July 1-16, 2008 with Esther Da Costa Meyer. Focus on the culture, history, and arts of Brazil from the river and on land.

Fly to the heart of the Brazilian Amazon, beginning the journey in Manaus. After explorations of this town that saw much of its growth as a rubber boomtown, we board the Amazon Clipper for a five-night cruise along the vast Amazon River.

Begin the river exploration at the “Meeting of the Waters” where the dark water of the Rio Negro blends with the lighter Amazon. Opportunities abound for wildlife viewing from the boat or from smaller canoes. Excursions on the river’s shores will allow for forest walks and visits to riverside villages.

Disembarking again at Manaus, fly to Salvador de Bahia, the colonial capital of Brazil in the 17th and 18th centuries. Established just 30 years after Brazil was “discovered,” Salvador is home to some of the best preserved colonial buildings any where in the Americas. A final internal flight lands us in fabulous Rio de Janeiro. Although known for its lively night-life and stunning setting, Rio provides us with opportunities to explore the world’s largest urban jungle—the Tijuca Forest—and learn about the important sugar trade at a plantation.

About the Study Leader
When noting her expertise in modern architecture from the late eighteenth century to the present, Professor da Costa Meyer's biography belies the fact that she is a true Renaissance woman. Well versed in not only architecture, but also social history, urban change, art, and culture, she can speak on nearly any topic—from nineteenth-century Paris to Brazil's colonial history—with ease. She has published works on gender and architecture, on urban pathologies in regard to the metropolis, and on the interface between architecture and the other arts.

Born in São Paulo, Brazil, she earned her Ph.D. from Yale, where she taught for a number of years before coming to Princeton in 1998. A faculty fellow of both Wilson College and the Society of Fellows in the Liberal Arts, Professor da Costa Meyer is an associated faculty member of the Princeton Center for Architecture, Urbanism, and Infrastructure.

To make reservations, fill out the form in the brochure or contact Princeton Journeys at (609) 258-8686 or journeys@princeton.edu.