Brazil, Heaven and Hell in the Same Day

Last Thursday began beautifully, deep in the Brazilian Amazon, with a walk through a lush city park. I strolled among bougainvillea and castanha do Pará and samaúma trees. I saw a large red and blue macaw ambling down the sidewalk, and had just sat down to take a selfie with him when the little jerk charged me, wings spread and beak wide open. That’s the selfie interruptus on the left, above. Once my heart slowed, I laughed and laughed.

We had just launched our Amazon issue of Americas Quarterly, and a friend wanted a picture of me hugging a tree. Texans generally...

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