Manaus, Brazil, was definitely not what we expected. The city itself was a bit of a letdown, to be honest. We were struck by how dirty it was, with garbage littering the streets and a noticeable number of homeless people and stray dogs everywhere. It made us feel a bit uneasy, especially since we were advised not to be out after dark. That said, there were a few things about Manaus that stood out in a positive way. The architecture, for one, was really interesting—the buildings had a unique, old-world charm that I hadn’t seen anywhere else. And then there was the Amazon Theater—wow! It was absolutely stunning, both inside and out, and definitely the highlight of our time in Manaus. But aside from that, I have to say, we were a little disappointed. I don’t think it’s a place we would recommend visiting unless you have a specific reason to go.
