Rio – Historic or Shabby Chic?

27-29 September 2024

There exists far more to Rio than sandy beaches, Carnival, and volcanic plugs. The city is a jumble of wide chaotic streets, a fusion of colonial and modern, and a population of 6 million. Colorful favelas (slums) crawl up the hillsides.

But Rio is also surrounded by bays, hills and forests of natural beauty. Rio looks a mosaic from a distance but up close its heartbeat is robust, loud and lively. Exploring Rio represents a definite real-life experience. 

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Free-Range Thoughts – Brasil

24 September 2024

Life is good. I sit in the hotel bar in Rio de Janeiro, enjoying a cold Antarctica Original Cerveja, catching up on writing, watching YouTube, checking out news, hearing English around me even tho sometimes drowned out by fire alarms blasting.

The bartender goes about his business. I do too.

It has been a very busy 3 weeks. Time to collect my stream-of-thoughts. So many impressions, experiences, feelings. To answer the muzac piped into the lobby, yes Cindy, “girls they wanna have fun.”

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Porto Jofre – Searching for Yaguará

21 Sept 2024

The native Tupí-Guaraní word for jaguar is yaguará or “he who kills with one leap.” When it comes to jaguars, this is an excellent description. To watch a jaguar stalk and pounce is a unique experience.

Boating the rivers of the Pantanal, I was fortunate to witness two such hunts. Not all jaguars were lazing in their special cool spots. Some were hunting, some were arguing, all were doing what jaguars do.

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