PBrazil 
Bounded by the Atlantic Ocean on the east, Brazil has a coastline of 7,491 km (4,655 mi).[12] It is bordered on the north by Venezuela, Guyana, Surinameand the French overseas region of French Guiana; on the northwest byColombia; on the west by Bolivia and Peru; on the southwest by Argentina andParaguay and on the south by Uruguay. Numerous archipelagos form part of Brazilian territory, such as Fernando de Noronha, Rocas Atoll, Saint Peter and Paul Rocks, and Trindade and Martim Vaz.[12] It borders all other South American countries except Ecuador and Chile and occupies 47 percent of the continent of South America.
Brazil was inhabited by numerous tribal nations prior to the landing of explorerPedro Álvares Cabral in 1500, who claimed the area for Portugal. Brazil remained a Portuguese colony until 1808, when the capital of the empire wastransferred from Lisbon to Rio de Janeiro after French forces led by EmperorNapoleon Bonaparte invaded Portugal.[13] In 1815, it was elevated to the rank of kingdom upon the formation of the United Kingdom of Portugal, Brazil and the Algarves. Its independence was achieved in 1822 with the creation of theEmpire of Brazil, a unitary state governed under a constitutional monarchy and a parliamentary system. The country became a presidential republic in 1889, when a military coup d'état proclaimed the Republic, although the bicameral legislature, now called Congress, dates back to the ratification of the first constitution in 1824. An authoritarian military junta had led the nation from 1964 until 1985.[14] Brazil's current Constitution, formulated in 1988, defines it as a federal republic.[15] The Federation is composed of the union of theFederal District, the 26 states, and the 5,564 municipalities.[15][16]
The Brazilian economy is the world's seventh largest by nominal GDP and theseventh largest by purchasing power parity, as of 2012.[17][18] A member of theBRIC group, Brazil has one of the world's fastest growing major economies, with its economic reforms giving the country new international recognition and influence.[19] Brazil's national development bank (BNDES) plays an important role for the country's economic growth.[20] Brazil is a founding member of theUnited Nations,[21] the G20, CPLP, Latin Union, the Organization of Ibero-American States, the Organization of American States, Mercosul and theUnion of South American Nations. Brazil is one of 17 megadiverse countries, home to a variety of wildlife, natural environments, and extensive natural resources in a variety of protected habitats.[12] Brazil is a regional power in Latin America and a middle power in international affairs,[22] with some analysts identifying it as an emerging global power.[23] Brazil has been the world's largest producer of coffee for the last 150 years.[24]
The above paragraphs are from Wikipedia. We spent just 5 days and nights in this 5th largest country of the world. And we can already tell that the Wikipedia posting glosses over both the beauty as well as heartache that is Brazil. A heartachingly beautiful country is what I would call this place.
Let me explain: first the beauty. God bless this place. And it's truly evident in Rio, a city that fronts the Atlantic, has a mountainous forest right in the middle of it and a scenery that is second to none I. This world. Brazil is also rich in minerals. Above ground, it's top soil is fertile... Everything grows on it! And for a long time as we saw in the century old fruit trees in the national first park of Tijuaca.
But then the heartache. It's native people, abundantly endowed by nature as they are, must have been peaceful folks living off the land and enjoying much free time. So when the colonizing forces came from Europe, beginning with the Portuguese, they must have yielded easily and in fact allowed the culture of their masters to assimilate into theirs and with that started the process of ceding everything: language, race, religion, political and economic power.
Post colonization, Brazil has had a start-stop series of development. Every step forward seemed to be followed by two steps back. This is a function of poor governance by a succession of populist governments incapable of undertaking tough reforms to get the country and it's population working hard and moving forward. Then there is the issue of corruption :(
Having been powered by sheer size and natural endowments to a middle income country, I really don't know how it will escape the middle income trap from hereon. But because it's such a beautiful country I really wish it all the best.
I will always remember Brazil for two things.
First, staying true to its flag, Brazil is indeed the world. Brazil today is truly a melting pot of the world, especially in São Paulo, where generations of immigrants (some slaves, some itinerant workers) from all over: Italians, Africans, Chinese, Japanese not to mention the Portuguese, French, Spaniards and British who came, stayed and intermingled. Everyone is a Brazilian, where the sense that colour, race or creed matters not is so liberating.
Second, as the world's largest country of Roman Catholics, it's got perhaps the most awesome manmade homage to Christ. The statue of Christ the Redeemer is shaped like a cross, but not that ancient Roman device of torture and death but rather an arms outstretched father welcoming and blessing all. It is perched on a high vantage point visible to and therefore connecting with all the people in this city. It's one of the most uplifting creations of man, and sited so perfectly in Rio to pay homage to one of the most breathtaking place of God.
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