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Eager to leave the heat at the shores, I couldn't drive fast enough to Gramado, where I would stay for several days to explore the city and its neighboring attractions. I had already spent a few days driving along the Germanic and Italian routes before heading uphill. This will be shared soon.

The small tourist town of Gramado has a lot to offer and it is one of the 13 municipalities on the Romantic Route that runs through the Serra Gaucha region. In Gramado, you can enjoy nature by taking a stroll in one of several parks, walk or rent a paddle boat on a lake, stumble upon an impromptu open-air music gig, savor delicious and hearty foods, as well as discover local industries and art.

In the collection of pictures I am sharing, you will also see family entertainment places, churches, and historic sites. I would love to revisit this town, if only for its climate: perched at about 850 meters above sea level, the temperatures varied between 20-21 degrees Celsius during the day and about 7-8 degrees at night.

I will start with the Museo Vivo do Cristal where you are shown, first-hand, how vases and other forms are shaped from glass with the Murano technique. You can book a tour where you get to experience yourself as a craftsman or end your visit with a "Snack of the Masters". After the show which lasts a little less than an hour, you are ushered to the large boutique where all imaginable pieces of art are displayed for sale. There is even a section for jewelry towards the end. 

Next in my journey was a must-stop at Le Jardin, Parque de Lavanda. This private park is open Tuesday to Sunday from 9:30 AM to 5:30 PM. The entrance fee is 30 Brazilian Reais per adult -that's about USD 6.2- and it includes being able to park your car for free and relish a ballad as well as access to their coffee shop and store. The whole family can take pleasure in the outdoors which is mostly peaceful. They also have a plant nursery uphill, where you can buy seeds, plants, and basic tools for gardening. The founders developed this property about 2 decades ago and opened it to the public in 2006. A large part of this beautiful garden is covered with lavender plants. You will see other plants, flowers, and trees, all around the field and terraces. Check out my photo selection for this place below!

I couldn't bring myself to leave this heaven to the senses, and since the sun wasn't setting just yet, I wandered in the streets of Gramado. Sometimes on foot. At other times with the car. Next in the gallery, the main streets with shops and typical architecture, some pics from the Jazz live concert that I found out about because I was trying to dodge the evening traffic, and some historic places that exhibit the European heritage of the city such as Casa do Colono and Praça das Etnias. Top sites to visit: Rua Torta -a sinuous hillside road-, the Fountain of Eternal Love by the main city church of São Pedro, Lago Joaquina Rita Bier for the water show, Lago negro named for the trees that were brought all the way from the Black Forest in Germany, and a night Rua Coberta is a lovely display of lights. On the outskirts of the city, a large center Snowland is a popular attraction in a country where snow and snow activities are not that common. Enjoy the pics!

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