I fell for Brazil. I loved the architecture, the scenery, the music, the people and the foods of Brazil.
Along the way we took a Tours By Locals for approximately $65 each of Rio. Our tour guide had lived in the US previously and spoke perfect English. He suggested we leave early on our city tour (7:30am) to beat some of the cruise crowds that would be arriving later in the day. Great idea! We visited Christ The Redeemer on the very first tram. The sight is spectacular and the view expansive. We avoided the crowds that were arriving just as we were leaving.
Although Rio has the reputation for crime we were encouraged to not dress overtly fancy and be aware of our surrounding. Greg and I ate in street cafes, drank caipharinas and Brahma beer and fresh empanadas. We took Uber everywhere very inexpensively. The architecture is spectacular and the graffiti covers most buildings along with beautiful street art.
We also visited Sao Bento Monestary, the famous Selaron Steps and Ipenema Beach. With all of it’s riches Rio and Brazil as a country is a dichotomy, the very rich and the brutally poor.
Once we boarded our ship the Azamara Pursuit we journeyed up the coast of Brazil to a beautiful village of Salvador. We took an art walk and I also took a photo excursion shooting the colorful city.
Our last stop in Brazil was Recife. The city is old, tired and not my favorite. The hilight might have been our visit to the Cachaca factory which included tasting of the National drink of Brazil a capharina made with lime, crystal sugar and the very potent cachaca.
Retired Rambling 