Kyoto has an infinity of temples, pavilions, gardens, palaces and thermae. It is best to get organized and make a “to do list” about what you would like to see. Reminder: Kyoto is quite big and it takes time to go from one place to another, and most attractions close around 5pm.
There is not much infrastructure in Fernando de Noronha, everything is kind of rustic, but who cares about comfort when you are in a paradise-like beach? The island is rather small, and the city is crossed by a 7 km-road. Vegetation pretty dry most of the time, due to high temperatures and little rain.
Who does not like Florianópolis?
A university and historical city, declared World Cultural Heritage by Unesco. Surrounded by mountains, it keeps the young and cheerful vibe of the students who live in the several frat houses in old Vila Rica, as it was called before becoming Ouro Preto.
Mariana was the most important city in the Gold Cycle – founded in 1696, is full of slopes and houses from the Colonial Period. It is part of the sightseeing tour like Circuito do Ouro, Circuito da Estrada Real and Trilha dos Inconfidentes. You can see it all in half a day.
I was already expecting paradise like beaches in Ilha Grande, and it all came true when I saw that emerald green sea, exquisite vegetation and pleasant temperature. The best is to go trekking heading for fantastic hidden beaches, or full of tourists who came by boat. This is not a big problem, for whoever comes by boat does not stay long and it will be a desert beach again.
Imagine a huge garden designed by a landscaper, around lakes and groves. Add work of art from renowned artists interacting with this view and in harmony with the environment. Now insert constructions, completely integrated with nature, with art galleries, pubs and restaurants full of art from contemporary artists. And last but not least, imagine land or rock trails in the middle of the groves and gardens, connecting the spaces. This is INHOTIM, the coolest museum I have ever been to in Brazil and perhaps the most pleasant in the world.
My last adventure was an expedition to Chilean and Argentinean Patagonia, with a group of 18 people guided by eco-friendly walkers. It was an 18-day walk through 130 km in Los Glaciares National Park, Tierra del Fuego National Park and Torres del Paine National Park, in Chile. We reached the cities of El Calafate, El Chaltén and Ushuaia.
Tierra Del Fuego is an archipelago in the southernmost tip of South America, formed by the main island an several small islands. It is separated from the continent by the Strait of Magellan and Cape Horn at the end. That is also the name of the park, because when the ships sailed they saw spots of light from the fire made by the Yámanas, the local residents in the 19thcentury.
In the hottest months of the year, Isla Martillo is the home of 2 species of penguins, Papúa and Magallánico. They come to reproduce, and the youngest ones to change their plumage. These young penguins are rather ugly and have missing feathers. The island is full of nests, which are holes in the sand surrounded by plants. I had never thought I could see so many penguins on a landscape like this.