Family Fun at Rio’s Carnival Bloco for Children
The first thing our children noticed at the Banda de Ipanema Kids Bloco was the shaving cream being squirted by gleefully chuckling Brasilian children. Then, they noticed the confetti being thrown...
View ArticleTop Tips For Carnival in Rio, the Greatest Party on Earth
Like many people I thought Carnival in Rio de Janeiro in Brasil was just one giant party over 5 days. In fact, Carnival in Rio consists of a number of different events (samba parades, balls, and...
View ArticleOuro Preto, the Brasilian Gold Rush Town and its UNESCO World Heritage
Through our open windows we could hear the chirping of the Maritaca parrots over the rattling of cars on the cobblestone streets. The summer rain pelting off the tiled roofs, the clanging of church...
View ArticlePhoto Gallery: The Carnival Parades at the Rio Sambadrome
The first thing I notice at the Rio Sambadrome is the crush of humanity. People are packed into the stadium seating with just enough room for little Brasilian surgically-enhanced bottoms. Personal...
View ArticleExploring the Caraca Nature Reserve in Brasil
The nearly-full moon lent its glow to the oversized metal gates and the front garden path to Caraca monastery at the Caraca Nature Reserve in Brasil. The gardens themselves were dark, the shrubs...
View ArticleBackstage at Rio’s Sambadrome Parades: Grit, Glitter and Gangs
We were open-mouthed at the sheer opulence of the parade floats and costumes in the Sambadrome at Rio’s Carnival. We have been to a lot of parades but we were completely blown away. Between the sound...
View ArticleFrom Dawn until Dusk on the Beaches of Rio
Although you think that you may have seen the scene from movies and photos, nothing prepares you for the real thing. A mass of sun-kissed humanity prowl, pose, and play on the beaches of Rio de Janeiro...
View ArticleThe Selaron Steps, an Homage to Catalonia’s Gaudi
What do you do when you get tired of how rundown your street is looking? Most people would call and complain to the city council. In Rio de Janeiro, though, rundown streets are a dime a dozen and...
View ArticleCasa Mathilde, The Best Portuguese Bakery in Sao Paolo
Given that Brasil was a colony of Portugal, you know that there are going to be Portuguese influences everywhere in the country especially in the food. For example, the Mercado Central has rows of...
View ArticleWhy There’s More in Bahia Brazil than Stunning Beaches
On our trips to Brasil, I really regret that we did not have the time to make it to the Northeastern Province of Bahia. Our expat friends went to the Salvador Carnival in Bahia before they took us to...
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