This wide and deserted beach is close to the city of Recife. At the end of the bay is the small resort of Porto de Galinhas. It is becoming a popular place for surfers. The waves in the bay in the picture are not huge, but that are constant and fun to surf. I stayed in a small pousada just to the right of this photograph, where I spent several extremely relaxing days reading, taking the sun and drinking caiprinos in the evenings in Porto de Galinhas. This is a great beach for letting yourself unwind.

Close to the city of Recife is the town of Olinda. It was briefly the capital of the Portuguese imperial empire in Brasil, and the splendour and power is reflected in the architecture here as it is in Salvador and Recife. Much of the town is in tact, and the small, steep streets are very enjoyable to walk around and explore. Olinda also has several good quality restaurants, that are reasonable for the type of food. Olinda also hosts a carnival that has an international reputation. At this time the whole town comes alive with colour, dance and music.

This last picture in this guide to Brasil was taken in the city of Manaus. It is the square in front of the Teatro Amazonas. The Teatro is a building that represents European and US interest in post-colonial Brasil. Manaus was used as the base for the extraction of materials from the Amazon rainforest, and the opera house is a symbol of that operation. Today, Manaus stands as a first port of call for Amazonian adventure, as well as being a thriving and exciting port.