How often I see Brazilians wearing their ubiquitous backpacks on their bellies, to prevent thieves quietly opening the zippers to take things. Yet one day, in the crush of a crowded ferry ride, I put my backpack on my belly (which I rarely do), and a couple people in my group commented, thinking it was strange. In fact, no one in the thick crowd had their backpack on their front. Maybe ferry rides are devoid of thieves. Mysterious.