Hello all -

Some of you asked for some feedback on my travel to Brazil. Today we are in the port of Racife. Here is what I have so far. I hope there might be one or two shots that are worthy. If so, let me know.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/H6yEgNMZgCiqtNTH8

~ Eileen

Thank you for this advice about security and safety. I have supreme confidence that I can deter any high jinx from the professionals. I will search for the pants, though.

~ Eileen

I have the Nikkor 25-300mm so I may just take that and see what I can do. Bringing a lens that is awkward but awesome might not be the pragmatic choice. I do so appreciate all your varied and excellent points of view on this forum. You all have not disappointed.

~ Eileen

Makes sense.

~ Eileen

OMG!! Thank you so kuch fir this inspiration and kniwledge!! I am a Brazilian by birth and American by Citizenship. I fished many, many times in the Amazon Region and love the area.
1- The city of Santarém is bordered by the Amazon and the Tapajós rivers. Both run along many miles in the front of the city, side by side, without mixing. Amazon's milky colored water carries sediment from the Andes in the East, while the Tapajós's water is somewhat warmer and has a deep-blue tone. This phenomenon is called "The meeting of the waters" by the locals. (Encontro das Aguas)
2- Parintins - is the second largest city in the State of the Amazon, located on the right bank of the Amazon River and is famous within Brazil due to the folk festival which takes place in June each year in town showing a bit of the indigenous Amazonian handicraft in their presentations.
3- Manaus - is the capital of the State and its largest city. You should not miss visiting The Amazonas Opera House, inaugurated in 1896, has 700 seats and was constructed with bricks brought from Europe, French glass, and Italian marble. Several important opera and theater companies, as well as international orchestras, have already performed there. It is a site to behold - The Mercado Adolpho Lisboa, founded in 1882, is the city's oldest marketplace, trading in fruit, vegetables, and especially fish. It is a copy of the Les Halles market of Paris. (go inside and look around, mainly the area where the local fishermen bring their catch for sale).
4- Recife, the Capital of the State of Pernambuco is a beautiful city and the Praia da Boa Viagem is a very nice beach to see. Recife stands out as a major tourist attraction of the Northeast, both for its beaches and for its historic sites, dating back to both the Portuguese and the Dutch colonization of the region. The beach of Porto de Galinhas, 60 kilometers (37 mi) south of the city, has been repeatedly awarded the title of best beach in Brazil. The city is located at the confluence of the Beberibe and Capibaribe rivers before they flow into the South Atlantic Ocean.
5- Maceio - Pronounces Maceioh...Maceió is home to numerous beaches, the color of sea varying from emerald green to blue; the water is always clear. The sand is white and there are many coconut plantations.

The Maceió sea has natural pools and reefs a few meters off the coast, that can be accessed by boat or raft sailings. The Mundaú lake is another option for sailing and bathing in transparent water. The city has beautiful beaches, clear blue waters.
6- Salvador - Salvador remained the preeminent city in Brazil until 1763 when it was replaced as the national capital by Rio de Janeiro. Chief among the points of interest its famous Pelourinho (named after the colonial pillories that once stood there) district, its historic churches, and its beaches.
7- Rio de Janeiro - Early capital of Brazil, before it moved to Brasilia. The city has one of the most fantastic bays"Baia de Guanabara" that can be seen from the top to the Sugar Loaf Mountain in its full beauty. Take the cable car all the way up and you be blessed with a gorgeous view of the whole city. Another fantastic place to visit is the Cristo Redentor (Christ the Redemer) Statue overlooking the City of Rio de Janeiro.

Now a word of caution:
Around the cities of the Amazon area - be very careful with your belongings and never, never be alone - just travel in groups. That saying goes to any city you are visiting. Pick pockets people are all over.

Swiming: be very careful in swiming in Recife, mostly around Praia da Boa Viagem - Bull Sharks are all around. In fact, the area is where most shark fatalities occur in Brazil. My youngest son lives in Recife and diving is one of his favorite sports. My middle sister, Maria Luiza, is a Radiologist in Rio, at the Hospital Miguel Couto, one of the largest in Rio.
I sincerely would love to be doing this trip - if you are careful with yourself and your belongings you will have the time of your life. Brazil is a great country to visit and enjoy the culture, food and most of the people, but there are exceptions of course. But this will be a trip for you to remember. Enjoy, take lots of pictures and share them with us. I'm looking forward in seeing them. "Boa Viagem" (have a good trip).

OMG!! Thank you so much for this inspiration and for sharing your knowledge and passion. Your love for this spectacular country shines theough your words.

This as been so incredibly helpful. Thank you!!

~ Eileen

I did speak with staff at Aperturent. They do not have the Nikkor 500mm PF 5.6 but I filled out a form on their website to inquire about the possibility of them acquiring it as a rental option. Apparently you get a lot of lens for not a lot of weight with this particular prime lens. I value that for this particular travel. We'll see. I have plenty of time. Thank you for letting me know about Aperturent.

~ Eileen

I did contact Lens Pro To Go in Concord, MA. I could rent that Nikkor 500mm f/5.6 PF for $567 for a month, incl. tax and shipping. The staff sound super nice. The gentleman said I could also stop by sooner and rent it for 3 days for $135 to practice. I'm thinking I might try that first since my son lives on the northern shore of Boston. It does look like an awesome lens. B&H sells it for about $3,500. I do appreciate nice glass but my birding skills are minimal.

So...TBD, but thank you for all the advice, everyone. I knew I could count on you all. We do have a one-day river tour planned in Manaus. 15 passengers into the small river trails, indigenous village, perhaps swimming with dolphins if it is not too lame with tourists...

This lens in just over 3 pounds, so not too bad.

~ Eileen

Is there a big telephoto Nikkor lens you can recommend? Perhaps I can rent one?

~ Eileen

Makes sense.

21 day Oceania cruise mid-December. Taking my D610, 24-70 mm, 50 mm + landscape lens. Any travel advice for me? Ports: Santarem, Parintins, Manaus (2 days), Recife, Maceio, Salvador, Rio (2 days).

She looks like she could use some sleep.

I wonder if obtaining a “TSA pre-check” designation would help?

My husband + I recently applied. It lasts for 5 years, I believe. We had to go to a local center to apply in person and be fingerprinted on an iPad.

Can’t remember the cost was about $85-125. If you pay with credit card most major credit cards will refund you the entire cost.

Gets you through security w/o removing your shoes or taking your laptop out, for example.

Only snag I discovered: however TSA Pre-Check records your name for their records, you have to list that precisely when you make your reservation with various airlines (including the use of your middle initial).

~ Eileen

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED Lens

Love Apple!!

DL -

My only suggestion before you hit the “buy” button is to compare the heft and feel of the 14” to the 16”.

In November I purchased the MacBook Pro 14” (a downsize from my previous MacBook Pro). I am glad I did. The screen size and resolution are still magnificent, but it has less of a footprint and fits on the lap nicely while still getting the job done. A nice heft, but great portability.

Consider both sizes carefully (feel them) before purchase is what I’m suggesting.

Good luck and have fun.

~ Eileen