As of a few weeks ago my passport has a stamp from a new continent: South America. I admit I was skeptical when the venue for this year's symposium was announced. But I fell hard for Rio, and Paraty was charming in its way. I see now why Rio is called the "cidade maravilhosa" (marvelous city).

Before heading to Paraty, we stayed a few days at Casa Beleza, a lovely and quiet B&B in the hilly, artsy Rio neighborhood called Santa Teresa. On our first day, we ran into fellow sketcher Rita Sabler lunching at Rustico.





At Pão de Açúcar (Sugar Loaf Mountain), we stayed and gawked till the sun had set.



Dinner was at Espirito Santa, which specializes in delicious Amazonian food.



The views from Christo Redentor (Christ the Redeemer) were equally fabulous.



We skipped Copacabana and sank into the sand at Ipanema beach.



In the business district of Centro, we made the requisite stop at Confeitaria Colombo, the art nouveau cafe with its lavishly decorated mirrors and floor-to-ceiling displays of decorative plates...



...and then I sketched a narrow slice of old Rio (Arco do Teles) as the light began to fade.



To be continued...