Rio de Janeiro


January 24, 2025- We're in Rio for two days.  This city is amazing!  The beaches include Copacabana, Ipanema and many more with tens of thousands of scantily clad young people posturing and enjoying the young life.  We rode in an open air Jeep through Tijuca Rain Forest-with 4000 hectares, the only urban rain forest on earth.  It was deforested in the 18th century during the Portuguese exploitation of Brazilian resources.  It was reforested in the late 19th century by eleven slaves who planted 400,000 trees.  They were rewarded with a statue a century later.  We learned today and were already aware there are two temperatures in Brazil- hot and hotter.  We saw a coati on our tour today also known as the South American raccoon.
We enjoyed dinner again last night with our new friends from England and Germany who experienced their formative years during and immediately after World World II.  We share their extreme concern about the parallels between then and now.  When we offered that perhaps we should not discuss it, Ingrid the German replied with a quote; 



“In the end, we will not remember the words of our enemies but the silence of our friends” Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. 

 

Comments

  1. plattsflyingdogsJanuary 25, 2025 at 3:13 PM

    I love the photos! It is difficult to reconcile what is happening in the world with continuing to live our everyday lives. It is difficult not to feel depressed and hopeless. But focusing on our loved ones and on what is in our control is helpful for continuing to make life worthwhile despite our fears and shock at the continued rise of populism across the world. I hope you are reveling in the beauty that surrounds you as you travel the world!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Randy and Ruth AnnJanuary 25, 2025 at 3:21 PM

    It is a bit easier for us currently living out of the country. However, we have talked with many people from other countries who share our/your fears.

    ReplyDelete

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