Brazil

Beer Helps Ultra-Marathoner Run Around the World

Heineken beer bottle ©Creative Tools Irish ultra-marathon runner Richard Donovan has become the first man on the planet to run seven marathons on seven continents in less than five days–thanks to a bottle of beer. In just four days, 22 hours and three minutes, Donovan completed marathons at the Russian Novo science base in Antarctica, [...]

Rio Statue Replica Causes Uproar in London

Christ the Redeemer ©David Berkowitz The statue of Christ the Redeemer with open arms in Rio is seen around the world as a symbol of peace and friendship. But residents of a posh north London neighborhood are up in arms at the possibility of the Brazilian national tourist board erecting a temporary replica on the [...]

Brazilian “Sunball” Heats Up New York

Brazilian Beach ©Rodrigo_Soldon New Yorkers got a taste of Brazil smack in the middle of the Flatiron District. Steps away from Madison Square Garden, Brazil’s tourism office set up a “sunball” in an attempt to draw visitors to the sunny nation. New Yorkers were invited to step into the giant heated snow globe where they [...]

Rio’s New Museum of Tomorrow

Rio de Janeiro Waterfront © JorgeBRAZIL The waterfront of Rio de Janeiro will soon have a green new addition. The Museu do Amanhã (Museum of Tomorrow), designed by Santiago Calatrava is part of a 5 billion Brazilian real “Marvelous Port” project that will revitalize Rio’s waterfront district. In addition to the Museum of Tomorrow, Recently [...]

Man Gets Attacked by Monkeys at Brazilian Zoo

Monkey © epsos A man with the sudden urge to get some quality time in with the monkeys at a Brazilian zoo ended up being attacked and having to be treated at the hospital. Monkeys at a Brazilian zoo have attacked and injured a man who swam into their enclosure, saying he wanted to play [...]

Photo of the Moment: Road to Nowhere, Brazil

Piranhas Attack 100 at Brazilian Beach

© Marcelo Jorge Vieira Not the best day at the beach for a big crowd last week in Brazil. Authorities in a state in Brazil’s northeast are scrambling to take the fright and the bite off the beach after piranhas sunk their teeth into about 100 beachgoers, UOL Noticias reported. The problem — rather fearsome [...]

Photo of the Moment: Sunset Over Iguazu Falls, Brazil

Amazon River on Google Street View

The Amazon © Nao likuza Tired of getting lost on your way to parties in the Amazon? Always turning left at the cow-devouring piranhas when you meant to turn right? Now you’ll have nothing to worry about next time you’re navigating the world’s second longest river, since Google is bringing its famous street view technology [...]

Losing Something in Salvador: How I Recovered After Getting Robbed in Brazil

If you’re going to be pickpocketed or mugged in Brazil, Salvador is likely to be the place. – Lonely Planet (South America on a Shoestring, 2007) Salvador da Bahia is stunning, dipped in more beach than it knows what to do with. Crowded on the southern tip of a peninsula, like water pooling in the [...]

Photo of the Moment: On the Way Up, Sao Paulo

Photo of the Moment: On Approach, Rio

Beautifying the Slums of Rio With Giant Murals [Gallery]

Since 2006, Dutch artists Haas&Hahn have been painting the favelas (slums) of Rio with giant murals. The before and after shots are truly amazing.

Poverty Tourism Gets Rio Tour Company in Trouble

A Rio de Janeiro tour company could have its license revoked after being caught offering tourists “intimate” tours of the city’s infamous slums, called favelas. Visitors were given the opportunity to meet the drug lords who rule these slums and even be photographed with them. The story was broken by an undercover reporter who paid [...]

Bizarre Culture: Brazil’s National Underwear Day [Video]

Mention the words “Brazil” and “underwear” in the same sentence, and you know you have a really great show on your hands. The normally chaotic train station at Brasilia turned positively frenzied last month as 27 male and female models sashayed down the railway platforms in their undies. The fashion show was organized by the [...]

Travel Book: Chasing Bohemia: A Year of Living Recklessly in Rio de Janeiro

I’ve never been to Brazil. I have, however, met a whole lot of great Brazilian people, and that alone has given me enough reasons to want to visit the country. But a new book by Carmen Michael called Chasing Bohemia: A Year of Living Recklessly in Rio de Janeiro is the cherry on top, and [...]

Photo of the Moment: Near Ceará-Mirim’s Market, Brazil

Poverty Tourism: Exploring the Slums of India, Brazil and South Africa

Amanda Kendle explores poverty tourism in the slums of India, Brazil and South Africa.

Yellow Fever Alert in Brazil

The BBC is reporting a yellow fever alert in Brazil. Brazilian authorities are asking travelers headed to the country to check their vaccination needs, after a man died of yellow fever, the first such case in urban Brazil since 1942. In recent weeks, as many as 12 suspected yellow fever cases have been reported, and [...]

Pocket-sized Movie Review: Cidade de Deus (‘City of God’)

I’m growing a bit blasé in my old age about not needing to see new release movies the instant they premiere. That said, I just watched the five year old Cidade de Deus (“City of God”) over the weekend. It’s an absolute must-see. The story, the characters, the music, the cinematography … I felt like [...]

Santa Draws Heavy Gunfire in Rio de Janeiro

In Rio de Janeiro, not even Santa Claus is safe from the violence on the street. Drug traffickers in one of the city’s slums reportedly fired at a helicopter that was carrying a (not to be confused with the) Santa to a kids’ Christmas Party in the Nova Mare slum. Thankfully, no one was hurt, [...]