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Journalist Michael Sommers guides travelers to the best that Brazil has to offer, from surfing, hang gliding, and enjoying the sizzling nightlife in Rio to venturing into the Amazon to witness the Meeting of the Waters, where the Rio Negro and Rio Solimoes join to form the world's mightiest river: the Amazon. Sommers also includes unique trip strategies like A Tale of Two Amazon Cities--which provides details on exploring the rainforest between Manaus and Belem--and Gastronomic Brazil, a mouthwatering tour of Brazil's cuisine. With expert advice on viewing popular attractions like Iguacu Falls and Corcovado, as well as escaping the crowds in less frequented places, like Bahia's rustic fishing villages, "Moon Brazil"gives travelers the tools they need to create a more personal and memorable experience.
About the author
Born in Texas and raised in Toronto, Michael Sommers grew up with travel on the brain--the result of time spent in the backseat of Oldsmobiles, Mini Mokes, and Pan Am jets under the influence of his "Gourmet"-addicted mother and his father's roving zoom lens.
When Michael turned 18 he took flight, setting down temporary roots in cities such as Bordeaux, Paris, Montreal, New York, and Lisbon. During this time, he earned a BA in literature from McGill University and an MA in history and civilizations from the Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Sciences Sociales, where his thesis was "The Image of Brazil and Brazilians in Hollywood Cinema." He also worked as a writer and editor at magazines and newspapers and freelanced for publications such as "The New York Times, The International Herald Tribune, " and "The Globe and Mail."
Michael first traveled to Brazil at the age of four. His first memory of Rio de Janeiro is that of being served a glistening orange wedge of papaya in the grand dining room at the Hotel Gloria. Twenty years later, he returned to Brazil, where he fell in love with the colorful landscapes, rich cultures, and warm people he found there. Michael eventually settled down in Salvador, the baroque capital of Bahia, where he has worked as a writer and journalist for over a decade. He has yet to master the art of preparing "feijoada" (Brazil's national stew of beans and salted beef and pork), but he does make a mean "caipirinha."
