Friday afternoon we arrived in Rio de Janerio; it was named ‘The River of January’ as the first settlers thought they had found a river and arrived on the first of January. After checking into a hotel in the Ipanema neighborhood, we thought we would stroll the famous shopping streets and the beach. A howling wind followed by a pouring rain drove us into a bar for a glass of wine and a recalibration of our plans. Given the weather, we decided an early dinner and bed were in the cards. By total accident we ended up at the Veloso bar/restaurant (now renamed the Garota de Ipanema) where the famous “Girl from Ipanema” song was penned. The meal was good, the waiters were better, and we were serenaded by a traveling samba band that played outside ... read more

Two days in Paraty were hardly enough. The town dates from the earliest 1700s and was the initial major port of entry for the Portuguese. From here the treasures of Brazil, gold and silver, were shipped back to the colonial authorities. In the mid-1700s the Portuguese ran the French out of Rio de Janeiro and moved all the major trading efforts there, effectively abandoning Paraty. Fortunately, the city merely slumbered rather than being torn down; with the colonial architecture and cobbled streets mostly abandoned and quiet, but preserved. Today it is a thriving tourist destination, with dozens of art galleries, restaurants, and music filling the air. The well-preserved architecture is painted as it would have been during the Colonial period, and many of the windows and doors are restored. There are no cars allowed in the ... read more

If you love cities, Sao Paulo is for you. I am not usually a city guy, but with the help of our good friend Skip Roberts, known as Uncle Skip to the boys, we navigated this empire of over 20 million people (it is one of the 9 largest cities in the world, depending upon how you count). We arrived at GRU on time, as all of our flights in this country have been, and grabbed a cab for the hotel. Very civilized, you go to the taxi stand, they compute the fare there, you pay, get a receipt, and then to the cab (no guessing if you were overcharged). After checking in at the hotel, we were off. The metro was our main source of transportation, efficient, air-conditioned and the stations were often filled with ... read more

We were able to spend one day at Alter do Chao, claimed to be one of the best beaches in Brazil. They call it an island, but actually it is a peninsula that gradually grows in size as the river goes down during the dry season. You can actually wade out to it at one point. But today for $5R, or about $2.25 US, a guy in a rowboat taxied us out to the beach. It is the perfect beach! Huts where grilled fish is prepared and cold beer served! Families with tables, some in the water all day. And there are plenty of things to keep everyone amused, including the Banana, a long inflatable towed by a boat that deliberately flips you into the water several times (yes, I rode it with the family). Geli’s ... read more

We left Manaus after spending the morning wandering the plaza around the Opera House and picking up some native made baskets at a shop that supports several villages and their artisans. Unfortunately, we were encouraged by the tourist center folks not to go downtown as it was a holiday and very few people would be around, making us a target for muggers—ah, city life the world around. We grabbed a cab at the hotel for the airport—and wondered why the driver, after stowing our luggage, crossed himself, whispered a few prayers, and kissed the cross hanging from his mirror. We were soon to find out as he drove like a bat out of hell and clearly, having made peace with his savior, feared no evil (or bus, or traffic light, or other driver!). There are often ... read more