Expatriate Forums in Brazil

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dancerchick310 — Mon May 07, 2007 9:10 pm

Author: dancerchick310

Posted: Mon May 07, 2007 9:10 pm

Hey everyone...have you guys heard of Bebel Gilberto?? SHe's a brazilian singer and her debut album was nominated for a grammy in 2000. A co-worker of mine at Fontana is actually the one who got me into her. She has a beautiful voice. She sings in both English and Spanish. I cannot really compare her to anyone because she is so unique. Her new CD is already out...I picked up a copy this weekend. You can listen to her at the sixdegreesrecords website under the store section
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FOOD & DINING IN BRAZIL / BRAZIL DINING (SAO PAULO)

Brazil Info — Wed Dec 06, 2006 5:34 am

Author: Brazil Info

Posted: Wed Dec 06, 2006 5:34 am

FOOD & DINING IN BRAZIL (SAO PAULO)

São Paulo is the gourmet capital of Brazil. It's the city with the money to attract the country's best chefs, with the clientele to pay the tab at the most outstanding restaurants. Plus, with no beaches or mountains to play with, Paulistas amuse themselves by eating out. People dress up for dinner here (or more than they would elsewhere in the country) and usually go out around 9 or 10pm at the earliest. It's becoming more common for restaurants to accept reservations, but many still don't. If waiting for a table drives you to distraction, better to arrive unfashionably early at 8pm.

The variety of cuisine is larger than anywhere in the country. Like New York or Toronto, São Paulo is a city of immigrants. Many of the city's best restaurants are Italian. However, the city has a number of top Middle Eastern restaurants, as well as the best Japanese food in the country, plus Spanish, Portuguese, Bahian, and even Thai cuisine. Churrascarias are always a favourite, and the kilo craze is beginning to sweep the city as mad-for-work Paulistas discover the perfect way to fuel up for long hours at the office.

Tips: The Guia São Paulo, the entertainment listing published in the Friday Folha de São Paulo newspaper, contains a detailed restaurant section, handy for confirming hours and phone numbers. And note that the long street names are often abbreviated by Paulistas; for example, the Rua José Maria Lisboa may also be known as Rua Lisboa.

The Higienópolis' Dining Triangle
Smack in the middle of Higienópolis just behind the FAAP sits the delightful Praça Vila Boim. A lovely three-sided square with beautiful trees, the praça offers a number of great casual dining options. Sushi lovers will be pleased to find Sushi Papaia (Praça Vila Boim 93, tel. 011/3666-2086). The menu offers a large variety of sushis and sashimis; for a more hearty main course, the restaurant serves up heaping plates of yakisoba noodles and sizzling teppanyaki stir-fries. If you are in the mood for a sandwich or burger, look no further than the Yellow Giraffe (Praça Vila Boim 73, tel. 011/3666-9633). For a "Brazilian" twist on the burger, try the beirute, sandwiches made with pita bread instead of a bun. The menu also includes a variety of salads and ciabata sandwiches. In the mood for more carbohydrates? Try Piola (Praça Vila Boim 49, tel. 011/3826-6959). This pizzeria is almost as famous for its edgy, industrial-chic decor as it is for its pizza. However, with over 30 combos to choose from, including the Rimini (smoked salmon and ricotta) and the Mantova (mozzarella, brie, fresh tomatoes, and arrugla), there's something for everyone.

FOOD & DINING IN BRAZIL / BRAZIL DINING (RIO DE JANEIRO)

Brazil Info — Wed Dec 06, 2006 5:30 am

Author: Brazil Info

Posted: Wed Dec 06, 2006 5:30 am

FOOD & DINING IN BRAZIL (RIO DE JANEIRO)

Cariocas love to eat out. Better yet, they love to linger over their meals. A waiter in Rio would never dream of coming by to ask you to "settle up" so they can go off shift. For Brazilians, that would be the height of bad manners. So take your time. Dawdle. Savour. Enjoy.

Rio offers an endless variety of places to eat. There are the chopperias, the place for cold beer and casual munchies. Slightly larger, slightly more upscale are the botequins, many of which are open to the early hours of the morning. There are hundreds of food kiosks, each with its own specialty, be it barbecued prawns, Bahian finger food, or vegetarian sandwiches. And on top of all that, there's a wide variety of restaurants in all neighbourhoods, ranging from inexpensive to very expensive, from simple sandwiches to delicious steaks, from firm fresh sushi to the complicated stews and sauces of Brazil's Northeast. There's no excuse for going hungry in Rio.

Portions often serve two people, especially in more casual restaurants. Always ask when in doubt or you may well end up with an extraordinary amount of food. In Portuguese ask, "Serve para dois?" (pronounced sir-vay p'ra doysh -- "does it serve two?").

Brazilian food is hard to define, but what is considered the generic Brazilian menu comes close to what some restaurants label as international cuisine: pasta, seafood, beef, and chicken. Except in Brazil, these are served with a local or regional twist. The pasta may be stuffed with catupiry cheese and abóbora (a kind of pumpkin), the chicken could have maracujá (passion fruit) sauce. Brazilian beef is made from cows just like in the rest of the world, but in Brazil the cows are open range and grass-fed, making for a very lean beef which comes in uniquely Brazilian cuts such as picanha (tender rump steak), fraldinha (bottom sirloin), or alcatra (top sirloin). And of course, for side dishes no Brazilian meal is complete without farofa and rice or black beans.

Most restaurants are open from around 11am until 4pm and then again from 7pm until midnight or later. However, there are also quite a few establishments that will stay open all day, especially on the weekends when people leave the beach at 4pm to go eat lunch. Sunday is often the busiest day for lunch as extended families get together for a meal. Because Sunday lunch is so busy many restaurants close Sunday evening.

The main exception on the hours mentioned above is in Rio's downtown. The restaurants in Centro cater primarily to the business and office crowd, and only a few of them are open in the evening or on Saturday or Sunday.

These days you will find more and more kilo (quilo in Portuguese) restaurants. The food is laid out in a large buffet, and at the better ones there's a chef behind a grill at the back whipping up freshly cooked steaks, chicken, sausage, or what have you. Kilos aren't all you can eat. Rather, you pay by weight (but the quality is much better than at American lunch buffets). If you're not familiar with Brazilian food, it's a great way to see all the dishes laid out in front of you; you can try as little or as much as you like. Even better, there are often a variety of salads and vegetables, which are oftentimes hard to come by in Brazil. The system works as follows: When you enter the restaurant, you're given a piece of paper on which all your orders are recorded. Don't lose this slip or you'll have to pay a ridiculously high penalty. You grab a plate, wander by the buffet and grill, filling up on whatever catches your eye (all items have the same per-kg cost, which is usually advertised both outside and inside the restaurant), and then take the plate to the scale to be weighed. The weigher records the charges on your bill, after which you find a table. Normally a waiter will then come by and take your drink order, adding these charges to your tally. On your way out the cashier sums it all up.

Tip: Small cups of strong dark coffee (called cafezinhos) are usually served free on the way out. Look for a thermos and a stack of little plastic cups by the cashier or doorway.

Street Food
When it comes to street vendors and food, you read a lot of strange things in travel guides. Never eat meat. Don't touch fruit. Don't eat anything at all. Only drinks. In cans. Insist on ice cubes made from bottled water.

Rio is not Rangoon, nor the fetid fever swamps of 19th-century Benin. Yes, tap water is best avoided. It won't kill you; it's just so chlorine-saturated that it tastes like eau de swimming pool. Some of the best meals in Brazil have been purchased from a street vendor. Eating from street vendors is fine, as long as you take precautions. Does the vendor look clean and healthy? Is the food stored in a cooler? Are Brazilians queuing up? If so, odds are the food's good, and whatever supplies he has in his cooler haven't been hanging around long enough to go bad. So eat, enjoy, and don't have a cow. Or rather, do, if that's what they're selling.

Feijoada
For the best feijoada in town, try one of the following restaurants (on a Sat, of course -- lunch only). Confeitaria Columbo serves an outstanding feijoada in the loveliest dining room in town, Rua Gonçalves Dias 32, Centro (tel. 021/2221-0107). Galani, on the 23rd floor of the plush Caesar Park Hotel, Av. Vieira Souto 460, Ipanema (tel. 021/2525-2525), is famous for its Saturday buffet. Even fancier is the spread served at the Sheraton's Mirador, Avenida Niemeyer, São Conrado (tel. 021/2274-1122), with its privileged ocean view. After lunch you will welcome the 30-minute walk back to Leblon.

Rio's Avenida Gourmet
This windy street on the far edge of Leblon is worth a visit as it is quickly emerging as Rio's main gourmet avenida. One could live on salad alone at O Celeiro (Rua Dias Ferreira 199, tel. 021/2274-7843). You pay by the weight so help yourself to the delicious buffet to try a variety of salads and grab a spot on the large patio. New kid on the block Zuka (Rua Dias Ferreira 233, tel. 021/3205-7154) may look like just another funky lounge but actually packs quite a punch. Working on a charcoal grill, Chef Felipe Bronze (who also consults for Sushi Leblon across the street) does up inventive dishes, including a delicious grilled lamb with cardamon. Across the street you'll find Carlota (Rua Dias Ferreira 64, tel. 021/2540-6821), chosen by Condé Nast Traveler as one of the 50 most exciting restaurants in the world. Chef Carlota opened this Rio restaurant after her original São Paulo digs became the toast of the town. As in the original, her Rio dishes are fresh and creative. Further down on the corner of Rua Rainha Guilermina is the sushi hot spot of the city, Sushi Leblon (Rua Dias Ferreira 256, tel. 021/2512-7830). On Thursday through Saturday evenings the lines can be long, but most people don't seem to mind the wait. If you're up on who's who in the Brazilian entertainment world, you can pass the time spotting artists, models, and actresses. If a smaller and intimate sushi venue is more your style, check out Mirai (Rua Dias Ferreira 116, tel. 021/2511-1476). This very stylish hole in the wall seats no more than 30, making it the perfect place for an intimate romantic evening. The menu is quite varied -- try the slightly deep-fried tuna roll with a honey-sweetened soy sauce for dipping or the tempura prawn roll with smoked salmon.

SHOPPING IN BRAZIL / BRAZIL SHOPPING GUIDE (SAO PAULO)

Brazil Info — Wed Dec 06, 2006 5:17 am

Author: Brazil Info

Posted: Wed Dec 06, 2006 5:17 am

SHOPPING IN BRAZIL (SAO PAULO)

Paulistas say that if you can't buy it in São Paulo, you can't buy it in Brazil. They're probably right. São Paulo certainly seems to have it all, from international fashion boutiques to little local crafts markets.

The city has a number of shopping areas, all unique and interesting to explore. Jardins is well known for its high-end fashion boutiques. The main shopping streets in this neighbourhood are Rua Augusta, the parallel Rua Haddock Lobo, and their cross streets: Rua Oscar Freire and Alameda Lorena. This area is packed with national and international brands, expensive clothing and jewelry, gourmet foods, and luxurious gift shops.

In Centro (downtown São Paulo), Rua 25 de Março is the place where Paulistas rich and poor browse the market stalls and small shops for inexpensive items such as belts, buttons, small toys, gadgets, towels, textiles, and socks. Keep an eye on your purse, though, as the streets are chaotic with vendors and stalls vying for space, and throngs of people make their way through.

For Oriental trinkets, there's no better place to shop than São Paulo's own Japanese neighbourhood, Liberdade. On Sundays the neighbourhood holds a large market with great food and a variety of market stalls selling all kinds of ware, from bonsai plants to porcelain Buddha statues.

Then there are the malls, which in São Paulo have been elevated to a whole other shopping experience: elegant, upscale, and refined. Sophisticated brands, boutiques, and fine dining can be found in a number of malls; the best-known ones are Shopping Morumbi, Shopping Iguatemi, and Shopping Patio Higienópolis, located in upscale neighbourhoods close to the city centre.

And finally, there the street markets, which are particularly popular on the weekends. With antiques, food, and flea markets, they're a great excuse to get out, browse, haggle, and shop.

Hours: Most stores are open from 9am or 10am until 6pm Monday through Friday and 9am to 1pm on Saturdays. Malls are usually open from 10am to 10pm, Monday through Saturday.

Money: Most stores will accept one or more types of credit cards. Keep in mind that you can often obtain a discount if you pay with cash. Traveler's checks are normally not accepted.

If you missed the season in Europe, you may still be able to find your favourite designs here, as the collection is a few months behind thanks to the reversed Southern Hemisphere seasons. For "designer central," visit the chic Jardins neighbourhood. Here you'll find Hugo Boss, Rua Haddock Lobo 1626 (tel. 011/3081-8833); Emporio Armani, Rua Haddock Lobo 1550 (tel. 011/3062-2660); Christian Dior, Rua Haddock Lobo 1589 (tel. 011/3082-3059); Versace, Rua Bela Cintra 2209 (tel. 011/3088-8602); and VR, Rua Oscar Freire 725 (tel. 011/3083-7888).

SHOPPING IN BRAZIL / BRAZIL SHOPPING GUIDE (RIO DE JANEIRO)

Brazil Info — Wed Dec 06, 2006 5:13 am

Author: Brazil Info

Posted: Wed Dec 06, 2006 5:13 am

SHOPPING IN BRAZIL (RIO DE JANEIRO)

If Cariocas had to list their primary joys in life, shopping certainly wouldn't come out on the very top -- there are, after all, beaches, music, and sex to consider -- but it'd certainly be in the top five. Cariocas shop anywhere and everywhere: Even on the beach vendors will peddle an enormous range of products. Elsewhere clothing, shoes, arts and crafts, musical instruments, and other souvenirs can all be had at good prices.

The old downtown neighbourhood of Centro offers great deals for clothes and shoes. Fun to explore are the pedestrian streets around Rua da Alfândega, Rua Uruguaiana, and Rua Buenos Aires, jampacked with hundreds of merchants in small shops side by side. Back in the '70s the area was slated to be demolished to make room for a viaduct, but over 1,200 shopkeepers formed a merchant's association and banded together to put a halt to the development. The best days for shopping are Monday through Friday when the downtown core is full of office workers. Throughout downtown you will also find many street vendors hawking a variety of wares, everything from portable radios to pirated CDs and see-through bra-straps. The area around Largo da Carioca has a number of market stalls and street vendors. More upscale clothing can be found around the Rua Gonçalves Dias, with many stores selling Brazilian brand names and local designers.

Botafogo has two interesting shopping centres, the Botafogo Praia Shopping and the older Rio Sul. Rio Sul was one of the first malls of Rio and is still a very popular shopping destination. Many Brazilian stores can be found in this mall, and it makes a convenient place to browse and get a sense for brands and prices.

Copacabana, Ipanema, and Leblon don't have any large malls, just boutique malls known as galerias in Brazil. The prominent shopping areas are the main streets of the neighbourhood. In Copacabana, Nossa Senhora de Copacabana is the main shopping street, with many souvenir shops, music, clothing, and sporting good stores. The beachfront area also houses a street market on Saturdays and Sundays, selling souvenirs and arts and crafts from various regions of Brazil. For upscale and exclusive shopping in Ipanema, try Rua Visconde de Piraja, especially between the Rua Anibal de Medonça and Rua Vinicius de Moraes. Barra da Tijuca is the newest shopping experience in Rio. This newly developed neighbourhood has a number of malls, including the Barra Shopping -- the largest mall in Latin America -- but offers very little in the way of small shops or street life and is hard to get to on the bus.

Hours for small stores and neighborhood shops are typically Monday through Friday from 10am to 7pm, and 9am to 1pm on Saturday. Malls are usually open from 10am to 10pm Monday through Saturday and limited hours on Sundays (2-8pm). In tourist areas shops will often be open on weekends.

While street vendors and markets only take cash, most shops accept one or more types of credit cards. Often you can negotiate a discount for paying cash instead of with a credit card. In many stores you will also see two prices listed on items: á vista (always the lower price) refers to cash payments, cheque ou cartão is the price for payments made with a check or credit card. Please note that there is a difference between Credicard (a brand of credit card) and cartão or cartão de credito (the generic word for any kind of credit card).

Musical Instruments: The berimbau, that wooden string instrument from Bahia, is likely one of Brazil's most popular souvenirs, but for music lovers there are many more interesting instruments to choose from (many of which are far more portable than the awkwardly shaped berimbau). The Rua da Carioca has turned into Music Store Central with at least five shops by most recent count grouped together on its short length. Look for hand-held rattles so small they fit in the palm of your hand, or else pick up a tambourine or small set of drums. The agôgô is an interesting-looking double bell used to keep a beat. Guitar players will love the cavaquinho, a sort of Brazilian version of the ukulele. Give one a pluck, and if you've listened to any pagode or samba recordings, you'll immediately recognize its distinctive twang. For these and more instruments visit Musical Carioca, Rua da Carioca 89 (tel. 021/2524-6029); Casa Oliveira Musicais, Rua da Carioca 70 (tel. 021/2252-5636); or Guitarra Prata, Rua da Carioca 37 (tel. 021/2262-9659). Metrô: Largo da Carioca.

NIGHTLIFE IN BRAZIL / BRAZIL NIGHTLIFE INFO (RIO DE JANEIRO)

Brazil Info — Wed Dec 06, 2006 5:09 am

Author: Brazil Info

Posted: Wed Dec 06, 2006 5:09 am

NIGHTLIFE IN BRAZIL (RIO DE JANEIRO)

Nightlife Brazilians know how to party and the Cariocas are no exception. Whether it is a post-soccer beer at a beach kiosk, an evening’s entertainment at a live music venue or a cocktail at one of the growing number of trendy bars and clubs, a night out in Rio is to be savoured and enjoyed.

Beer seems to be served at all hours of the day and locals can often be seen enjoying a drink with friends at the corner bars that open out onto the streets in all parts of the city. Many bars and pubs have happy hours for people returning from work or the beach and most serve snacks and light meals. But the real action does not really start until around 2300, when the clubs open their doors for music and dancing and stay open until around 0400. Club entry fees cost around R$15 and cards are provided, onto which drink consumption is recorded – a minimum purchase of R$15 upwards is usually required. It is essential to keep hold of this card or face a forfeit charge, which can be as high as R$300 – much more than the average drinker could possibly consume. Beers are approximately R$5, while spirits or cocktails cost upwards of R$6. The minimum legal drinking age in Brazil is 18 years.

All areas have popular bars and clubs but the beach communities of Copacabana, Ipanema and Leblon are particularly good for a night out. Although clubs do not usually operate formal dress codes, Cariocas tend to dress up after dark and it is best to follow suit. Some venues refuse entry to people wearing shorts and T-shirts.

The O Globo (website: http://oglobo.globo.com) newspaper publishes Rio Show, an excellent entertainment listings magazine on Friday. Entertainment information can also be found online at www.funrio.com.br. Good information and discounts for clubbing and nightlife in Rio also can be found online (website: www.caindonanoite.com).

Bars

Outdoor drinking can be enjoyed at the kiosks that line the beach promenades or around the Lagoa. For more of an indoor experience, try Bar Luiz, Rua da Carioca 39, Centro, one of the oldest bars in Rio and now popular with the business crowd. Devotees of the Girl From Ipanema song will want to visit Garota de Ipanema, Rua Vinicius de Moraes 49, Ipanema, where the composition was conceived. The sophisticated atmosphere of Melt, Rua Rita Ludolf 47, Leblon, attracts a young and trendy crowd for imported beer and cocktails, with a lounge club upstairs, open from 2300. Saturnino, Rua Saturnino de Brito 50, Jardim Botânico, is a new, smart bar popular with fashionable Cariocas. To sample some quality Brazilian fire water try Academia da Cachaça, Rua Conde Bernardotte 26, Leblon. Those hankering for a pint of ale should visit the Lord Jim Pub, Rua Paul Redfern 63, Ipanema.

Clubs

Rio vies with Buenos Aires for the title of clubbing capital of South America. Everything is on offer here from cheesy pop to samba house, drum and bossa and international dance music. Most clubs are open Wednesday to Saturday from 2200 onwards. Bombar, Avenida General San Martin 1011, Leblon is a current favorite with the happening crowd in Rio. It hosts a number of different club nights, including those dedicated to electronica, funk and beats music. Bunker 94, Rua Paul Pompéia 94, Copacabana, Casa da Matriz, Rua Henrique de Novais 107, Botafogo, and Six, Rua das Marrecas 38, Lapa, remain hugely popular for Brazilain dance and electronica. Help, Avenida Atlântica 3432, Copacabana, is a huge disco that is popular with the singles crowd.

Live Music

Rio has a wide choice when it comes to live music. Samba, bossa nova, chorinho, rock, MBP (Brazilian pop), classical, blues and jazz can all be enjoyed nightly. An elaborate Carnival-style samba show can be seen at Plataforma 1, Rua Adalberto Ferreira 32, Leblon, daily from 2200. Favorites for bossa nova include New Garden, Rua Visconde de Pirajá 631, Ipanema, and Vinicius, Rua Vinicius de Moraes 39, Ipanema, daily from 2300 – in the bar and road named after Vinicius de Moraes of Girl from Ipanema fame, who penned many of his songs here with Tom Jobim. Another bossa nova hotspot is Thursday to Sunday from 2230 at Bar do Tom, Rua Adalberto Ferreira 32, Leblon, named after bossa nova pioneer Tom Jobim. Esch Café, Rua do Rosario 107, Centro, and Rua Dias Ferreira 78, Leblon, holds regular jazz evenings.

Sergio Mendes

jennyluvmusic — Wed Mar 08, 2006 5:10 pm

Author: jennyluvmusic

Posted: Wed Mar 08, 2006 5:10 pm

hey all, I work for Universal and the other day my boss hooked me up with a great new CD "TImeless" by Sergio Mendes. have you heard of it? what do you think? are thier any sergio mendes fans here? It's a great CD to get you in the mood to go out. I LOVE I!!!!

BRAZIL EVENTS & FESTIVITIES: Popular Events in Brazil

Anonymous — Sat Feb 04, 2006 7:54 am

Author: Anonymous

Posted: Sat Feb 04, 2006 7:54 am

BRAZIL EVENTS : Most Popular Events in Brazil Guide

Brazilian popular festivities permeate the entire calendar, which makes Brazil a country of constant celebrations. Below are some of the most important festivities:

Carnaval
One of the greatest popular manifestations in the world, Carnaval is an accurate register of Brazilian cultural miscegenation. The festivity has its own characteristics in each part of the country, but some cities are famous at this time of the year.

In the city of Rio de Janeiro, Escolas de Samba (Samba Schools) parade at the Sambódromo, presenting their stories and parading enormous floats down the samba avenue, together with approximately 5,000 members wearing a variety of costumes – always in tune with that year’s theme, parading in front of the audience as if telling a story.

In Recife and Olinda, in the State of Pernambuco, frevo (a typical dance) – typical dance from the State – is the dominating dance setting the pace for the party.

On the Saturday before Carnaval a crowd of almost one million people take the streets of Recife to go dancing with the Galo da Madrugada (Midnight Rooster), the greatest symbol of Pernambuco frolics. During Carnaval time, old Recife becomes crowded.

In Olinda, the merrymakers parade their costumes on the city’s streets. In Salvador, in the State of Bahia, people occupy the streets to follow the Trio Elétricos, which are big trucks transformed into moving platforms where bands play axé-music, a typical rhythm from Bahia. Starting from the Pelourinho and the Low City, African groups play their drums all the way to Castro Alves Square, the heart of the carnaval from Bahia, where there is a celebration.

This festivity starts on Saturday, finishing the following Tuesday, almost always in the month of February. According to the Catholic-Apostolic-Roman calendar, Carnaval is held 40 days before Easter. In some places, the festivities start before and continue for more than a week after the official date.

June Parties (Festa Junina)
In Campina Grande, State of Paraíba, this festivity is enlivened by the forro-pé-de-serra and the square dance – the typical rhythm from the Northeast and one of the several types of dance in the country. The Party gathers thousands of people and has won the title of the “Greatest São João in the World”. Its name is in honor of Saint John’s Day, June 24th, one of the most important festivities of the June circuit. The People’s Park becomes an enormous outdoor ball room, where one can also find typical food and arts and crafts. Another destination that has become famous for its June celebrations is the city of Caruaru. There, northeastern rhythms like forro, xote, and baião attract approximately one million people to the Caruaru Party. There is also presentation of square dancers, floats and folklore groups, while fireworks illuminate the sky. There are kiosks of typical food and arts and crafts spread around the city, and there is also a meter-high bonfire marking the last day of festivity. The June parties are celebrated all over the country, but in Caruaru they start earlier, in the end of May.

Parintins Folklore Festival – State of Amazonas
In the heart of Amazônia, in Parintins, there a dispute between Caprichoso and Garantido, the city’s most famous bois-bumbás. The oxen are characters of a dramatic dance from the Christmas cycle, in which one of them dies and resuscitates later. The city is painted blue (Caprichoso) and red (Garantido), dividing the crowd of 100 thousand people that goes to the Bumbódromo every year. Floats, costumes and fireworks complement the party, which is held in the second half of June, and lasts three days.

Nazareth Candle – Belém, State of Pará
The city’s largest party, Círio de Nazaré is in homage of Our Lady of Nazareth, patron of the State of Pará. It gathers approximately 1.5 million believers in a procession through the city to the Nazareth Basilica. In the procession, the Saint’s image is conducted on a platform, with a long cord attached to it. Thousands of people dispute the privilege of holding the cord as a way to show gratitude for the blessings. The event is held annually, always on the second Sunday of October.

New Year in Copacabana – City of Rio de JaneiroThe most famous Reveillon (New Year’s Eve) in the world gathers millions of people along Copacabana Beach. Coming from all parts of Brazil and from other countries, people usually dress themselves in white to celebrate the beginning of the New Year, to watch the fireworks and to perform their private ritual of passing from one year to the next. Some people offer flowers to Iemanjá, believed to be the queen of the sea; some jump seven waves in order to have a good year; among other things. The celebrations start in the evening of December 31st, with many musical shows, and only end with the sunrise.

São Paulo International Cinema Show
This showing, which is about to complete its 30th edition, promotes a selection that contemplates diversity and the revelation of new talents in the national and international cinematographic universe. The event starts in the second half of October and continues for two weeks.

Brazilian Grand Prix of Formula 1
The only GP in South America attracts racing fans from all over the country and the world to the racing circuit at Interlagos, in the city of São Paulo. It is traditionally held during the months of March or April.

Gramado Cinema Festival
At the top of the Gaúcha Mountain Range, Gramado is itself cinematographic scenery, with its beautiful landscape. In Gramado, national and Latin-American movies are proudly exhibited. The winners take the Kikito – a city symbol trophy – that represents the God of Good Humor. The event always happens in August and lasts 6 days.

Oktoberfest
The country’s largest German party, the Oktoberfest receives hundreds of thousands of people that consume and celebrate. Blumenau , a city of German colonization, becomes the main destination in Santa Catarina during the two weeks of October when the festivity is held.

Source : Bazilian Tourism Portal (Minesterio de Turismo)

Brazil Culture : Getting in the Brazil Mood Weblinks

Anonymous — Thu Feb 02, 2006 5:31 am

Author: Anonymous

Posted: Thu Feb 02, 2006 5:31 am

Getting in the Brazil Mood Weblinks

Diverse, vibrant, and full of unexpected wonders, Brazilian culture and its multifaceted infectious magic never fails to win the hearts of all who visit. It would be impossible in one visit to see all there is to see of Brazil's unparallelled beauty. It is a good idea to go prepared with background on the culture unique to the regions you plan to visit. On this page you will find links to help satisfy your individual curiosities and desires. Get in the mood for the experience of a lifetime.

Current Events

Online newspapers to help you catch up on current events.

www.estado.com.br at the bottom of the page click on the link to english to review articles in english

Music

Browse the websites below and experience the many different musical genres of Brazil.

www.mtv.com.br/ - not available in English, but easy to follow if you have a dictionary and want to know where the party is!

www.thebraziliansound.com this site has links to amazon.com so you can purchase cds, books, and films that appeal to your specific desires

www.cliquemusic.com.br - click on english version at the top of the homepage to explore brazilian music until your heart's content!

Literature

Reading about any aspect of Brazilian culture is sure to help as you prepare to embark on this adventure. Follow the links to learn about the history of Brazilian literature, find lists of reccommended reads, as well as convenient links to purchase books online.

www.thebraziliansound.com/books.htm

www.lusobraz.com

Cinema

Watching Brazilian films can introduce you to the land, lifestyles and language of Brazil. Follow these links to find lists of movies available for sale. If you are not interested in purchasing, be sure to check out the selection at your local video store.

www.thebraziliansound.com/video.htm

www.lusobraz.com click on Brazilian Videos

www.blockbuster.com - type the title of the movie

Pop Culture and Travel Tips

www.brazilmax.com - Self proclaimed, BrazilMax is the "Hip gringos guide to Brazil'" - a cross between an online travel guidebook and niche magazine featuring travel writing.

www.maria-brazil.org - Maria-Brazil was the first website dedicated to Brazilian popular culture and travel online in 1995. The site also contains helpful cross-cultural advice and travel tips.

www.horizontegeografico.com.br Phillips National Park Guides - Are you interested in exploring Brazil's National Parks, but are unsure of where to begin, and how to find reliable and detailed information? Phillips National Park Guides are available for purchase online. Follow the link to find out more.

www.Rio-BR.com, www.Rio-Travel.com, and www.Go-Brazil.com- Include online travel reservations through www.Rio-Travel.com, Brazil News, Brazil CD's and legal music downloads through www.Rio-Tunes.com, books, and DVD's. Rio-Travel.com also includes state-by-state webpages that feature destination guides that include facts and information relating to local travel, culture, history, as well as online travel forums/message boards where users can share travel ideas and recommendations with one another free-of-charge.

www.rioforpartiers.com - Rio For Partiers is the most visual travel guide to Rio de Janeiro. It was written for the young tourist visiting Rio, meaning less museums and more parties, bars and clubs. What make RFP unique from travel guides is that you get discounts and bonuses from the establishments we have partnered with: free drinks at the tastiest restaurants, VIP entrance at various clubs, discounts from a dozen extreme sport instructors. Our goal was to offer the best (yet highly opinionated) recommendations of what to do, eat, drink and see in Rio, while saving the tourist money.

www.Soccerfuturo.com - Do you dream of traveling to Brazil to play soccer? Soccerfuturo has been helping people realize this dream for over 20 years. Visit their site for more information.

Source : braziltourism.org