First Impressions

I married a Brasilian. A kind, wonderful, patient, Brasilian.

Throughout the first years of our marriage, everything was American in our lives simply because he came to America wanting the American experience. But little by little, I began to wonder what it would be like to visit Brasil. And so, in 2003, after suffering years and years of my incessant whining, my husband finally decided that his sanity was important to him and acquiesced. We planned our (my) very first trip to Southern Brasil. Since that first magical trip, we returned two more times and on the fourth time, it stuck…we moved to Santa Catarina, Brasil. This first blog is just an introduction to what my first impressions were on that first trip. Subsequent blogs will give you a first-hand look at what it is like to actually travel and ultimately live in Brasil. You won’t be disappointed.

They say that half the fun of traveling is getting to the destination. Well, when one travels on a Brasilian airliner, that is certainly true. The party begins as soon as you board, especially if you are traveling with Brasilians going home. They are a gregarious bunch, friendly, inquisitive, talkative. You make friends instantly. Almost as soon as you are in the air, the air service starts. Brasilian airline companies do not charge extra for anything—that’s right, including alcohol. In fact, they seem to enjoy giving it away. You get snacks, meals, snacks and more meals. And, if it is a night flight, and it’s 1 a.m. and you can’t sleep, there are even midnight snacks for the asking. Kinda like a cruise in the air, without a boat and without water, of course. It is a bit uncomfortable trying to get some sleep on the plane, and therefore, I prefer traveling by day, if you can find a day flight to Sao Paulo. But if not, there is plenty of time when you land to catch a nap before sightseeing.

When we got to our final destination, Curitiba (Cur-it-chee-bah) in the state of Parana, I was so impressed. Although only a small airport, it was very clean and easy to navigate. We went through customs with no trouble at all. And then, the realization…I WAS IN BRASIL! I couldn’t wait to get out and explore.

On our first night, we stayed in a town called Jaragua do Sul (Jer-ah-gua doe sool), where my husband’s sister lives. It is situated in the State of Santa Catarina and is one of the richest cities in the state. It is in a valley surrounded by mountains and boasts many different cultural heritages, including Italian, German, Polish and Hungarian. Many of the buildings are constructed in the German style in this area, and except for everyone speaking Portuguese, you would think that you had landed in the middle of Europe. It is at this point that I wish I could tell you what is inside of me when I think of this first trip. Never was I so excited to be somewhere as I was in this place. Maybe it was the newness, the difference from America, the unconditional kindness of everyone I met, the smells, the sounds, I can’t tell you, but I felt as if I were home.

I’ll leave you with that. Tomorrow, I’ll talk about the hotels, the restaurants, and the food. And I’ll try and give as many pictures and links as I can to keep you coming back for more.

Till then, ciao!

Florida Looked Like Southern Brasil Yesterday

As many of  you know, I have relocated to Florida after spending a couple of years in Brasil back in 2006-2008...I miss Brasil. When it rains here, I sometimes think I am back in Brasil.

Being situated in the middle of the Mata-Atlantica Rain Forest, the towns I lived in in the state of Santa Catarina were very wet. When it rained, it poured, but surprisingly, there was very little lightening.

Here, in Central Florida, I live in one of the lightening capitals of the world and yesterday's storms lent credibility to that claim. The winds kicked up, the skies got ominously dark, and the heavens opened up. God roared, and we all kept a safe distance.

Being the risk-taker in the family though, I couldn't resist taking a few photographs and even a video of the action at the height of one of the storms. If this were a sunny day, the sun would have still been out, but it got so dark, it looked like it was 9 or 10 o'clock at night.

We survived--didn't even get any hail--but it was spectacular. While I wished I was back in Brasil, I was happy to be in the middle of one of the most awesome storms I can remember in a very long time.

Thank you Mother Nature. You put on a show no matter where I am, just when I need it the most.

The Tempest rages
Light'ning crashes all around
Behold the fury...


Tchau,

Patti

Santa Catarina in Southern Brasil is One Huge Garden

In honor of the upcoming World Cup in Brasil, I thought I'd get going on some new articles for my Southern Brasil blog. Tomorrow, I may tell you about my one and only soccer story, but for today, I thought I'd start by telling you about all the wonderful gardens of Brasil and my first encounters with the outdoors of this wonderful country.

On my very first trip to the state of Santa Catarina, we flew into the city of Curitiba, one of the host cities of the 2014 World Cup soccer matches. One of the first things that struck me about Curitiba was the enormity of the city. There were two separate cities it seemed, both with tall skyscrapers. We were scheduled to stay in the Batel District. The view of the city makes you believe you are in any top city in the world. 

My husband's father, brother, sister, and others met us at our hotel, The Blue Tree Towers, in the Batel District of the city. This is the financial hub of the city, the business district; therefore, houses some of the toniest neighborhoods. I checked a few years ago and the Blue Tree is no longer the name of the hotel, but the actual hotel still stands under another name and is still a 4-star hotel.

At the time we traveled, the dollar was 3-1, so you can imagine how lucky we felt to be able to afford a 4-star hotel for a third or less of the normal cost of fabulous accommodations. The dollar now stands at around 2.3, so it is still an amazing bargain to visit Brasil at this time.

From our hotel window, I could look up and down the main street and what struck me was the cleanliness and the beauty. The tree-lined streets looked like somewhere right out of a movie set. Also, if you are an architecture buff like me, then this is the place to be. This futuristic-looking city is not to be missed.

We were lucky enough to get a room that overlooked the Japanese gardens.

This is a small urban park complete with a Japanese-style structure, several ponds with little bridges over tiny waterfalls, and plenty of cherry blossom trees. It is a lovely place to go and contemplate life or just soak in the sounds of the city without being so close they annoy.

That evening, the others met us at the hotel, and after a good night's rest, we all set off for Jardim Botanico de Curitiba, or the Botanical Gardens of Curitiba. What an enormous and magical place. First, you walk the grounds outside, fashioned after a French garden, where you will find abundant jogging or walking paths, and flowers galore (in season). Ahead on the main path is the fantastic crystal greenhouse where, inside, you will find plants from all over. This is a must-see in Curitiba. All you have to do is say garden or jardim in Portuguese, and the tour guides will know exactly where you want to go.

After a lovely train ride the next day through the Mata Atlantica or Atlantic Forest and mountains (see my story on the Serra Verde Express), we spent one more magical night in Curitiba, had dinner at a small Italian Restaurant where each entree we ordered could have easily fed 4 people apiece. Needless to say, there were many leftovers. The mood was relaxed, the wine was excellent, and the company was genuine and real. It felt like a family gathering with the proprietors of the business sitting down beside our table and joining in the conversation.

The next morning, we traveled to the city of Joinville, where my husband was born. We stayed at the Anthurium Parque Hotel in downtown Joinville. Joinville is a very busy, very loud city, but when you enter the Anthurium Parque grounds, all the noises of the city seem to melt away and you feel as if you are in a Portuguese seaside resort, sans ocean. The grounds are impeccably kept and the rooms, while not on the par of a 4-star hotel, are quaint, and well worth the cost of a night's stay. Right outside our window was a walkway that led out to an open garden, complete with a trained Macaw on his perch to greet visitors on their way to the hotel restaurant to enjoy café da manhã, or breakfast.

I will stop here. Not because there are not more gardens. To the contrary. There are more gardens and beautiful open spaces in Santa Catarina than I could ever name. However, to truly experience what I am talking about, you really must see the place for yourself.

Oh, did I mention the quaint cabins at Hotel Turek Gartens? Where you have your own half of a cabin (first floor or second) that overlooks the compound's gardens, swimming pool, and fully stocked lake? Where they grow their own produce and serve it up at meals made from scratch in their kitchen? Here is a peek, but I warn you, it may have you calling your travel agent or contacting me for more information on how you can visit this enchanting part of Brasil.

'Til next, tchau!

Foods of Brasil - Lunch

For Brasilians, lunch (almoço) is the most important meal of the day. Most businesses close for two hours beginning sometime between the hours of 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. to accommodate their workers. Lunch involves not only eating, but in most cases, a short nap or siesta after eating, especially for the harder working laborors.

Most Brasilians have favorite restaurants close to their work where they go every day for a substantial buffet consisting of numerous salads, vegetables, starches, one or two pasta dishes, and meats. For example, a normal buffet will most always have cold beets, green beans, onions, carrots, broccoli, watercress, and endive or escarole, and other seasonable vegetables.

Meats would include chicken either grilled or baked, some type of beef or pork dish, and some type of fish. Sides would include french fries (always!), rice (always!) potato salad (always!) and possibly fried or cooked yucca root. Small restaurants will include a dessert such as pudding or jello in the price of the buffet. Larger restaurants will have a sampling of desserts including tortes, puddings and a special dessert made with tapioca and wine called sagu de vinho, which is very popular.

The price for lunch in most establishments is either a flat rate or by the kilo. Either way, it is a very reasonable (cheap) price normally(anywhere from $3 to $6 in American money) for more food than you can eat. Don’t expect to be served iced tea though. I can’t tell you about the big cities of Brasil, but in the smaller towns where I lived, iced tea is non-existent.

One great thing about Brasil, wherever you go for lunch (or dinner), you will be treated to something free either before or after your meal. It is usually an aperitif such as flavored cachaça (sugar cane alcohol), or some other liquor. After the meal, you may take a small coffee espresso or you will receive a candy.

There are the usual lanchonetes for a quick hamburger and fries and a sucos naturais (natural juice) or Coke. Lots of Coca-cola is consumed in Brasil, and beer, of course. If you order a hamburger (x-salada--pronounced shees sa-lah-dah), beware, it is not going to look very much like what you are used to getting in the US. It comes in a wrapper and it consists of a patty of beef, a slice of cheese, a slice of ham, some lettuce, tomato and onion – are we good so far? Well, this is where the salada comes in—they pile on a bunch of canned vegetables, like corn, peas and carrots. Then Brasilians slather it with mayonnaise and ketchup from little packs they cut open either with tiny scissors or their teeth, whichever is handiest. Every bite of the burger has a dollop of ketchup and/or mayonnaise on it. You won’t usually find containers of ketchup on the tables, just little packets of mustard, ketchup and mayonnaise.

After thinking about it, there are a lot more differences between the way Americans and Brasilians take their meals, so I may devote one column to just that subject. We’ll see,

Till then, Tchau (pronounced Ciao)!

Already Planning My Next Trip to Brasil in February

Most Brasilians will tell you that the red tape in their country is the worst in the world. I’ve witnessed that bureaucracy first hand and let me tell you, they are pretty much on the money. However, with that said, there is one process I have to go through every two years that I actually don’t mind at all…traveling back into the country to renew my permanent resident Visa. To others, this may be a bother, but to me, it is a very good excuse to save my pennies and go back at least every two years to visit friends, family, and some of the places I love.

Whenever it starts getting close to traveling time, I find myself taking a walk down memory lane and deciding before I get there what places I simply must re-visit. There are so many, and my husband and I usually only have ten days to fit them all in between all the parties everyone will give to welcome us back. So here is my short list, time permitting:

Taking a drive in one of the prettiest rural areas in the valley, Estrada Bonita. Here is where we stayed in a cabin at the Pousada Vale Verde on my very first trip to see my husband’s wonderful hometown, Joinville, in the State of Santa Catarina. I remember getting to the cabin around dusk and looking around before settling on the bed to take it all in when the bed totally collapsed beneath me. There were no other cabins and only bunk beds in the other bedroom. I remember how sorry the caretaker and her husband were for our problems and they stayed for over an hour replacing the bed with one more stable, and instead of getting angry or anxious, we all just laughed through the whole ordeal. That’s Brasil.

In the morning, we woke up and we met the owner, Angela. She spoke just enough English to make my stay there more enjoyable. We had breakfast outdoors under a chickee hut overlooking the hills and a beautiful pond. There was bread and meats and cheeses and jams and spreads and real butter and guava, mango, watermelon and grape juices, and coffee and tea, and of course cakes and pastries. The whole experience has left such an impression on me that I can still go back there in my mind when I’m having a rough day. It was one of dozens of like experiences I had that first trip and subsequent trips to Brasil.

The City of Curitiba is one of the coolest cities I’ve ever been to. I’ve stayed at 5* hotels (when the dollar exchange rate was 3:1) and lesser hotels when it was not. I can honestly say that staying in a 3 or 4* hotel in Curitiba is also nice. What impressed me first and does to this day is the way everyone who deals with the public, especially as far as tourism goes, is extremely polite, helpful, and dresses and grooms themselves impeccably. For instance, it is common to see hotel employees wear uniforms, but in addition to that, the women all pull their long, dark hair back into a bun. The look is stunning and it shows how small details are so important to the Brasilians. And it is rare to see someone not smiling or giving a little dance or going out of their way to be helpful even if they can’t speak my language. I’ve never felt so welcomed in my life anywhere.

Oh, and I can’t forget the architecture in Curitiba. Some of the most fantastic buildings I’ve ever seen, from historical to contemporary. If you are an architecture buff, this is definitely a must-see city on your list.

A drive up the mountains to see my husband’s family. That is the most favorite thing to do. There are two main roads up the mountain, one via Corupa and one via Serra Dona Francisca. The drive via Corupa is quite beautiful and it is one that allows you to look down over the valley in all its splendor at some of the most daring landscapes I’ve seen. My favorite view is that of the tres Marias mountain peaks. I always know I’m about halfway home when I see those mountains.

Driving up Serra Dona Francisca is a bit hairy, especially due to slow trucks and fast motorcycles. I drove a portion of it once and decided I’ll just sit back from now on and take in the view, which, by the way is breathtaking. One of my favorite memories is going ‘up the mountain’ in late afternoon and noticing the intricate patterns the pinao (pine) trees make on the rolling meadows in Happy Field (Campo Allegre). And the hydrangeas are everywhere. Yes, I’ll say it again…breathtaking.

But the thing I look most forward to when traveling to Brasil, besides seeing the people I love and meeting new friends, is the food. Oh my gosh, do those people know how to cook. The Brasilian churrasco (grilled meat) is amazing, as is the pizza. They have a style of serving in the restaurants called rodoviaria. Usually, you get a buffet of salads and then waiters bring entrees around to your table. For churrascaria, it is meat, meat and more meat--steaks, roasts, sausages, chicken, duck, ham, etc. on long spears that they cut and serve right at your table. All you can eat for a ridiculously low price (generally $4 US lunch/$10 tops US dinner).

For pizza it is the same concept, with added pasta dishes and sometimes steak and the ever popular fritas (French fries). I know, it’s kind of funny, but Brasilians love French fries. On the pizzas, I’ve seen every topping imaginable and some I could not have dreamed up if I tried, such as corn, mussels, tuna, beef stroganoff, even ice cream! My favorites are white and dark chocolate with strawberries and banana nevada (banana topped with meringue).

If I continued to list all my favorite places to go in Brasil, it would fill up ten Blogs, so I’ll stop here. Suffice it to say, I can’t wait until they require that I go back and get that Visa stamp. Poor, poor me.

Anyone who wants to learn more about wonderful Southern Brasil, or are even thinking it’s time to take your own trip down there, let me know. I can help you plan one of the most unique and amazing vacations of your life.

Til then,

Tchau

If I Close My Eyes and Listen to the Birds Outside…

In my mind I’m back in the beautiful country of Brasil, high on a hillside, sitting at our little party area, having a beer and just realizing that dreams can come true. Every special moment in my life has not gone unnoticed.

When we finished building our pool and churrascaria, I remember sitting there one day, sunlight sparkling on the pond, watching the carp jump around in the water…I looked around and gave thanks for just how lucky I was at that moment. The day was remarkable, not a cloud in the sky, which was also perfect…a robin’s egg blue. The view was to die for, and the pool, while it was still too chilly to swim, was inviting me to dip my toe in and make use of it.

Later that day, we grilled steaks and we chatted about life, what we were going to do next and I remember being just about as happy as a person could get. Sure, it was about what we’d built, but more importantly, it was about doing it together. It was a common goal that we’d attained.

We didn’t stay there long, unfortunately, because jobs are hard to come by in Brasil and even harder to come by when all you’re doing is sitting up on top of a hill enjoying nature. So, it was back to reality we went, but not before I snapped one or two photos to share with friends.

Até a próxima vez (till next time)

Had a Wonderful Trip to Southern Brasil

Being a permanent resident of Brasil is nice. There’s something about pulling out your Receita Federal I.D. Card and showing it to anyone who asks that makes you feel even more a part of the whole Brasilian living experience. However, the visa is another matter. To keep it current, if you are not presently residing in Brasil, you must travel back to Brasil at least every other year. But I’m not complaining. If it weren’t for this little bit of bureaucratic red tape, I might not get to see my friends and family there so often.

And so it was with the latest trip back just this month. The trip was enjoyable, even though my husband and I both suffered with terrible colds. We saw our friends, we spent quality time with family and we finally got around to seeing Iguacu Falls.  Attached are a few photos for you to see the splendor that we were fortunate enough to witness first hand

I have offered many times to take friends and family to Southern Brasil to see for themselves what a wonderful place it is, to experience the warmth and friendliness of the people. I know money is tight for many and it is a bit of a hassle arranging for a visa, etc., but honestly, if you save your pennies and you really have a desire to go to Brasil, then it is within your reach.

I’m not saying this because I’m prejudiced, although I truly am, but I know firsthand how close death can be, and I now live my life not worrying how I can afford something, but knowing that if I want something bad enough, the money has a way of just showing up. And a trip to Brasil I know is on many a friends’ wish list. Just say the word, folks, and we’ll find a way together to let you experience what I will never be able to get enough of.

Till Next Time,

Tchau!

Another Carnaval Come and Gone

Boy, how do you like that? I totally missed all the great holiday events between Oktoberfest and now. I have to apologize to my readers for taking so long to get back to this blog. It is not for lack of love, I assure you, but just have had my hands full with other projects. I’m gonna try to post at least 3 times a week if I can.

So, last week was Carnaval, and what a time it must have been. Evidently, in Rio de Janeiro alone, upwards of 730,000 tourists plunked down almost $300 Million dollars to attend one of the biggest parties in the world.  One can only assume that Sao Paulo did just as well or better.

I think in one of my earlier posts, I described attending a much smaller version of Carnaval in the little beach town over from where we lived called Picarras. Although there weren’t the elaborate floats that you see in the larger celebrations, the spirit, from what I saw, had to be every bit as lively or more as any of the larger Carnavals. Everyone singing, dancing in the streets, girls made up in glittery costumes and dancing their hearts out.

You looked around you and everywhere there was laughter and happiness and you knew that no matter how poor some of those folks were, they were there in the moment that night and having the time of their lives. And I was right there alongside them happy as anything for the opportunity to celebrate with them the Brasilian way.

It's Oktoberfest Time Again in Blumenau

Be sure to click on pic for video

Yes, it is that time of year again in Blumenau, Santa Catarina, Brazil. Oktoberfest. And every year it gets bigger and bigger.

Blumenau is nestled in the Itajai Valley and is a perfect place to party for the better part of two weeks. Beer flows freely (literally) and everyone has a smile on their face.

There are several pavilions with all kinds of music, but the Oom pah pah kind is the best. Polka, polka, polka.

Although I’ve never visited Blumenau during the Oktoberfest, I have been there numerous other times and it is a great city next to the Itajai River, nestled between the mountains.

If you are ever in southern Brazil, Blumenau should definitely be on your list of places to see.

In Blumenau, all year round, alles gut, alles blau (everything good and everything blue).

Brazilians Love Candy!

As always, click the titled for a video. The video you'll see has little to do with Brazilians, but it is cute. Access the blog by going to www.southernbrasil.blogspot.com, and sorry for taking so long to get another article up.

Brazilians of all ages love candy—any kind of candy. If it is loaded with sugar, they will eat it. Just like in the United States, chocolate is the preferred candy, and there are three companies that offer up the majority of candies in Brazil, Lacta, Garrota, and Nestle, S.A.

The bon bons that you get in a box of assorted chocolates are also different than those you get in America. They come in fancy, colorful wrappers and are larger pieces. Some of the most popular kinds contain ingredients such as hazelnut crème, coconut, and cashews.

When we had our café on the beach, we had the end of our counter encased in glass and within that glass were built several cubby holes, all filled to the brim with individual candies, hard candies, bubble gum, lollipops, and miniature candy bars. Brazilians rarely will be seen with a full-size candy bar in hand, but you’ll find most kids (who can afford it) with pockets full of little candies to eat while playing soccer and to share (or sell to) friends.

And I believe I mentioned it before, but we served ice cream in our café, and every person who walked out with a cone or a cup of ice cream had some kind of candy placed on top. The most popular topping was gummy bear dentures. Weirdest thing I ever saw, but they loved them. I did too, as a matter of fact, as they were strawberry- flavored.

Even cough drops, such as Halls Eucalyptus, Strawberry, Mint and Cherry flavors were eaten as candy and breath mints, but never as a cough suppressant.

Yes, candy for the Brazilian is almost as important as food.

Cats (Gatos) in Brasil

It was my observation while living in Southern Brasil that (1) most Brasilians prefer dogs over cats as pets probably 2 to 1; and (2) most of the cats I saw in Brasil are skinny and have short hair. That is not to say that they aren’t cute and it's not to say there aren't the same types of cats as in America, it's just that the short hair variety is predominant. I’ve never met a cat or a kitten I didn’t like, and the ones in Brasil are no exception.

Those of you, who know me and my cats, know that they are huge and they are long hairs. Everyone in Brasil who saw my cats could not believe how big they were and how gentle. I had many people ask me to breed them, but darn it all, they’ve all been fixed. I might have had one great business down there breeding my type of Maine Coon cats.

Hmmm, gotta go. I think I saw an ad on Craigslist for some Maine Coon kittens…..

Til Later, Tchau!

Clouds in the Mountains

I think one of the prettiest sights in Southern Brasil is when you are standing on the side of a hill and looking down over the landscape and see long lines of white clouds nestled between the hills. It’s a surreal feeling to know that it is raining where you are looking but not raining on you because you are above the clouds.

As much as I love looking at the clouds in the mountains, I don’t like going through them, especially when you are going up the side of a mountain where there are no rails and only two lanes. It can get dangerously scary.

We were caught a couple of times on mountain roads when the fog rolled in and your visibility drops to zero in no time at all. You can’t just pull off the side of the road because there is no side of the road. Fortunately, there’s always a daredevil truck driver who knows the roads like the back of his hand and you get behind him and just follow the tail lights.

Best advice I can give is don’t travel early morning or toward evening or at night and you’ll fare well traveling up and down the mountains.

Til Later, Tchau!

Pirabieraba (Peer-ah-beer-ah-bah

I come back to this place in my mind all the time for the calmness it brings. From the small, quaint town of Pirabieraba with its many shops and cafes through rural areas where the mountains meet the road, and on up into the mountains on a winding road that brings you past waterfalls and roadside stands ready to sell fruits and homemade goods to all the travelers. There is so much beauty, that sometimes it overwhelms.

This is a magical place to me. Never once was I bored living there and never once was I unhappy to be there. And if the situation were right again in my life and I was asked where I’d like to live in Brasil, it would be this beautiful corner of the world that took my breath away the first time I saw it, and continues to do so today.

My First Shopping Trip in Brasil

Some memories of my first trip to Brasil are etched forever in my mind. One such memory is the first time I went shopping in Brasil for clothing. Upon arrival in Brasil, I noticed that the women were wearing very colorful fashion tops with their jeans, and I wanted to see if I could find something for me in that style. In my mind’s eye, I knew what I was looking for, and so, when the opportunity presented itself, I began my search.

My husband and I were in a small shopping center with his mother, brother, sister, brother-in-law and two nieces. We were all window shopping when I saw a shop that I wanted to go into. Have you ever seen those clever graphics on some internet pages where the mouse is set up to have a group of something follow it as it makes its way across the page? Like if you are on a site that talks about honey bees, a swarm of bees follows your mouse pointer’s every move?

Anyway, that’s what it reminded me of. As I turned to go into the store, everyone just changed the direction in which they were headed and followed me into the store. I went to the first rack, they went to the first rack. I pulled out a blouse, they pulled out a blouse. I went into the dressing room (a curtained area in a corner of the store), they went into the dressing room. I yelled, they all stopped.

No, seriously, I didn’t yell. I was too surprised to yell. Charles told them in Portuguese to back off and they did. All of them except his mother. She stayed like she belonged there, going about the task of handing me tops that she personally thought would look great on me and waiting for me to try them on. Once we got it straightened out, I was left alone to try on the tops by myself and the family went about their business outside the store. I can’t help but think that I hurt their feelings that day. They were so eager to share in my shopping experience and I was too wrapped up in modesty to understand and thank them for their help.

I’m no less modest today but I do know enough in Portuguese to personally thank them as I gently nudge them out of the dressing room.

'Til Later, Tchau.

Vendedors Ambulante (Street Vendors)

There are many poor Brasilians in Southern Brasil. Most of them are poor not because they don’t want to work, but because jobs are scarce. They are an industrious and inventive people, who won’t take “no job” lying down. They will do whatever it takes to feed their families.

One of the most common sights you’ll find, especially during the holiday season on the beaches are street vendors (vendedors ambulante). They carry anything from fruits and vegetables to sunglasses, to beautiful hand-made jewelry, toys, etc. Anything that can be carried on their backs, on their bikes or on their hand-crafted carts will be offered up for sale to anyone taking the time to listen to their sales pitch.

I once had a guy selling ice cream treats right next to my café, where, of course, I also offered ice cream for sale. But I didn’t begrudge him because he needed that money to feed his family. I stood there and watched--me with no customers and him selling ice cream right and left right under my nose. But it did not make me angry. It made me happy that he was going to have rice and beans on the table that evening. That is the Brasilian way.

Til Later, Tchau!

Dia das Almas (All Souls Day)

Every November 2nd in Brasil, families gather at gravesites for the purpose of praying for their departed, cleaning the gravesites and placing new flowers on the graves. It is a sight to behold. Since it is mainly a Catholic tradition and the majority of Brasilians are devout Catholics, there are scores of people at the cemeteries this day. Sometimes they stop for treats or ice cream before or after their individual ceremonies. You’ll see women with scrub buckets and mops walking down the streets.

You don’t see that here in America. Everyone maintains the gravesites at separate times. Although I prefer to remember my loved ones as when they were living and not in the ground, I still appreciate the trouble these people go to keep the eternal resting place of their loved ones’ bodies in as nice a shape as possible.

Til Later, Tchau.

Dia Nacional do Fusca (National Day of the VW Bug)

The Brasilians love their Fuscas. You see them more than any other auto on the street and there are some very cool ones in Brasil. They love them so much, in fact, that they've honored them with their own day...Dia Nacional do Fusca. I've found a great little video to click on for today's blog, so be sure to click on the title to see it.

Fuscas come in all colors. I was envious of the guy who painted the inside of our cafe. He had a Fusca painted a really cool color that looked like a mixture of chartreuse and pea green. One day, he was coming from work and someone ran into him. He wasn't injured too badly, but his Fusca really took a hit. Of course, when I heard, I asked if he was ok, and when he said ok, I then asked...what about the Fusca? He smiled and said it would be ok. Since he didn't speak English, and I very little Portuguese, we did alot of sign language, but we got the gist of what was being said. About a month later, his Fusca was finally drivable again and was the same color. What a relief.

If I ever go back, I'd love to own a Fusca.

Til Next Time, Tchau!

Breakfast (Cafe da Manha) in Brasil

I know I've talked about food in Brasil before, but it seems no one tires of hearing how wonderful the food is. Breakfast is no exception. Juice, fruit, meats, cheeses, breads, cakes. You have it all in a typical colonial-style breakfast.

Now for the but part. But...

If you are looking for an American-type breakfast with eggs, hashbrowns, toast, there is no place to find it, and after a while, you begin to miss the things you once took for granted.

I think one of the first places I went after coming back to America was a place called Tee-Jay's in Columbus, Ohio, famous for it's barnbuster breakfast. I didn't have that exact breakfast because it is way too much food, but I did have eggs, bacon, hashbrowns and toast, as I always had before moving to Brasil, and I loved every bite. Now that I'm back in the states, I miss the typical Brasilian breakfast. See? There's just no pleasing some folks.

Til Next Time, Tchau!

Gauchos of Southern Brasil

When it comes to cowboys, and country music, Brasil isn't really that much different than the US. They have their country songs, their wide open spaces, and their love for horses.

What is different is the cultural mix in the southernmost State of Brasil, Rio Grande do Sul. You have people of spanish decent from the Gauchos in Argentina, you have Italian winemakers, and you have whole cities settled by Austrians.

The music is as diverse as the people. In one song you may hear a steel guitar mixed with an accordian, in the next, you may hear an Austrian waltz, and the next a Flamenco guitar. It would not surprise me if there are some who mix all these mediums together at once.

As you can see by the video attached to this blog entry, Rio Grande do Sul has some striking similarities to the region we call home to our own Rio Grand. Enjoy.

Til Next Time, Tchau!

Toucans

Toucans are pretty plentiful in Southern Brasil. When we were living high up in the hills, we would see toucans fly from tree to tree. We'd leave a branch of bananas on a stump for them to eat from.

Contrary to what everyone thinks, or at least what I used to think, that Toucans are responsible for that sound in the jungle in movies that goes something like "ara ara ara," toucans actually make a weird clicking sound and when they fly, they make a loud noise like "eeehnt." Suffice it to say, their sound is not quite as pretty as their appearance.

It was really great to watch these birds in their native habitat, instead of in a zoo. As I mentioned in a past blog entry, Brasilians like their birds, and toucanos (toucans) are no exception. They can be tamed and make fun pets, but personally, I'm fine with just watching them from a distance enjoying their natural homes.

Tchau!