Afro-Brazilian Culture
The fusion of African, Portuguese and native Amerindian cultures is responsible for much of Brazil's rich cultural tapestry; from food, to music, to religion and more. We will experience two of the most colorful modern expressions of these influences up close: candomble and capoeira.

Candomble worshipers welcome respectful visitors to their ceremonies, and we will be invited to witness this fascinating event. We'll also visit with one of the finest capoeira schools in Salvador to see a demonstration of this acrobatic fusion of dance and martial arts.

New Year's Eve
The beaches of Copacabana are filled with revelers of all types. We will be there to spend time with the candomble priestesses who celebrate Iemanja, the goddess of the seas. With fireworks overhead, these priestesses, dressed in white and blue, wade into the ocean bearing offerings for their goddess.

Lavagem de Bomfim
The washing of the church of Bonfim in Salvador takes place each January with a wonderful display of solidarity between the catholic priests and the candomble priestesses, who also consider the church theirs. The ritual washing of the stairs has been modified due to the crowds, however, the festive atmosphere has not changed.

Iamanja
In Northeastern towns like Salvador, Iamanja (the goddess of the seas) is honored on February 2nd. Thousands come to the water's edge in the morning to offer gifts of combs, mirrors, flowers, etc. In the afternoon, the younger generation joins the throngs at the beach for more modern merrymaking, complete with music and dancing.

Neighborhoods: Santa Teresa to Rocinha
The neighborhoods of Rio de Janeiro are as diverse as any city of 6 million people. We will visit with residents of two very different areas.

Santa Teresa is filled with art galleries, cafes and shops. It overlooks Rio's famed beaches, which spread away beneath the rocky spine upon which the neighborhood is perched. Artists flock to its cobblestoned streets and character hangs thick in the air.

With the infamy of Rio's hillside favelas (slums) receiving international press, it is little wonder that Rocinha receives visitors only rarely. Led by an Italian guide who chose Rocinha as her home, we will meet the residents here and get a real look at favela life so we can compare what we see to the rumors and half-truths that we hear from afar. We will get close to a reality that over one-third of Rio's resident experience every day.