Brazil

I’m back from my amazing trip to South America. Having had a few days to rest and catch up, I thought I’d share some reflections on how it went.

Wow isn’t enough for this place. The name Iguazú (or, in Portuguese, Iguaçu) is adapted from an indigenous name meaning “big water.” That still isn’t enough to describe it. The important thing to understand when looking at each of the photos I’m showing here is that they each represent a small portion of the falls.

No visit to Rio is complete without a visit to the iconic statue; wouldn’t you agree?

This morning I bid farewell to the convent/hotel where I was staying. Such a lovely hotel. Amazingly well renovated.

Today, I took a bus tour up to Praia do Forte, a tourist beach village about 80 km / 50 miles east of Salvador.

Today I took a brief driving and walking tour around Salvador.

Today I have arrived in Salvador, Brazil, where I will spend the next three days. I am absolutely thrilled with this last-minute historic hotel find in Salvador.

A delightful breakfast here at Hotel Santa Teresa and then it’s off to a new location in Rio. This was a great place to crash and rest up from the rigors of travel. On to the next place!

So it turns out that just showing up in Brazil without a rock solid-plan for what you are going to do and where you’re going to stay is … not great.

First impressions, while I enjoy lunch …

Rio is a study in contrasts. It wears its slums out on its sleeve. There is no escaping that part of the city as you are driven to wherever it is you’re going.