I've been to Brazil close to a dozen times, both for business and for adventure travel (kitesurfing and paragliding). I love the country and the people and have a lot of friends there. I find most Americans overestimate how 'dangerous' Brazil seems to be, based on hearsay. In Brazil I rarely meet other Americans, but do meet lots of adventurous Europeans and others who also love this huge, beautiful, diverse—and of course also troubled—country.