Monthly Archives: July 2015

July 2015: Cliffhanger in Serra do Cipó, Brazil

This is a rock climber at the Brazilian park Serra do Cipó last weekend: The climber, whose nickname is Magrão (which means “skinny), was singing as he hung from those rocks on July 25. Earphones were plugged into his head, and he’d hum and sing … Continue reading

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July 2015: Brazil’s Estrada Real

The Estrada Real is one of the oldest roads in the Americas, built at the end of the 17th century. It stretches 1,500 km from the coast of Brazil to the interior mining town of Diamantina. A lot of roads … Continue reading

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July 2015: Pico da Bandeira

Brazil loves its soapstone Jesus statues. The most notable is atop Mt. Corcovado in Rio de Janeiro. But I found another this past week atop Pico da Banderia, the third-tallest mountain in Brazil. At 2,892 meters (9,488 feet), Pico da Banderia was once thought to … Continue reading

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July 2015: Travessia Petrópolis-Teresópolis

  Who needs a guide? Getting lost is part of any hiking adventure! One of Brazil’s most beautiful and well-traveled hiking trails is said to be the Travessia Petrópolis-Teresópolis through Parque Nacional da Serra dos Órgãos in the state of Rio de … Continue reading

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June 2015: Brazketball

I had hoop dreams as a kid. I wanted to play in the NBA. I wanted to be on a Topps trading card. I had a mini-hoop nailed to my bedroom wall, on which I’d practice dunks and challenge my sisters … Continue reading

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June 2015: Jesus was a rock climber

“Narrow is the way which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” So said Jesus, according to the Book of Matthew, Chapter 7. Was Jesus a rock climber? He could have been describing the climb in Rio de Janeiro that ascends … Continue reading

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