What do you do with a country like Brazil? Brazil is huge, it encompasses literally half of the continent of South America. It’s home to sixty-percent of the world’s largest rainforest. It’s the most biodiverse country on the planet. 

There is so much to write, yet can I do that justice in a few paragraphs. I also have a nagging feeling that this project should focus more on countries that aren’t normally in the limelight. Countries like Bhutan, or Bosnia are perfect examples of this.

Normally I’d feel obliged to bang on about Bolsonaro or attempting to dig out a list of unlikely trivia facts. Did you know Brazil is home to a number of Osama bin Laden themed bars, or that Brazilian prisoners can reduce their sentences by reading books?

Nope. Today I’m going to be selfish and write a list of things I want to do when I eventually get to visit Brazil. So here’s my Brazilian bucket list:

• Attend the Rio Carnaval

• Take a trip to the colourful city of Salvador da Bahia

• Watch some (or try some) Capoeria on the beach

• Take a jungle tour to the heart of the Amazon

• Hang out on Copacabana beach

• Visit the Pantanal, the world’s largest wetland

• Explore the abandoned, jungle enveloped Gavea Hotel

• Start my days with a cafezinho

• …then continue my day by drinking my bodyweight in Caipirinhas and eating many coxinhas and grilled prawn skewers

I’m going to make a start right now by making a Caipirinha and listening to some João Gilberto.