A large proportion of Brazil's huge population should have good reason to be unhappy about their lot in life. Yet, the long-lasting impression one has of this magical country is of carefree, colourful people dancing and celebrating in the street parades at Carnaval. It is this passion for life and exuberance of spirit that charms visitors from around the world. Tourists descending on the country's fabulous cities, such as hedonistic Rio de Janiero, can enjoy the five-star hotels, shopping malls, beautiful beaches, sunny skies and inspirational restaurants without really having to confront the hundreds of shanty towns (favelas) where the poorest of the poor eke out a living in the shadows of the skyscrapers.
Brazil could have been an incredibly wealthy country, but institutionalised corruption and mismanagement of agricultural and natural resources, are two of the main reasons why prosperity has been denied to the mass of the people. Despite this, life for most Brazilians is a sensuous adventure and visitors inevitably will get caught up in the rhythm of its samba.
Being so vast, larger than continental United States, Brazil offers a variety of cultures and topographies. The range is evident in the contrast of the Amazon rain forest to the mountain towns of Minas Gerais, the urban jungle of Sao Paulo and the vast central plateau around Brasilia and the world-famous beaches of Copacabana and Ipanema. It all adds up to an exotic and exciting Latin American mix where the common denominators are samba, sunshine, sultry smiles and soccer.
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