Brazil to promote tourism with release of 'Rio'

Video: Morales returns to her Rio roots

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2. Closed captioning of: Morales returns to her Rio roots

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   >>> of reporting from the beaches of rio de janeiro this morning. she has a special connection with the city. right, nat?

   >> reporter: that's right, meredith. you know, this is the part i think where i get to embarrass myself a little and take a stroll down memory lane . it was 30 years ago i lived in rio and so much has changed for this country, but especially for the little girl of 8 years old.

   >> reporter: the year 1978 , my father who was in the air force was transferred to rio de janeiro . for my mother who's brazilian it was a chance to go home and be near her family. my journey be-quigins in sao paulo to see my grandmother who is 90 and just got out of the hospital. i show her my kids whom she's never met. i leave her to rest and will come back later. next, lunch with my mother's cousin and aunt who remembers how i was back then.

   >> when you want something you just had it because nobody could stand it. mommy, mommy!

   >> reporter: i think that was patricia, my sister. my family reunion , too short but sweet. thank you for having me! next, a short flight to rio de janeiro , about 260 miles east to revisit where i grew up. whoo! rio , i've missed you so! my dad always had his super 8 ready. this is the building where we used to live. i guess some things never change. i have great memories. i had three birthdays in that apartment. we had incredible views of the area right on the lake or as we call it lagoa. one of my favorite things here to do was roller skate . it was the 80s and we all did it. xanadu xanadu

   >> reporter: no one's roller skating anymore.

   >> reporter: the surf and sand were my playground. i spent almost every weekend on the beach. my dad, perfecting his focus got some things right, enamored especially with the country's assets. next my old school, the american school of rio where i spent 2nd through 4th grades. hasn't changed much.

   >> not much.

   >> reporter: unfortunately for me, they have kept their records. oh, my god. yeah. found me. not good. right there. the only time in my life i have ever gotten a really bad grade was 3rd grade . it scarred me for life. mrs. z gave me a d in social studies . she said i was a dreamer.

   >> reporter: a visit to rio wouldn't be complete without seeing the impressive sites of this city. i was here 30 years ago with my sister. the christ of redeemer statue is a world famous landmark and icon of rio . we are going there next. not to be missed, the spectacular sugarloaf mountain . the only way up there is a cable car to the tippy-top. there is too much to see and do, but new memories still to be made. i left brazil when i was 10 years old. one thing i never got to do but always dreamed of was this!

   >> go, go, go! fast! [ screaming ]

   >> let's make a postcard for you.

   >> reporter: a huge thank you to my pilot there. he was incredible. this whole trip has been a thrill. i can guarantee it won't be another 30 years before i come back. now, meredith, of course before i go home, i cannot leave here empty handed. i picked up a little something for you. very little. i'm not sure which is front or back. can you believe this?

   >> you may see it on matt. i don't know about me, natalie.

   >> they call that a man pocket.

   >> whoa!

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