We went up to Petrópolis today, where the emperor's summer home is now a museum. It's about an hour outside of Rio, and the 10-degree difference was welcome! Petrópolis is in the mountains and has a heavy German influence, since Dom Pedro II (Brasil's second emperor) encouraged German farmers to immigrate to Brasil from the Rhineland.

The Summer Palace of the second Brazilian emperor, Dom Pedro II

Dom Pedro II's flower box -- notice that the box is made from granite.