I know I'm many months late - the trip was February-March - but I'm finally getting the photographs from my trip to Brazil uploaded. Went as a school trip, mostly my advanced photography class with a couple others, as well as the photography teacher and the Latin American history teacher.

We flew into Rio de Janeiro. One of our two groups, the ones who flew with Delta, got delayed by a day in Atlanta, so the first day we spent in the hotel. The next day when the Delta flight came in, we toured two favelas - Vila Canoas, a very small one, and Rocinha, the largest or second largest favela in the world ([link] obviously took the same tour we did, although a few years earlier; [link] has more information about Rocinha).

There were only a few places where the guide let us get out of the van AND take out our cameras, and even then, we could only point them down the street so we wouldn't accidentally take the picture of a cartel man we weren't supposed to. I feel like I got a surprising number of pictures anyway, although not many that were both good and provided wide views (I have some that I can upload anyway). There were tons of people about, and more than a few standing by the side of the road with AK's and FALs. By contrast, we were free to keep our cameras out in Vila Canoas and walk the tiny (only a few feet wide, often) streets. Then again, it is much smaller.

After the favela tour, we took a (sketchy) tram up Sugarloaf Mountain ([link]), which is where the night shots came from. The next morning we flew to Salvador. We stayed and worked in the Pelourinho, the historical/central district in the city, with Dida ([link]). Dida is a women's drumming group that also acts as a school for young kids of both genders, and we taught photography classes (without knowing any Portuguese) to these kids. We'd go out in a group and just walk the streets of the Pelourinho with the kids and cameras out, try to give them pointers and tips, compare photos, etc. Despite the language barrier, it worked pretty and was a great experience - and the kids take some great photos with little real training. We also watched - and were invited to participate in, which was amazing - one of their drumming shows, in the street.

We also traveled inland to the town of Lençóis ([link]) for a few days. Formerly a diamond mine, the town has converted to eco-tourism and has access to a giant and beautiful park over the former mine lands. We spent the days hiking and found some incredible vistas (though, personally, I was fond of the town itself too). Sleeping outside in hammocks was cooler than being in the rooms.

edit: I'm busy with finals, will try to respond to everyone's favorites soon!