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There are hundreds of great spots in Brazil. I've been to one part of the country- the southeast- and I'll focus on some great spots in this region. There are two major cities- Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. Both have a handful of great places to visit.

Sao Paulo itself is a site to see. The 'city in a city' has at least 11 million inhabitants, but is reported to have around 18 million, making it about the 3rd largest metropolitan area in the world. There are numerous art museums, historic buildings and statues worth a visit. Some of my favorites include the Catedral do Se, Liberdade, Luz, Parque do Ibirapuera and Av. Paulista. If you don't take your camera to the Cathedral in Praca de Se, you'll regret it. Watch your belongings because pickpocketers can spot a foreigner a mile away. Ride the safe, clean and efficient Metro system to Liberdade- Little Japan, which is a great place to eat and shop. Another stop on the Metro is Estacao da Luz, a train station housing the Museum of the Portuguese Language. Bring your camera here, too. Ibirapuera park is one of the best in the city and features a handful of museums and events as well as statues and animals. Finally, Av. Paulista is skyscraper lane- 'The New York of the Tropics-' and a great place to find excellent museums and restaurants.

And second, Rio. Five things: Carnaval, Ipanema Beach, Copacabana Beach (one of the world's most densely populated areas), Pao de Acucar (Sugarloaf Mountain), and finally my personal favorite, Cristo Redentor (Christ the Redeemer statue). I wasn't in country during Carnaval, but it's a definite visintg spot- go anywhere and you'll see evidence of the holiday- whether it's closed shops and restaurants or the massive amount of parters in the streets. At the beaches, enjoy the beautiful white sand and huge waves- but beware of vendors, and don't stay on the beach at night. At Sugarloaf you can ride a cable car to the top of the mountain, and look out over the city. But at the Christ statue, you can look out on Sugarloaf and have an even more breathtaking view of Rio. I would suggest renting a taxi to take you up the mountain- even with the car ride you still have to walk quite a few stairs to get to the top. It's worth it.

Keep in mind I've only touched on 10 spots to visit in one region of the country. And don't forget your passport and visa!

Learn more about this author, Amy Wellner.
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