Mon 28 May 2007
After 35 hours of travel, I just arrived home from the Amazon jungle. I will have a lot to say about my travels, but I think that first, a few brief thoughts are in order.
Brazil is a country of proud people with a beautiful blending of cultures and races. Brazilians, quick with a smile, are forever passionate and gracious. In a world of gender blending, Brazilian women remain ladies with perfected class, elegance and style. Though the country’s infrastructure classifies them as third world, they are experiencing explosive growth and are posed to become a more significant player on the world’s industrial stage. Samba dancing is a unifying thread that ties the diverse people together and helps maintain a strong national identity. In the face of challenges, the music renews them with hope for the future.
Whatever is in store for the magnificent country and its people, one thing is certain, though change is inevitable, the persistent celebratory spirit of Brazil will never fade.
June 5th, 2007 at 12:13 am
[…] Part of our Brazilian adventure included a canoe trip down a tributary of the Black River (which feeds into the Amazon.) As we canoed through a dense jungle swamp, it occurred to me that the river probably contained piranha. At first the thought was unnerving, as the canoe had shallow sides and was sitting low in the water. It wouldn’t take much for one of those monsters to flick itself into the boat and latch onto my leg. That fear soon passed and was replaced by a morbid desire for a wounded chicken. I’ve heard that piranhas can strip an animal in mere seconds, but hearing something and seeing something are entirely different. Sadly, no chicken was to be had. I did, however, confirm that the river was home to the meat-stripping fiends. […]