Polaris-basilea.ch

Brazil

We could be more creative regarding the title but what? There are too many things to write
about and so many places to write about. We could also write about ‚Girl from Ipanema’ , or
about the distances within this country, or about the favelas… so we just stick to the plain
Brazil.
We arrived the 08.10.2009 in João Pessoa. Our first trip within the country lead us to
Salvador and Brasília (by plane). In a second round we went by bus and car to Recife,
Olinda und Caruaru. These three cities (towns?) are all in the state of Pernambuco –
neighbouring the state of Paraiba where the capital is João Pessoa.
We left João Pessoa the 08.11.2009 direction north to Natal. Natal is the capital of Rio
Grande do Norte and Paraiba’s neighbour in the north. We stayed in Natal for just five days
and left then again further northwest to Fortaleza. In Fortaleza we stayed for six days before
leaving on the 20.11.2009 direction Caribbean.
There are so many good guidebooks about Brazil that it would be stupid to write what you
can read in those (also, these books are much better researched than what we would do) so
we decided to write an ABC of Brazil. This ABC is about things we though might be of
interest to know however, please read them ‘with twinkle in your eye’:
A as for açucar. Sugar. Brazilians like it sweet. Just imagine you order fresh pineapple
juice. If you don’t say anything it will so sweet that it sticks in your mouth. So better learn
immediately to say ‚sim açucar, por favor’. In this case you will get the juice without sugar
but with a sweetener bottle since it can’t be sweet enough as it is.
B as for Bikinis. It seems that Brazil has the most expensive fabrics for bikinis. Please see
the photo attached. By the way it did not hinder Susanna to buy some.
Or Brasília, the capital. It just keeps on growing and growing. The first time Susanna was
there (82-83) she saw the nice designs how all would be once everything would be finished.
Now the central part (the part in the shape of an airplane) is practically finished but there has
come much more to it, parts that were not even in the original plan. No wonder, the city was
designed for 0,5 million inhabitants and now there are some two millions! These people
must live somewhere.
C as for Caipirinha. Delicious! We tried it so many times and we never had to give them
back.
Or Cachaça. Sugarcane rum. An important ingredient for Caipirinha.
Or Caruaru. This City should be visited if you want to see the variety and capability of the
artisans in Brazil. This city hosts a permanent artisan market of hundreds and hundreds of
sales stalls and counts with more than 100’000 daily visitors. Here you can buy everything
from leatherworks to rugs, jewellery, ceramics or furniture. We wandered around for some
two hours and had to quit then because it was just so much.
D as for dose de uisqui. A shot of whisky. Once we saw it written as ‚dose de hisqui’.
E as for Entrega ao domicilio. Home delivery. The manager of the Marina ‚Praia da Jacaré’
was a business man: we needed some Diesel and he offered to organize it for 2,5 Reais /
litre including delivery in big jugs onto the boat. Just out of curiosity Susanna walked to the
next gasoline station and asked if they’d do a home delivery to a boat. Yes, starting from
100 Litres for 2,05 Reais/Litre in big jugs carried on board.
F as for Fortaleza. Fortaleza is the capital of the state Ceará with two million inhabitants and
a skyline full of skyscrapers. The main attractions are the beaches. The city built also some
years ago a beautiful new ‘Centre of Culture’ called ‚Dragão de Mar’ (sea dragon) which
unfortunately the week we were there did not have that much to offer. However the site is
very nice, in the midst of new buildings hosting a small outdoor theatre and several cinemas
there are renovated old buildings hosting cafes and restaurants. Also you find there an art
museum as well as a library. An interesting complex to visit!
G as for Guaraná. This and Coca Cola must be the most favourite soft drinks in Brazil.
Guaraná is an Amazon fruit and is also said to be good to sink blood pressure. All we know
it is tasty and we enjoyed it after so much Coca Cola.
H as for Hanseniense. Lepra. Unfortunately it has become a problem in some areas of the
country. However, we saw also that Brazil has now more means ($$) do fight against it: we
saw informative posters in the busses, bus stations, trains and train stations. Also we saw
and heard cars on the weekend in poorer neighbourhoods: these cars had loudspeakers and
were running a tape with information about what to do and where to go.
I as for Ipanema. Not only the famous beach in Rio but also the second biggest competitor
of Havaianas the producer of plastic flip-flops. These flip-flops are an important assessorial
just as jewels etc. New collections are launched regularly and you must have them. As one
can imagine, these plastic things cost far more than the nice hand made leather flip-flops you
can buy on the artisan market in Caruaru!
J as for João Pessoa. A city with 0,7 Million inhabitants. Cabo Branco which is part of the
city is the most eastern point of the South American continent and is nearer to Africa than to
the most southern part of Brazil! Talking about distances…
K as for Kuat. The most popular brand of Guaraná is Guaraná Antartica. It does not belong
to the Coca Cola company so they launched their own brand and try hard (but not hard
enough)…
L as for Limão. Limes. Another important ingredient for Caipirinha.
Or Lula, the president. When you talk to people you notice that he really divides the opinions
of the people. His social engagement is highly appreciated by the poor and respected by the
richer who of course ask how to make it sustainable and affordable.
M as for Motel! Jus remember one thing: a Family newer goes into a motel in Brazil. The
prices are given per hour and the use – well see the photo!
N as for Natal. Natal has about one million inhabitants and it is yearly visited by thousands
and thousands of tourists to see the beautiful beaches and the long stretching sand dunes.
The city is following a quite restrictive building policy in order to protect the dunes and the
result is an interesting mix: just behind the old town there are kilometres and kilometres of
dunes, to be followed then again by further neighbourhoods of the city. Another thing that
impressed us in Natal was the Iate Clube do Natal where we could use the facilities and
enjoy a good show of local artists on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings. We
really enjoyed the shows as fell as our conversations wit some local members of the club.
These people went really far to make us feel welcome.
O as for Olinda. Olinda war the first capital of Pernambuco and today it has been declared a
Wold Heritage by Unesco. Winding streets covered with cobble stones and numerous
baroque churches are what you see wherever you look at. It is today a Unesco World
heritage site and the site (according o the locals) to the second best carnival in Brazil. We
enjoyed there not only the beautiful town but also the food by dining at Oficina do Sabor that
has won several prices in the category local, creative cuisine. The baked pumpkin filled with
lobster and crab sauce with coconut passion fruit. It is something we still dream about!
P as for picanha. When eating Churrasco it is considered as the best part of meat.
Interestingly the imported Argentinean picanhas are more appreciated than the local ones.
Andreas had several goes on this picanha, he can tell more.
Or Policia Federal. For us it was equivalent to bureaucracy. Huh. However, with our without
all these formalities, the people were always extremely nice and helpful and patient with us.
But one can understand us when you know that you have to go to the police in every state
and every time answer the same questions by filling in several forms (every state had
different forms) which then are copied several times, stamped and signed. . The most
important thing was always to go first to the Police and then to the local port authorities. No
way could you do it in the other order. And of course the port authorities asked again the
same questions and had their forms and copied the papers the police had given us. Thinking
about the paper industry and Amazonian rainforest…
Q as for Queijo. Cheese. Please be aware that if on the package is written, ‚Tipo Gruyère’.
it tastes like Emmenthaler. But, would you find a cheese with the label‚Tipo Parmesão’, it
really tastes like a mild parmesan cheese!.
R as for Recife. The capital of the state of Pernambuco with about four Million inhabitants. A
very interesting arts exhibition was what we liked the most: Mr Brennand inherited a brick
stone factory and converted it to an atelier and a permanent exhibition site. In the middle of
a forest you find this fantastic site allowing one to really see and appreciate his art.
Brennand is foremost known for his ceramic works but he is also a talented painter. You
need at least half a day to visit this place but it is worthwhile.
S as for Salvador. The capital of the state of Bahia. Most Europeans know only Salvador
and have therewith seen something very Brazilian but also seen a city not only known for its
beaches but also for culture and arts. About Salvador we could write so much but it is better
you find in the net or guidebooks. Stil , what you won’t find in the guidebooks is the great
massage you can get in PITUBA. Pituba is a part of the city a little to north from the old
centre. There, in the shadow of the palm trees with a nice breeze from the Atlantic blowing
not only the cooling wind but also blowing away any noise one might hear from the street,
you lie on a massage bed and enjoy a thoroughly good professional massage. There are
some 20 women (and some men) come daily with the equipment and just wait for customers.
We ware there already 2 years ago and now revisited the place. A perfect place to relax. if
you need than that for relaxing you can have afterwards a caipirinha in one of the nearby
beach bars!
T as for Tapioca. A local speciality of the north east of Brazil. It looks like a white pancake.
But it is made with just special flour made out of manioc. The flour is kind of humid so that it
melts (lightly) when heated. The result is slightly chewy kind of a consistency and a nice soft
taste. These pancakes are then filled either with salty of with sweet stuff and then folded and
eaten like tacos. So, depending on the filling you will really get a ‚LOW CAL’ Snack
U as for Unilever. If the factories are not owned by Nestle they are part of Unilever! The
globalisation is here!
V as for Viagra. On SALE in the local pharmacy in Fortaleza: instead of 62 Reais (2 Tablets)
now only 53 Reais! (about 30 sfr, 20 €) (However that was not the reason we went there)
W as for Washington. Seemingly still a popular name for young men.
X as for Xerox. Now this is business: as we were one day walking in Fortaleza we saw
these two women sitting at the pavement by a copy machine. Next to them was the price list,
and below the umbrella there was a box of copy paper. All you need to have a copy shop!
Y as for Ypioca. One of (many) good Cachaça brands.

Z as for Zero. Whether it is Coca Cola, Sprite or Guaraná – you call it ‚Zero’ as for 0
calories. However, we had the feeling that Coca Cola zero was in brazil sweeter than at
home. but who knows?

Source: http://www.polaris-basilea.ch/bilder/Reisebericht_7_Brasil_e.pdf