energy of the city, the immensity of the beach and the permanent movement of Rio made every walk full of life.

But when I remember that cruise today, it is not only the beaches of Brazil that appear in my memory but the images of our shared meals, the laughter during the excursions, the conversations with my parents, the joy of seeing my children enjoy every moment and the moments shared with my beloved aunt Juani.

Today she is no longer physically among us, but she is an inseparable part of this memory and many others in our lives.

Her love and presence accompanied every day of that trip and as I write these lines I can’t help but smile when I remember her, because those who leave such a deep mark never completely leave.

Sometimes we think that trips are saved in photographs and over the years I discovered that real trips remain somewhere else.

They remain in the stories that we continue to tell, in the people who shared the journey, in the hugs, in the laughter and in the gratitude of having lived unrepeatable moments with those we love most.

Brazil gave us wonderful beaches and unforgettable landscapes.

But the true treasure of that cruise was having shared a different Christmas with three generations of our family.

And that memory will continue to sail with us forever.

❤️ Dedicated to my dear aunt Juani, who today is still present in each of our memories.