What Is It Like Up There?

Before I left the highly developed Southeast of Brazil to go to the distant North, I had a few Brazilians give me their opinions about what the state of Acre would be like. It's funny how their perceptions are much like ours. "You can't go up there, Brian. You're gonna die! They have jaguars and monkeys in the street." Others told me it was like the Old West, quite lawless and underdeveloped.

There was some truth in what they told me. The state of Acre is still rather underdeveloped in comparison with the coastal metropolises. I did see some Amazon wildlife: parrots, monkeys, and the have sloths, but I never saw them crossing the road. You can pick star fruit right off the trees, and that is delicious!

The capital Rio Branco doesn't have Mc Donalds, but it does have many modern conveniences that you might not expect. I even found a place to access the internet there in 2002. Here is a common place to stop and have a snack on your way home from work.

Tacacá is a leaf that is boiled in water with spices and shrimp. It makes your tongue quiver!!! Strange stuff.

This is a major road heading out of the small interior town of Acrelândia.