Best of Brazil: The Water Buffalo Police (Yes, you read that right)

Neither of these two towns – Central do Maranhão nor Mirinzal – located in the interior of the state of Maranhão, will top any list of tourist spots in Brazil. In fact, as we visited them a couple weeks ago it was clear to us that the people there were largely unaccustomed to seeing outsiders….

I love watching old footage of street scenes in cities around the world. To me it is like a window on time, seeing people as they really were, living their normal lives, giving us a snapshot of what life was like at that particular place and time. It’s the closest we will probably ever come…

This was one of the more unique attractions we visited while on vacation earlier this year. This near-vertical railway, located in the city of Santos, was designed to connect a particularly isolated neighborhood with the rest of the city. The ride itself is fun, and the views are spectacular. Going up! Once at the summit,…