This is the church of Saint Francisco in San Salvador. The highly ornate front to the church is one of the most intricately decorated buildings in Brasil. The area of Pelourinho in Salvador is a vibrant and fascinating area of Portuguese architecture. The baroque front to the church gives way to a rather gloomy interior and small museum. However, it is possible to taste a little of the life that the Portuguese experienced before Brasil became independent in 1822, and slavery was abolished in 1835. The splendour, power and riches, indicates 300 hundred years of domination in a huge and beautiful country.

In contrast, the Amazon basin represents an area that the Portuguese hardly entered. This photograph was taken close to Manaus in a houseboat containing several animals such as this sloth, run in order for tourists to take pictures. I went on one of the many organised excursions that it is possible to take from Manaus that last for 3-5 days. One gets a feeling for the jungle, without particularly leaving behind the trappings of comfort and Western civilization.

Along the coast from Salvador is the city of Recife. Recife is not as tourist friendly as Salvador, but contains as much interesting colonial architecture spread around the centre. This is the Patio de Sao Pedro. It is a stunning building built in the 18th century. I was shown around the interior of the church by a guide, who explained the various Amazonian wood types and the designers of the building. This is an opulent church, one of many in Recife that demonstrate the rich colonial life of the Portuguese.