Otherwise, the homes range from thatched roof single rooms, to flimsy shacks, to well-built units of cement block surrounded by walls and a locked gate to keep intruders out. In the business section, there is a number of old vacant buildings. About one in three streets have been paved at one time or other. The dirt streets are rutted, some being impassable by auto. It is surprising that being only a little more than two degrees latitude below the equator, the average temperature hangs around a mild 80-plus degrees.
Humidity is always quite high, however, thus intensifying the heat of the day.
Being in the shade and having a breeze is one of the great pleasures of life in this area. Hammocks are often used for sleeping, as they are cooler than beds. Everybody uses the street as there are no sidewalks except in the downtown. As a result of crowded streets and wild drivers, Brazil has a very high death rate on its roadways. On the weekends, the other doctors and I took the opportunity to get out for hikes in the rain forest.