Ride on the backs of Sting Rays through amber waves of grain

I'm writing this in our hotel room in Miami. We got in at about 2:00 am last night. It seems the arrival to America was a bit anti-climatic for Mia and Ava. I think they had envisioned "America" as being were grandpa and grandma and other such known entities were. Needless to say, Miami International Airport didn't seem much different than where we had already been - other than the clean bathrooms with toilets that flush by themselves (as reported by Ella to her sisters).

During our overnight in a hotel in Manaus, we overheard Ella telling he sisters that "in America you can ride Sting Rays like horses". I'm really not sure where she got that tidbit of information, but I think she was talking about Sea Rays (not the pain-inflicting Sting Rays that we are constantly on the look out for at beaches in Brazil). Anyway, the younger girls, with their fading memories and Ella's less than accurate description, are no doubt very confused about this place we keep referring to.

Other observations from our girls:

(Arriving in the big city of Manaus) Ella: "Is there an I-POT here?" After some inquisition we learned that she was referring to IHOP (the restaurant).

(In the hotel in Miami) Ella: "Mom, can we walk barefoot to breakfast so we can feel the carpet on our feet?"

We witnessed Ava and Mia delighting in the discovery of two options in the shower and sinks (cold AND hot).