Baghdad, once the largest city in the world.
Before travelling to Iraq, Baghdad was one of those cities I felt I already knew. For decades, television news had shown wars, bombings and political turmoil. Yet Baghdad was once the largest city in...
Category: Blog
Iraq – ancient history and a people moving forward
Before travelling to Iraq, most of what I knew about the country came from television news. Wars, sanctions, invasions and endless reports about violence had shaped my image of Iraq for decades. Yet Iraq...
Rio de Janeiro, a tourist trap, yes, but still amazing
I think many Europeans who have visited Brazil have been to Rio de Janeiro and only there. Who can blame them? When you are down in the city’s streets, you can feel like you...
Ouro Preto, are all the churches an excuse for greed?
In this little mountainous town, Ouro Preta, which is a little jewel box, I have found more churches than grocery stores. Of course, UNESCO’s heritage has also impacted this town. On my trip around...
Fortaleza, Natal and João Pessoa which one to go for?
When I arrived on the coast of Brazil, Fortaleza, Natal João Pessoa was my three first cities to visit. First impressions are important. When I travel to several similar cities, it is challenging to...
Salvador of Bahia, the most “African” city in Brazil
Salvador was once the capital of Brazil. After the prohibition of slavery, many descendants of African slaves settled here, making Salvador a colourful and multicultural city. As in so many other cities in Brazil,...
Manaus Amazonas- from opera house to hammock in the jungle.
In the heart of the Amazonas, you find a city called Manaus. Its port along Rio Negro shows its past grandness with Teatro Amazonas. Manaus was a busy city with heydays between 1888 and...
Brasilia, is it wise to build an entirely new capital?
I will say no, but when the country needs more space in the capital and the old one is too crowded, I can see why they had to build Brasilia. However, when large egos...
São Paulo became rich in coffee.
Today, São Paulo is South America’s biggest and most prosperous city and Brazil’s financial capital. It is also a cosmopolitan blend of people. This was my first stop in Brazil on my four-week travels....
Brazil is a country full of contrasts.
You need a lot of time to visit Brazil, South America’s most significant country and the fifth largest in the world. I had decided that I would spend thirty days in Brazil. I suppose...
