Unexpected emotional depth in Brazil

I thought I was going to Brazil for beaches, food, and Amazon rainforest. I got all of those things. What I didn't expect was how emotionally affecting the trip would be. The history — particularly around Manaus — hit in ways that good travel sometimes does.

football passion was the moment that crystallised it. Standing there, eating brigadeiro I'd bought from a street vendor, something clicked about why travel matters. 14 days and I came home genuinely changed. Some places do that to you.