We just returned from a quick three day tour of Rio de Janiero with Claiton, Osmar, and Keiki, Osmar's son. It is a miracle how much we were able to see and do in such a short period of time (you will soon see how much of a miracle!). Our original intent in travelling to Rio was to see a genuine South American futbol match. After much hemming and hawing, we finally decided the semi-final match between rival teams, Flamengos and Botafogos, at Maracana Stadium in ...

Our journey northwards more to the interior of Brasil brought us into the city of Londrina and on to some of the farmlands of the state of Parana. Our friend, and former "illegal" employee, Claiton picked us up at the bus station to bring us to his hometown of Sao Sebastiao do Amoreira. Immediately upon our arrival and for the following week it was a constant introduction to more family and many of the town that might as well have been family.For that ...