1. The most interesting, colorful country in South America. The people are a tourist sight in themselves
2. The beauty of Rio de Janeiro is legendary, and no let-down in real life. Quite the contrary…
3. The Iguassu Falls, which is more spectacular than any of the more famous waterfalls in the world
4. Going to the carnival in Olinda instead of Rio (a hundred times more authentic and characterful)
5. The old town of Salvador, Pelourinho, with its colorful colonial buildings and evening drum concert
6. Attending a football match or rock concert (Rock in Rio) at the Maracana Stadium
7. Horseback ecotourism at Pantanal, with its rich birdlife
8. Seeing the locals on Ipanema Beach at the weekend
9. The bohemian Praia Mole Beach in Florianópolis
10. Partying the night away in Rio, in the Arco do Teles district
11. The Praia do Sancho, a beach on a small island – Fernando de Noronha – in the state of Pernambuco
12. Baia do Sancho, Fernando de Noronha island
1. The country is so large it causes tourists headaches as they try to figure out a practical way to fit everything into one trip
2. In recent years prices have shot up dramatically, both for locals and tourists
3. The continual worries about safety
4. The unbelievable social gulf between rich and poor
5. Its best to disguise the fact that you’re a tourist (both for security reasons, and because people will try to rip you off)
6. In many places the food is fantastic, but in even more places it’s lousy
7. Brazilians drive everywhere, and in big cities the traffic situation is appalling
8. São Paulo is vast, and it left an equally enormous (negative) impression on me: it’s a disappointing, dirty, uncomfortable place
9. Cheating taxi drivers
10. Domestic flights are hideously expensive, and Brasilia is absolutely not cheap
errar é humano