Rio Journal: Landforms
Rugged coast adjoining the oval bay once mistaken for the river of January boasts fabulous beaches, defined by Yosemite-scale rocks, which are only adequately described through folktales—consider the anvil stone of Gávea, Two Brothers, Sugarloaf, or the Fingers of God below Teresópolis.
The blending
arco-iris (rainbow) of African, European, and Indigenous peoples who live here is hardly overwhelmed by the impressive landscape. Where earth and ocean meet below almost continual bright illumination, their bodies grow healthy, smooth, and strong—in hues returning to the awesome sun his bronze face.
Scrunched audibly between toes, the tan sands of Itacoatiara praia feel like warm granulated sugar. The wide stretch of beach, hummocked lineally by alternately pummeling or pounding surf, is backed by various palms and amendoeiras and endcapped by smooth monolithic stones, where tropical vegetation ekes out only a few sporadic claims.
[Since I haven't posted much recently I offer this slight impression of my recent trip. When next gainfully employed I'll consider adding the deluxe version of Blogger, so that I can easily host a few photos, which immeasurably aid your sense of what I saw. What did I do before I had a digital camera?]
posted by Paul at 11:04 AM
