Brazil Environmental News Posted by Rachel on Dec 24, 2008
Let’s take a look at headlines from this week related to the environment and the Amazon. Forest Plan in Brazil Bears the Traces of an Activist’s Vision, New York Times Guia virtual mostra cantos dos sapos da Amazônia, O Globo Hundreds of Brazil’s Eco-warriors at Risk for Assassination, Guardian UK Lula quer melhor Exército para…
Holiday Vocabulary Posted by Rachel on Dec 23, 2008
Today we’re going to take a look at some important phrases and vocabulary for the holiday season. Boas festas – Happy Holidays Feliz Natal – Merry Christmas Feliz Hanuká – Happy Hanukah Feliz Ano Novo – Happy New Year Reveillon – New Year’s Eve presente – gift amigo oculto – Secret Santa Papai Noel –…
Unexpected Creatures Posted by Rachel on Dec 22, 2008
Last week, after Madonna’s departure from Rio de Janeiro, two unexpected guests appeared: a Teiu lizard and a mother and baby whale. The lizard, unusual in cities, was spotted in the Botanical Gardens. The largest lizard in South America, it inhabits forest areas south of the Amazon where it eats eggs, fruit, and small…
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…