Rio to Rio Branco

My flight to Rio Branco left from the airport in the middle of Rio de Janeiro. The clear morning gave me a chance to photograph some of the iconic sights of Rio. Some of the most famous beaches can be found in this photo, along with the famous Cristo Redentor.




I arrived at the Rio Branco airport and tried to figure out how to get to my hotel. Since a taxi costs about $45 and the bus costs $2, the choice was obvious. Some locals showed me where and how to get the bus and it was a really interesting ride. Between the airport and the center of the city are a strange mixture of urban and rural characteristics.




Rio Branco is much smaller than I imagined. It's the capital of the state of Acre, and yet is a very simple little town. In spite of their limited means, the people of Rio Branco love their home town. There was practically no litter on the streets, and no graffiti. My backpack, wardrobe and ridiculously pale skin attracted a lot of stares, but every person I interacted with was friendly and helpful. I expected to see many tourists, but I did not see a single person who didn't look like they were born and raised in Rio Branco. No one even hinted at being able to speak english, so my Portuguese got a lot of practice.




It didn't take very long to explore all of the main sights. The city clearly wasn't designed to be an obnoxious tourist hub, and I really loved that.

Sunrise Over South America

After a 7 year absence I am finally back in Brazil! This will be a huge trip. In the past, my travels in South America have been limited to Rio de Janeiro where most of my Brazilian family lives. This trip will cover Machu Picchu, Manaus and the rainforest, Belem and the mouth of the Amazon River, Recife and Rio.

The landscape transitioned quite a bit as I flew into Rio this morning.






Recently, a wall was built along the highway into the city. It serves two purposes: separate/hide the favelas (shanty towns) from the wealthier parts of the city, and protect the drivers from gang fights. Apparently, the wall is bulletproof. Various paintings decorate the panels with positive motifs. Though beautiful, but they struck me as a bit ironic.




Rio's traffic has always been unforgettable. Motorcyclists weave in and out of traffic as if they have never heard of a "lane," traffic lights are optional, and vendors knock on your windows trying to sell cold drinks and cookies.




It is HOT here. While it's fun to trade in my ski jacket for a sundress, it won't last for long. Tomorrow I fly into Rio Branco, the Brazilian city closest to Peru. The bus trip from Rio Branco to Cusco will take a grueling 24 hours. At 13,000 feet, colder temperatures and lack of oxygen will call for a least a day curled up in bed to acclimate. Hopefully I will be able to blog again after relaxing a bit in Cusco.

Passing the Torch

Passing the Torch

A dear friend of mine, Michelle, passed away last week. Always eating life with a big spoon, she never stopped spreading laughter and love during her many years battling breast cancer. Our families have been close for decades, so I felt blessed to get the opportunity to photograph Michelle and her beautiful family back in 2008.






This past weekend I attended Michelle's memorial celebration where hundreds of friends and loved ones gathered to honor Michelle's life. Michelle asked that we not wear black, so the room was filled with color and life. After the celebration, balloons were handed out to be released. Michelle's son Reid attached a note to his balloon and released his balloon with Michelle's mother LaWann.






Michelle made us smile, laugh, love, and reminded us to make the most of each day. We will never forget you Michelle.