Here’s our annual rewrite of our list of our list of favourite places in Brazil (previous editions include Top 10: favourite places in Brazil and 10 must-see places in Brazil).

Here is the 2011 ranking of my 10 must-see places in Brazil. Click on the names of the places to go to their full destination cards here at the blog, and find out more about them. Some of the destinations are really well-known. Others fall within the hidden jewel description. I have only included places I have been to (places I’ve read/heard about but I haven’t visited didn’t make it into the ranking).

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1. Fernando de Noronha (Pernambuco)

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2. Paraty (Rio de Janeiro)

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3. Lençóis Maranhenses (Maranhão)

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4. the Pantanal (Mato Grosso and Mato Grosso do Sul)

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5. Alter do Chão and the river Tapajós (Pará)

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6. Iguaçu falls (Paraná and Argentina)

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7. Ilha Grande (Rio de Janeiro)

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8. Brasilia (Distrito Federal)

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9. Boipeba (Bahia)

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10. Curitiba (Paraná)

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RELATED POSTS:
10 must-see places in Brazil (2010 edition)
10 must-see places in Brazil (2009 edition)
Brazil 12 months 12 destinations
top 10 Brazilian beaches – 2009 edition
São Paulo’s top ten

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Here’s our anual rewrite of our list of our list of favourite places in Brazil (previous editions include Top 10: favourite places in Brazil and 10 must-see places in Brazil). Here is the 2010 ranking of my 10 must-see places in Brazil. Click on the names of the places to go to their full destination cards here at the blog, and find out more about them. Some of the destinations are really well-known. Others fall within the hidden jewel description. I have only included places I have been to (places I’ve read/heard about but I haven’t visited didn’t make it into the ranking).

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1. Fernando de Noronha (Pernambuco)

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2. Paraty (Rio de Janeiro)

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3. Lençóis Maranhenses (Maranhão)

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4. Ilha Grande (Rio de Janeiro)

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5. Iguaçu falls (Paraná and Argentina)

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6. Brasilia (Distrito Federal)

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7. Boipeba (Bahia)

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8. Bonito (Mato Grosso do Sul)

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9. Inhotim (Minas Gerais)

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10. Rio de Janeiro

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RELATED POSTS:
Brazil 12 months 12 destinations
top 10 Brazilian beaches – 2009 edition
São Paulo’s top ten

subscribe to the Brazil Travel Blog by Email
follow the Brazil Travel Blog on Twitter

Having just revisited our favourite destinations in Brazil (10 must-see places in Brazil) it is time now to turn to the beaches. This is the 2009 version of our now two years old top 10: beaches. As drawing up an ordered list of 10 beaches is no mean task, I’ve decided to give three medals in order of preference and then present the remaining 7 beaches in pure alphabetical order.

If you click on location on the map you will be taken to a Google Maps page showing the exact location of the beach.

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1. THE MEDAL WINNERS

GOLD MEDAL: SANCHO beach (Fernando de Noronha, Pernambuco – location on the map)

Arriving in Fernando de Noronha is neither easy nor cheap. Once in the island, getting to Sancho beach is not that simple either. You can either descend through a metal stair placed on crack on the cliff, get there by boat, or walk from Porcos beach (access through this path has been closed for quite a while now). But the reward is worth the effort. Sancho is a crescent-shaped beach, with a massive cliff as a background and crystal-clear waters where you will want to dive as soon as you reach the beach. Half of what Sancho has to offer is found under the sea level. Sancho on its own would make a trip to Noronha worthwhile. More information at: destination: Fernando de Noronha.

SILVER MEDAL: ILHA DO CAMPECHE beach (Florianópolis, Santa Catarina – location on the map)

Access to the second beach on our ranking is not easy either. To reach the island of Campeche you need to board a boat and face the waves for an hour or jump into a rubber dinghy for a swift five-minute sail to the island. To ensure the survival for future generations of the idyllic island the time visitors are allowed to stay in the island is limited – and strictly enforced. The beach at Campeche island is dazzling. Both literally, as its whiter than white sands will blind your vision, and figuratively, as the combination of the white sands and turquoise waters is breathtaking. No other Brazilian beach gets as close to the Caribbean as Campeche Island. More information at Ilha do Campeche.

BRONZE MEDAL: CONCEIÇÃO beach (Fernando de Noronha, Pernambuco – location on the map)

One never tires of contemplating the imposing presence of the Morro do Pico, the serene keeper of Conceição beach. Another Noronha jewel, with one of the most beautiful beach landscapes of the entire Brazil. More information at: destination: Fernando de Noronha.

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2. FROM FIFTH TO TENTH (in strict alphabetical order)

Bainema (Boipeba, Bahía – location on the map)

Barra do Sahy (Barra do Sahy, São Paulo – location on the map)

Cachadaço (Trindade, Río de Janeiro – location on the map)

Domingas Dias (Ubatuba, São Paulo – location on the map)

Forno (Arraial do Cabo, Río de Janeiro – location on the map)

Mangues (Ilha Grande – location on the map)

Porcos (Fernando de Noronha, Pernambuco – location on the map)

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3. HONOURABLE MENTIONS

There is only room for ten beaches on our ranking, but there are plenty more beaches we really like. In alphabetical order:

Amor (Pipa, Rio Grande do Norte)
Bahia dos Golfinhos (Pipa, Rio Grande do Norte)
Caçimba do Padre (Fernando de Noronha, Pernambuco)
Coqueiros (Trancoso, Bahía)
Félix (Ubatuba, São Paulo)
Ipanema (Rio de Janeiro)
Lopes Mendes (Ilha Grande, Río de Janeiro)
Moreré (destinos: Boipeba, Bahía)
Paraty-Mirim (Paraty, Río de Janeiro)
Pitinga (Arraial d’Ajuda, Bahía)
Quarta Praia (Morro de São Paulo, Bahía)

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Admittedly, São Paulo is not the easiest of places for the occasional tourist. Gigantic in size, chaotic in nature. However, the city gets a totally undeserved bad rap. To me São Paulo is – more than any other place in the country – the perfect encapsulation of some key Brazilian themes (both positive and negative).

The Top Ten I’m publishing today is a list originally made for our blog de São Paulo (the Spanish-language blog where we make an effort to unravel the city). I’ve made a few adaptations to the list. As this is a list of recommendations for the foreign visitor, I had three basic considerations when I drew up the ranking:

• easy of access using the public transportation system
• relevance in the context of what São Paulo is and represents
• affordable cost

SÃO PAULO’s TOP 10

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1. VISIT THE LIBERDADE NEIGHBOURHOOD

Why? The Japanese/Chinese/Korean quarter of São Paulo is a place like no other that will challenge your preconceived ideas about what is “typically Brazilian”.
How do I get there? There is a subway station (line 3, blue) right in the middle of the Liberdade.
How much? No entrance fees.
How long do I need? Spend a morning or an afternoon.
Other tips Have lunch at a tradicional Japanese restaurant. There are dozens and dozens of them. Among our favourites, Gombe , Isao or Yamaga.

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2. GET TO THE TOP OF THE TORRE DO BANESPA BUILDING

Why? Because from the top of the skyscrapper you have a unique and mesmerizing 360-degree view of São Paulo – you’ll begin to understand the true meaning of megalopolis.
How do I get there? Take the subway (line 3, blue) to the São Bento station. It’s a five-minute walk from there.
How much? Access to the top of the tower is free. Bring ID with you.
How long do I need? One hour. The time you are allowed to stay at the top of the building has been drastically reduced in recent months.
Other tips The tower only opens from Monday to Friday – if it’s raining access to the top will be closed.

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3. VISIT THE MERCADO MUNICIPAL (CENTRAL MARKET)

Why? Because the market offers a unique and fascinating feast of colours and flavours. Wander around the stalls and marvel at the exotic fruits on display. And don’t forget to visit the bars for some classic São Paulo appetizers.
How do I get there? Take the subway (line 1, blue) to the São Bento station. It’s a ten-minute walk from there.
How much? Entrance is free. You will pay whatever you eat at the bars.
How long do I need? A couple of hours.
Other tips You can combine the visit to the market with the visit to the Torre do Banespa (number 2 on your list).

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4. WALK ALONG THE AVENIDA PAULISTA

Why? Because along its 3 km you will get a taste of São Paulo’s melting pot.
How do I get there? Take the subway (line 2, green) to either the Brigadeiro station or the Consolação station (eastern and western ends of the avenue respectively).
How much? Free.
How long do I need? A couple of hours. Longer if you plan on visiting museums or shops.
Other tips At lunch time and at the end of the day (at around 6 pm) is when the avenue teems with people.

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5. HAVE FUN AT THE MUSEU DO FUTEBOL (SOCCER MUSEUM)

Why? If football (soccer) doesn’t immediately conjure up the idea “Brazil” no other words will do. The soccer museum it’s a state-of-the art interactive museum where terrific fun is guaranteed (even for those not that keen on football).
How do I get there? Take the subway (line 2, green) to Clínicas station and then walk 15 minutes to the museum.
How much? Adults pay R$6.
How long do I need? Between two and four hours.
Tips You can make the visit to the museum an extension of your walk along Avenida Paulista (number 4 on the list). Have a look at this blog’s entry Museu do Futebol (football/soccer museum).

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6. HAVE BREAKFAST IN SYTLE AT AT BAKERY

Why? Do you want to feel like a true paulista (São Paulo native)? Then have a mammoth buffet breakfast at a bakery.
How do I get there? They are all over town. Ask where your are staying if there is a bakery serving buffet breakfast nearby. Chances are there will be one. If not, take a taxi and head of to a popular bakery like the 24/7 “Casa dos Pães”.
How much? Between R$15 and R$30 for the breakfast buffet. It usually includes an inimaginable amount of food, both savoury and sweet, as well as juices and coffee.
How long do I need? You can have breakfast in one hour or make it last for much longer.
Tips People on a diet, abstain.

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7. PIZZA FOR DINNER

Why? Because the pizza is the most traditional of all São Paulo servings. Paulistas simply love pizzas.
How do I get there? There are excellent pizzerias just everywhere.
How much? From R$20 to R$50 a large pizza for two.
How long do I need? A couple of hours at the end of the day (most pizzerias only open for dinner).
Tips You can order different ingredients for each half of the pizza. Try the pizza with sundried tomatoes and rocket salad. Finger-licking good!

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8. A STROLL AT THE PARQUE DO IBIRAPUERA

Why? When in Rome… when a paulista needs some fresh air, they take a stroll at the Park, right in the middle of the city.
How do I get there? Take a taxi or walk down from the avenida Paulista (1/2 hour).
How much? Entrance is free.
How long do I need? Half a day.
Tips The park is quiet during the week, crowded during the weekends. There is a restaurant in the park where you can have lunch.

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9. GO SHOPPING – AT POPULAR PRICES!

Why? See with your very own eyes the 25 de Março street or the Bom Retiro quarter, the mecca for shoppers from all over Brazil.
How do I get there? For the 25 de Março, take the subway (line 1, blue) to the São Bento station. It’s two minutes from there. For the Bom Retiro quarter, take the same subway line but leave at the Luz station. It’s 5 minutes from there.
How much? Whatever you want to spend.
How long do I need? Difficult to stand longer than half a day.
Tips Saturday is the busiest day. Avoid it if you are intent on doing some serious shopping. Go on a Saturday if the anthropological experience is what you are after. Pay extraordinary attention to your personal belongings when walking around the center of town. If you are carrying a rucksack or bag, do as the locals, hold it in front of you with your arms around it.

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10. GO WINDOW-SHOPPING – AT OUTRAGEOUS PRICES!

Why? You will understand better basic Brazilian concepts like unequal income distribution and filthy rich. If you can’t visit a favela, you can do the opposite, do your own ‘the rich and the powerful’ tour.
How do I get there? You can walk to the Oscar Freire street from the avenida Paulista. To go to the Shopping Cidade Jardim, take a taxi.
How much? Window-shopping is free.
How long do I need? A couple of hours of ostentatius display of wealth is just about enough.
Tips Saturday is the best day if you want to see the rich driving around and showing off their imported cars.
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You can find the location of all the places mentioned on the list at the following Google Maps mash-up:

See São Paulo’s top ten on a full page

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RELATED POSTS:
five reasons to love São Paulo
five reasons to hate São Paulo
youth hostels in São Paulo
Museu do Futebol (football/soccer museum)
Morumbi stadium (São Paulo FC)
Octavio Café, São Paulo
terminal Tietê bus station in São Paulo
the São Paulo subway system
Tanabata Matsuri 2008 in São Paulo
Praça Benedito Calixto, São Paulo
Toyo Matsuri in São Paulo
São Paulo traffic images live on the Internet

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Nearly two years after the publication of my first list of favourite places in Brazil (Top 10: favourite places in Brazil) a revamped version of that list makes the blog’s frontpage – gaining a catchier title in the process. So here is the 2009 ranking of my 10 must-see places in Brazil. Click on the names of the places to go to their full destination cards here at the blog, and find out more about them. Some of the destinations are really well-known. Others fall within the hidden jewel description. Bear in mind I have only included places I have been to (places I’ve read/heard about but I haven’t visited didn’t make it into the ranking).

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1. Fernando de Noronha (Pernambuco)

Noronha is where you will find the most beautiful beaches in the whole of Brazil, and crystal-clear waters of unparalleled beauty. If that wasn’t enough, locals do care about the environment, no mean fate in the Brazilian context. A unique place. Not even its dear price tag will remove it from the number 1.

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2. Paraty (Rio de Janeiro)

Atlantic rainforest, desert beaches and the best preserved colonial architecture in the country come together to make of Paraty a very special destination.

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3. Lençóis Maranhenses (Maranhão)

While it’s not easy to reach the Lençóis Maranhenses, the reward more than makes up for the long journey. A unique landscape of dunes and lagoons where mass tourism hasn’t left its mark yet.

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4. Ilha Grande (Rio de Janeiro)

In spite of the numerous threats looming, Ilha Grande is a fantastic and incredibly beautiful nature destination.

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5. Boipeba (Bahia)

Wild beaches and crystal-clear waters the way you won’t find anywhere else in Brazil – bar Noronha. On top of that, a charming quiet village where civilization has yet to leave its imprint.

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6. Iguaçu falls (Paraná and Argentina)

The breathtaking beauty of the falls will captive you the moment you set your eyes on them.

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7. Bonito (Mato Grosso do Sul)

In the southernmost tip of the Pantanal lies Bonito, a mecca for ecotourism and fun in close contact with nature.

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8. Morro de São Paulo (Bahia)

A unique combination of sublime beaches with a great atmosphere at the end of the day.

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9. Arraial d’Ajuda (Bahia)

Great variety of beaches and a lovely village. Rest and relax during the day, have fun when the night begins.

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10. Jericoacoara (Ceará)

Another destination with a nearly-mythical status among travellers. Captivating sand dunes in a remote setting.

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HONOURABLE MENTION. Florianópolis (Santa Catarina)

The only reason for Florianópolis not making the top 10 is that rather than a single destination, the island of Florianópolis contains an exciting collection of villages and beaches.

Ready to make that trip and looking for accommodation in Brazil? Choose from a wide range of cheap to luxury hotels in Rio de Janeiro and many other cities from beautiful Brazil!

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You might remember this blog’s entry on our top 10: beaches, published quite a while ago. This new entry is a reworking of the original list, to which we have added satellite images of the beaches. Sweet dreams of crystal water beaches!

1. Praia do Sancho, Fernando de Noronha, Pernambuco.

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2. Praia dos Porcos, Fernando de Noronha, Pernambuco.

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3. Ilha do Campeche, Florianópolis, Santa Catarina.

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4. Praia do Forno, Arraial do Cabo, Rio de Janeiro.

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5. Praia do Cachadaço, Trindade, Rio de Janeiro.

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6. Praia da Conceição, Fernando de Noronha, Pernambuco.

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7. Praia de Domingas Dias, Ubatuba, São Paulo.

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8. Baía dos Golfinhos, Pipa, Rio Grande do Norte.

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9. Praia de Paraty-Mirim, Paraty, Rio de Janeiro.

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10. Praia de Barra do Sahy, Barra do Sahy, São Paulo.

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This is the 7th of ten entries entries presenting videos from the artists I wrote about at Top 10: Brazilian music (B-sides). I am following the alphabetical order I used on that entry.

The seventh artist on the list are O Rappa. Exceptionally I have included three clips on the entry. They are one of the Brazilian bands that pay particular care to the way their videos are filmed. The first two videos I’m showing here were directed by Kátia Lund, co-director of City of God. They portrait two hard-hitting stories. The third video is a good example of kinetic typography made years before it became fashionable and everyone decided you couldn’t do a video if you didn’t have letters dancing around.

A Minha Alma

O Que Sobro do Céu

Instinto Coletivo

This is an entirely personal list with Brazilian musicians that feature often on my playlists. I have deliberatedly omitted from the list the big names of Brazilian music. I love the music of Marisa Monte and Chico Buarque, I enjoy very much the music of so many Brazilian artists of worldwide fame. But with this list I want to talk about other artists, most of them very popular in Brazil, but hardly known outside the borders of this country. The list is by no means restrictive. No list could do justice to the seemingly inexhaustible source of musical talent Brazil harbours. The artists featured in this top-10 are listed in alphabetical order.

ANTONIO NÓBREGA (website). From Pernambuco, Antonio Nóbrega is a unique artist: singer, dancer, circus performer, an authority on Brazilian folklore. His records contain wonderful compilations of Brazilian musical folk traditions nearly extinguished. He’s based in São Paulo and his shows are a must. A record: Madeira que cupim não roi. Three songs: Lição de namoro, Olodumaré, Coco da lagartixa. See also on this blog: videos by Antonio Nóbrega.

CHICO CÉSAR (website). Singer and songwriter from Paraíba, like so many others, based in São Paulo. One of the most important songwriters in contemporary Brazilian popular music. A record: Respeitem meus cabelos, brancos. Three songs: 4h15 ou 10 P/3, Quando eu fecho os olhos, Flor de mandacaru. See also on this blog: videos by Chico César.

DAVI MORAES . Son of Moraes Moreira, and former musician of Marisa Monte, Caetano, Carlinhos Brown and many others, Davi Moraes is an extraordinary guitar player. A record: Papo Macaco. Three songs: Dentro da minha cabeça, Pretoriana, Na massa. See also on this blog: videos by Davi Moraes.

GABRIEL O PENSADOR (website). Clever rapper from Rio de Janeiro, Gabriel is the author os some of the most forceful lyrics of the last decades. On a 2001 poll by Rio newspaper O Dia Gabriel was chosen as the person that symbolized Rio better. A record: Seja você mesmo, mas não seja sempre o mesmo. Three songs: Até quando?, Cantão, Brasa. See also on this blog: videos by Gabriel O Pensador.

LENINE (website). From Pernambuco, Lenine is one of the heavy weights of contemporary Brazilian popular music, both as a result of his own records and his contributions to the work of other artists. He’s quite popular in France. A record: Na Pressão. Three songs: Lavadeira do rio, Rosebud (o verbo e a verba), Paciência. See also on this blog: videos by Lenine.

MARINA DE LA RIVA (website). The Spanish language enters this list through the captivating voice of Cuban-Brazilian artist Marina de la Riva. Her first album, with Cuban songs tinged with bossa-nova and other Brazilian rhythms, and a few Brazilian classics, heralds a spectacular career. A record: Marina de la Riva. Three songs: Central constancia, Ta-hi!, Adeus, Maria Fulô – La Mulata Chancletera. See also on this blog: videos by Marina de la Riva.

O RAPPA (website). Rio band that plays a blend of rap and reggae. A record: LadoB Lado A. Three songs: Pescador de Ilusões, Minha alma (a paz que eu não quero), O que sobrou do céu. See also on this blog: videos by O Rappa

SKANK (website). Veteran pop-rock-reggae band founded in Belo Horizonte in 1991. Some of their songs have become real anthems (see Garota Nacional). A record: O Samba Poconé. Three songs: Garota Nacional, Vamos fugir, Vou deixar.

VANESSA DA MATA (website). Singer from Mato Grosso. A record: Essa boneca tem manual. Three songs: Zé, Ai, Ai, Ai, Joaõzinho.

ZECA BALEIRO (website). Artist from São Luís de Maranhão who settled a long time ago in São Paulo. In spite of his young age, he has composed songs for lots of Brazilian artists. A record: Vô Imbolá. Three songs: Mamãe Oxum, Meu amor meu bem me ame, Nega tu dá no couro.

Which are the countries sending the most tourists to Brazil? Here’s the top ten (data from 2005):

1. Argentina. 992.000 tourists. For 87% it’s not their first visit to Brazil. Main destinations: Rio de Janeiro, Búzios, São Paulo, Florianópolis y Porto Alegre.
2. United States. 794.000 tourists. For 61% it’s not their first visit to Brazil. Main destinations: Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Belo Horizonte, Salvador, Búzios.
3. Portugal. 358.000 tourists. For 67% it’s not their first visit to Brazil. Main destinations: Recife, Fortaleza, Salvador, Rio de Janeiro, Natal.
4. Uruguay. 342.000 tourists. For 90% it’s not their first visit to Brazil. Main destinations: Porto Alegre, São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Florianópolis, Balneário Camboriú.
5. Germany. 309.000 tourists. For 58% it’s not their first visit to Brazil. Main destinations: Rio de Janeiro, Salvador, Foz do Iguaçu, São Paulo, Recife.
6. Italy. 304.000 tourists. For 64% it’s not their first visit to Brazil. Main destinations: Salvador, Rio de Janeiro, Fortaleza, Recife, Foz do Iguaçu.
7. France. 252.000 tourists. For 50% it’s not their first visit to Brazil. Main destinations: Rio de Janeiro, Salvador, São Paulo, Foz do Iguaçu, Fortaleza.
8. Paraguay. 249.000 tourists. For 70% it’s not their first visit to Brazil. Main destinations: Balneário Camboriú, Florianópolis, São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Bombinhas.
9. Spain. 173.000 tourists. For 55% it’s not their first visit to Brazil. Main destinations: Salvador, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Recife, Fortaleza.
10. Chile. 170.000 tourists. For 66% it’s not their first visit to Brazil. Main destinations: São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Búzios, Florianópolis, Porto Alegre.

The information on this entry is extracted from the Anuário Turismo 2007-2008 published by the Brazilian magazine Exame, a comprehensive source on anything related to tourism in Brazil.

On the section of the magazine dedicated to foreign visitors, you can read about the aspects of Brazil that get the best and the worst marks by the visitors that came to the country.

Among the aspects that get the best marks, there is near unanimity: hospitality, accommodation and food.

Among the aspects that get the worst marks coincidences abound as well: safety, cleanliness, tourist information and airports (and to think this information dates before the beginning of the current crisis at the airports!).

I am presenting my very own personal list of 10 moments lived in Brazil filled with emotion. They do not follow any particular order.

1. a huge turtle (up until then you had never stopped to think how large turtles can be) swimming placidly next to you, in complete silence; suddenly a shoal of fish swims by right in front of you while you approach a sunken ship where thousands of colourful fish rejoice. Diving in Noronha has to be one of the most intense experiences you can live in Brazil.
   
2. up to four or five dolphins jumping out of the water simultatenously, while dozens of them follow the small boat from where you contemplate the amazing display. Encountering dolphins in Noronha is joy at its purest.
3. in spite of the pushing and shoving; of the endless queue of tourists all waiting to take exactly the same snapshot in front of the statue, arms opened; in spite of the awful mood of the professional photographers; in spite of the street vendors; when you reach the balcony of the Corcovado mountain and the whole of Rio unfolds in front of your very own eyes, your heart and mind are transported somewhere else.
   
4. the ceaseless rhythm of the percussion, the tune you will not stop humming even after you’ve gone to sleep, the festival of colours and dazzling costumes, the bumba-meu-boi festival in São Luís is pure magic.
   
5. from the top of the sunset dune in Jericoacoara there is a terrific panoramic view of the sea and the dunes. When the moon is full, it will appear right at the same time as the sun goes down, turning the experience into an unforgettable moment.
   
6. think of the wildest rollercoaster your mind can imagine and then take all safety devices out of the picture. That’s what a buggy ride on the Genipabu dunes feels like. Your stomach will turn, you will bid farewell to friends an family endless times, you will swallow tons of sand, and your heart will be tested to the limit.
   
7. everything in the village is special, but watching the sun go down behind the Serra do Mar from the harbour in Paraty is an unforgettable moment that can open the door to never-ending passions.
   
8. an endless succession of dunes and green lagoons, absolutely no one around, the merciless sun being your only companion. A walk through the Lençóis Maranhenses is intense to the extreme.
   
9. there is something unreal about that intense red colour. Because of that, contemplating the scarlet ibises near the Baronesa beach in Alcântara is an activity where the notion of time quickly vanishes.
   
10. the roaring of the waters and its spray are felt from afar, but the real power of the place is only truly manifested when you reach the mighty Devil’s Throat at the Iguazu Falls. Don’t be surprised should you find yourself leaning dangerously towards, such is the power of the enchanment [the observation deck for the Devil's Throat is actually in Argentina, but most of what you see from there it's on Brazil].
    

I want to close my list with a very special emotion, that can be experienced anywhere on Brasil, but only once in a long while. In terms of strong emotions, few things can compare to the explosion of joy that follows the conquest by Brazil of a soccer World Cup. The last time it happened I was lucky to be here to witness it, it was 2002.

Here are all the Top 10 lists published in the blog so far.