The Lights of Rio and the Stars of the Amazon

Even as we were coming in to land in Brazil, in the rays of the rising sun, I found myself admiring the coastline – hills as dark green as tourmaline and a dramatically broken line of distant mountains. Even at a quick glance from above, judging by the pattern of the relief, this continent was palpably different from Eurasia. It is hard to explain to those who are not in love with mineralogy and mountains, but looking at these hollows and heights I feel how quite differently they are traced inside me, in sensations that are completely new, and I memorise them with my body. I could not allow myself to sleep through this first touch, this first meeting with a new Earth and with the new adventures and sensations that were waiting for me.

• Chapter 1 (New Year in Rio de Janeiro)
• Chapter 2 (the first day on the Amazon)
• Chapter 3 (the second day on the Amazon)
• Chapter 4 (the third day on the Amazon)
• Chapter 5 (the fourth day on the Amazon and the beach afterglow)