Archive for September, 2011
Brazilian Time Posted by Rachel on Sep 18, 2011
I came across a really interesting TED video on Update or Die that I thought would interest all of you here on Portuguese Blog. There are two reasons: one, it’s a gringo speaking Portuguese very well (he’s Danish) and two, it’s a very valuable lesson about Brazilian culture and how foreigners interact with it. In…
Pôneis Malditos Posted by Rachel on Sep 14, 2011
One of the most popular commercials in Brazil recently is a Nissan commercial featuring the pôneis malditos, or evil ponies. The commercial became a viral hit on social media across Brazil, and it increased Nissan’s sales in Brazil by 81 percent. In August, Nissan sold nearly 1,500 Frontier pick ups, an 110 percent increase from…
The Legend of the Cuca Posted by Rachel on Sep 12, 2011
While there are a number of Brazilian legends, one of the best known is that of the cuca, a mythical character popularized in Brazilian culture. The cuca, which originally came from the Portuguese coca, a dragon legend, was brought to Brazil in colonial times. The cuca is an ugly old woman who appears in the…
Independent Samba Bands Posted by polyana on Sep 12, 2011
I’m sure you who study Portuguese are all up to your necks from hearing about Noel Rosa, Zeca Pagodinho, Jorge Ben Jor, and Exaltasamba and how these are all samba and whatnot. Which isn’t untrue. But when was the last time you heard something new? I feel like it’s the cool new hipster thing to listen…
Fernando De Noronha Posted by Rachel on Sep 11, 2011
Fernando de Noronha is a set of 21 volcanic islands off the coast of northern Brazil, and a tourist destination reachable by plane from Recife and Natal. It was first explored by the Portuguese in the early 1500s, and was subsequently invaded and ruled by the English, French, and Dutch until it was retaken by…
Brazilian Recipe: Pão De Mel Posted by Rachel on Sep 9, 2011
Pão de mel, or honey bread, is a delicious Brazilian pastry that is fairly easy to make and is great for eating as a dessert or with coffee. It’s an old recipe from Europe, and allegedly came about when bakers learned they could preserve cake longer if it was covered in melted chocolate. So let’s…
Eu Vou De Bike Posted by Rachel on Sep 7, 2011
Bicycle movements are popping up all over the world, and Brazil is no exception. In July, an organization called Libvee organized a 26 kilometer bike-a-thon with hundreds of bike riders in São Paulo. Check out the cool promo video for the event: Libvee is part of Eu Vou de Bike, an organization that promotes bike…