"BRAZIL" Brazil by swesn

Brazil Travel Guide: 12,770 reviews and 30,955 photos

Couple at Ipanema, Rio de Janeiro - Brazil

BRAZIL 2002 >>

...+| Part of RTW 2002-2003 |+...

Sun-drenched bodies, brown and baking
All shapes and sizes, decked out in bikinis
The curved beaches, the warm Atlantic
The party never ends, it stretches to infinity

In this land, the music plays on
Feathers and sequins gyrate to samba
A radio here, a street band there
Booming oludum alternates with suave bossa nova

A limitless coastline, the odd mountains
An impenetrable jungle that knows no peers
Crystalline rivers, blue subterranean lakes
And a waterfall that brings tears

... written by trisha

From UNITED KINGDOM 2002 ...

One needs many superlatives to describe Brazil... or at least, it is in the TOP TEN LIST in many areas.

It is the fifth largest country in the world. It has the sixth largest population in the world. It is home to the largest rain forest in the world. It has the second longest river in the world. It has the longest continuous coastline in the world. It is one of the most biologically diverse countries in the world. It has the largest number of Roman Catholics in the world. And it holds the craziest and wildest party in the world.

Surfing waves at Ilha do Mel

Indulge your senses to the wonders of Brazil in my travelogues...

For more photos, please click :

RIO DE JANEIRO

SALVADOR DA BAHIA

LENCOIS

ILHEUS

CARAVELAS

OURO PRETO

ILHA DO MEL

PANTANAL

BONITO

PARQUE NACIONAL DO IGUACU

To ARGENTINA [1] 2002 ...

Also, please travel with my articles at :

EMPIRE OF THE SUN-TANNED
( .. Rio de Janeiro .. Salvador .. Lencois .. Parque Nacional de Chapada Diamantina .. )

ONE LONG BUS-RIDE TOO MANY
( .. Ilheus .. Caravelas .. Ouro Preto .. )

BABES IN BIKINI-LAND
( .. Rio de Janeiro .. Curitiba .. Ilha do Mel .. )

CROUCHING CAYMANS HIDDEN PIRANHAS
( .. Campo Grande .. Pantanal .. Bonito .. Foz do Iguacu .. Puerto Igauzu )

Fishing for piranhas in Pantanal

BRAZIL 2005 >>
... +| Part of SA 2005 |+ ...

In 2002, I wandered from Rio de Janeiro to Salvador de Bahia and back to the southern end of Brazil - beach-bumming at Ilha do Mel, hiking at Parque Nacional de Diamantina near Lencois, whale-watching near Caravelas, piranha-fishing and animal-observing at the Pantanal, abseiling and river-snorkelling at Bonito, waterfall-gazing at Iguacu Falls... Brazil, with its incredible beaches, spectacular nature, diverse wildlife and funky cool culture, has to be indulged thoroughly with all five... no... SIX senses.

During my return to South America in 2005, I spent 2 months traversing up the length of the Brazilian coastline, from Porto Alegre back to familiar Rio de Janeiro, to the quaint town of Paraty, and to my beloved Salvador, to Olinda and Recife, to Fortaleza and great beaches nearby and to the not-so-nice town of Belen.

Along the way, drunk on fruit juices, I stayed with many hosts and made wonderful friends. I experienced music from bossa nova to Olodom to Candomble to organ music at the cathedral to violin serenades in the streets to boleros and forros in a dancing hall to samba in a club. Wow, truly wow.

After lying on numerous gorgeous beaches, I spent 5 nights lying in a hammock with more than 200 'boatmates' as I journeyed down the Amazon River on a riverboat. Hail to the spirit of Maqroll!!

My travelogues below detail my ups and downs in Brazil...

02) AND GOD CREATED BRAZILIAN WOMEN
( .. Porto Alegre .. Rio de Janeiro .. Parati .. )

03) THE LAND OF THE SPIRITS
( .. Salvador .. Olinda .. Recife .. Fortaleza .. Icapui .. Canoa Quebrada .. )

04) A RIVER RUNS THROUGH IT
( .. Belen .. Amazon River .. Manuas .. )

Last visit to Brazil: Jul 2005
Intro Updated Jan 12, 2008
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Reviews (92)

PARATI Hotels (17)

Pros : - Friendly staff - Cheapest place in town when compared to the pousados - I quite like the common area with... more travel advice

Great view from the posada's cabin - Brazil

CANOA QUEBRADA Hotels (17)

Pros : - Friendly staff - As rooms are located on top of a slope accessed to be wooden ladders, it offers a superb view... more travel advice

BELO HORIZONTE Hotels (17)

Pros : - Large clean rooms with an enormous shared bathroom / toilet - Seems nice and quiet - One of the cheapest and... more travel advice

SALVADOR Hotels (17)

Pros : - Great dining area - Breakfast included - Lockers available - Wonderful dormitories and rather good toilets /... more travel advice

Tourist Traps (1)
NATAL: DUNES AT GENIPABU
Warnings and Dangers (3)
See All NATAL: NO VALUABLES AT BEACH
Things to Do (25)
See All AMAZON RIVER : TAKE A RIVERBOAT DOWN THE...
Restaurants (16)
See All OLINDA : TAPIOCA
Shopping (7)
See All FORTALEZA : HAMMOCKS

Off The Beaten Path (5)
See All CARAVELAS: PARQUE NACIONAL DE ABROLHOS
Transportation (3)
See All TRAIN FROM CURITIBA TO PARANAGUA
Favorites (1)
READ BOOKS BY BRAZILIAN WRITERS
Local Customs (14)
See All THUMBS-UP : TUDO BOM!!
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Comments (6)

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Jim_Eliason Dec 27, 2007 at 6:09 PM

great detailed tips! I can't wait to get back to Brazil to explore more!
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kokoryko May 22, 2007 at 2:14 PM

A wonderful page Trisha!! Your Salvador de Bahia is almost like Jorge Amado's one, with all those African customs still alive. I will come back to read and look at the rest. Bravo!
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nomada Dec 2, 2006 at 6:09 AM

Even more excellent than before, Trisha !!! This couple in Ipanema reflects the essence of Rio, and I like your friends t-logue. Will come back to this page...
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SoccerGirl09 Jul 1, 2003 at 10:00 PM

Hey... Thanks for thinking so highly of my country... I love it too. Next time you go to Brasil you have to go to the Northeast of the county. Take a look at my Fortaleza page. You are going to love the exotic beaches. Beijos!!! :)
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Luiz Jun 29, 2003 at 10:20 AM

You get the best! Great page.
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pepples46 Jun 14, 2003 at 10:08 PM

I am delighted