Last stop on our vacation was Rio, a city which sounded both invigorating and frightening at the same time. We had allotted 6 days to Rio, mostly due to the scheduling of our tour, and we worried it was too much. (We were right.) We opted to exhaust pretty much every sight in Rio in [...]

Paraty (pronounced Parachee) is a pleasant, colonial town (and a UNESCO heritage site) situated on the Costa Verde which lies on the coastline of Rio de Janeiro state. Its historic centre, in which no cars are allowed, consists of cobblestoned streets and pretty historic buildings. Although the town is becoming more touristed, I was surprised [...]

Iguazu Falls puts Niagara Falls to shame. As a Canadian who has visited the latter numerous times, I feel qualified to say this. While Niagara Falls is surrounded by casinos and fast-food restaurants, Iguazu is surrounded by lush rainforest. We started on the Brazilian side, which is less impressive, but gives a better panoramic view. [...]

Earlier this week, Brazilian troops and police raided Rochinha, the largest shantytown in Rio de Janeiro. When I visited Rio earlier this year, I did a tour of this shantytown (with a company) and it was the highlight of my time in Rio. We learned that monthly rent in a favela goes for about $600 [...]

One of the main reasons I wanted to visit Brazil was my love of its music, especially 60s Bossa Nova. No other music can bring out the same range of emotions out of me. When I hear the strum of the nylon string guitar, I feel excited and invigorated by the complex harmonies and beats. [...]