Friday, March 17 we packed up the car and drove up into the mountains toward Gramado.

The scenery along the coast was beautiful.

There were banana plantations all along the foothills.

As we headed up the mountainside, the trees were full of purple blossoms.

Near Canela, the roadsides were lined with hydrangeas (terrible driving photo through the windshield but it reminds me what it looked like).

Before reaching Gramado, we stopped in Canela and visited Alpen Park.

First, we took a 4-wheel eco tour of the area. It was awesome. We saw a waterfall, jungle, and forest.

Then, we rode the zip-lines. Raine wants to ride a zip line every place we visit. This was Carter’s first time on a zip-line.

Grandma and Grandpa met us at the apartment in Gramado and we wandered around the town a bit before dinner. Here is Carter trying out the “big ear.”

We climbed the hill to the Igreja do Relógio, Templo Apóstolo Paulo.

Gramado was settled by Germans and it feels a lot more like Europe than Brazil.

Igreja Matriz São Pedro Apóstolo had some beautiful stained glass windows.

Eventually, we made our way to Maison Des Saveurs for a 3-course fondue dinner (because that is apparently what you eat in Gramado since that is what EVERY restaurant serves).

Our apartment in Gramado was awesome. It had two levels with three bedrooms, four bathrooms, and a huge living/dining room. Plus, all the water faucets had hot water!