Read about Dan’s travels around the world.

Capoeira in the Streets

March 11, 2007
Day 529

On Sundays in Olinda, everyone goes to the top of the big hill to watch the sunset and to have a big party. The people I met the other night went with me and had some more African food, checked… Read More »

American Pop Culture: A Hole in My Life

March 10, 2007
Day 528

I spent most of the day today checking out Olinda. There were lots of hills and more churches than houses. Seriously, I think some people must worship at multiple locations for there to be so many churches. Walking around the cobblestone streets and eating the traditional Afro-Brazilian street food… Read More »

A CouchSurfing Reunion in Olinda

March 9, 2007
Day 527

I took another "short" bus ride to Recife, yet another big city on the coast, this afternoon. This time, finding my way around was easy. There was a tourism information center right at the bus station with people who spoke English and were eager to help me to get… Read More »

Frustrating Joao Pessoa

March 8, 2007
Day 526

I had a quick two-hour bus ride to the small city of Joao Pessoa, with a population of just over half a million, this afternoon. I was supposed to meet with someone from Couchsurfing, but my plans started falling apart immediately. Once again, the only map I had was… Read More »

A Five-Star Ride to Ponta Negra

March 7, 2007
Day 525

I got on a local bus this morning to go to Ponta Negra, which is a newer part of Natal that is quickly developing with resorts. On the way there, I passed hotel after five-star hotel along the coast. Each of the hotels had their own private beach, security,… Read More »

Another Brazilian Fortress

March 6, 2007
Day 524

I got into Natal early this morning tired and frustrated that all I had was a terribly-drawn Lonely Planet map of the very center of the city. The bus stations in Brazil are inevitably located outside the downtown area, and although Brazilians try as much as they can to… Read More »

Questions Answered Part VI

Thanks James and Michele for your questions. I'll answer them as best I can.

1. Where are you heading to after South America?

Here are my plans for the near future, in brief:
After Brazil, I plan to ride the "death train" across the pantanal and into Santa Cruz, Bolivia. I know… Read More »

Sunrise in Canoa Quebrada

March 5, 2007
Day 523

Somehow I managed to drag myself out of bed for sunrise this morning. I guess I just convinced myself that I'd be able to sleep all day when it was too hot to go outside anyway. The sun came up early though: 5:30 AM. There's no… Read More »

A Brazilian Luau

March 4, 2007
Day 522

I went down to the beach early today before it got too hot to set foot outside. The coastline was seemingly endless with perfect blue waters and almost no people enjoying it. The moon-and-star symbol of Canoa Quebrada had been… Read More »

Post Questions Here

It's time for another Questions Answered session. Anyone who wants to ask me questions about my trip can post them here. I'll collect the questions and answer them in a week or two.