Share

Brazil, Heaven and Hell in the Same Day

By Brian Winter

A trip to the Amazon ends in violence for AQ’s editor-in-chief.

Last Thursday began beautifully, deep in the Brazilian Amazon, with a walk through a lush city park. I strolled among bougainvillea and castanha do Pará and samaúma trees. I saw a large red and blue macaw ambling down the sidewalk, and had just sat down to take a selfie with him when the little jerk charged me, wings spread and beak wide open. That’s the selfie interruptus on the left, above. Once my heart slowed, I laughed and laughed.

We had just launched our Amazon issue of Americas Quarterly, and a friend wanted a picture of me hugging a tree. Texans generally...

Read this article on the Americas Quarterly website. | Subscribe to AQ.

Related

Q&A: Bringing End-of-Life Care to Rio’s Favelas

AQ talked to the founder of an organization that provides palliative care in the Rocinha and Vidigal favelas.

Ecuador’s Crusading Attorney General Is Facing Her Toughest Challenge Yet

Diana Salazar’s investigations have taken down major figures. But a wave of drug-related violence is changing what defending the rule of law looks like.

Explore