Ruins of the Sugar Mill

The Big Bearded Man

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August 24th 2006
To escape Rio de Janeiro, I traveled 4 hours south to a little colonial town called Paraty ("Pah rah chee") whose main attraction was its small size and lack of crime. I was fed up with feeling like a hostage in Rio, not being able to go anywhere by myself and feeling always on edge because of the very real possibility of violence at any moment. Paraty was the perfect antidote. When I arrived ... read more

South America » Brazil » Rio de Janeiro » Paraty

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Following three centuries under the rule of Portugal, Brazil became an independent nation in 1822. By far the largest and most populous country in South America, Brazil overcame more than half a century of military intervention in the governance of t... ... read more