Archive for December, 2008
Planning Your Trip to Rio Posted by Rachel on Dec 19, 2008
High tourist season has begun in Brazil, and since many international tourists spend part or all of their time in Rio, I’m going to give you some helpful resources for planning your trip. Check out the floating Christmas tree on the Lagoon, the largest of its kind in the world Take a ride on the…
Off the Beaten Path: Part II Posted by Rachel on Dec 18, 2008
In this series, we’ll explore lesser known tourist attractions in Brazil, especially in harder to reach places. Today, we’re going to take a look at Ilha do Mosqueiro, an island located in the Pará River, seventy kilometers from the city of Belém. The island boasts thirteen freshwater beaches along seventeen kilometers of the river. Besides…
É assim não! Posted by Rachel on Dec 17, 2008
One of the most important things to bear in mind when learning Portuguese is that there is a big difference between written Portguese, which is more formal and sticks to the grammar books, and oral Portuguese, which is a whole different story. One place where this becomes apparent is the use of the word “não”…
Azul Airlines Takes Off Posted by Rachel on Dec 16, 2008
American businessman David Neeleman, the founder of JetBlue Airlines, launched his brand new Brazilian airline yesterday, Azul Linhas Aéreas Brasileiras SA. The airline began flights from Salvador, Bahia; Campinas, São Paulo; and Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul. Next month, two more cities will be added: Vitória, in Espirito Santo, and Curitiba, in Paraná. In…
The Seven-Legged Cow Posted by Rachel on Dec 15, 2008
This week, a cow with seven legs was born in the village of Rondonópolis in Mato Grosso, and has become an attraction in a very rural area of Brazil. According to a vet who examined the animal, the problem is congenital, and could have been caused by exposure to radiation or toxic chemicals, or the…
Madonna Madness Hits Brazil Posted by Rachel on Dec 12, 2008
Madonna arrived in Rio de Janeiro this morning, on the Brazil leg of her international tour, where she will perform several sold-out shows in Rio and São Paulo. She’s currently staying at the Copacabana Palace, where fans have gathered to try to catch a glimpse of the singer. Outside of Maracana Stadium, where the Rio…
Brazil in the Headlines Posted by Rachel on Dec 11, 2008
Let’s take a look at the biggest stories in the foreign press about Brazil this week: Obama win forces Brazil to take a tolerance check, AP Brazil – Health and energy drinks taking fizz out of soft drinks, Emailwire A Tribe in Brazil struggles at the intersection of drugs and cultures, New York Times China…