Brazil

Brazil is the fifth largest country in the world and covers half of South America. The world's largest jungle, the Amazon, fills nearly half of the country. Due to the colonial history, Brazilians speak Portuguese, and with more than 150 million people they form the largest Catholic nation on earth.

Traveler Ian Wright visits the historic North East, from Salvador following the coast to the mouth of the mighty Amazon, the world's largest river. He then goes to Rio de Janeiro, a lively melting pot of Portuguese settlers and African slaves, the home of Samba, soccer, and the Carnival capital of the world.

Along the way:
- Attend a Candomble ceremony, one of the fastest growing and most popular cults in Brazil, brought over by African slaves.
- Go down a mine in the colonial town of Lançois where diamond miners are still at work.
- Follow a guide into the heart of the rainforest.
- Visit Rio de Janeiro, its modern Museum of Contemporary Art, and the world famous temple to soccer, Maracana.
- Join Rio Carnival's street parties and the Samba parades for the maddest night of your life!

-2002