Jalapão Brazil Is Pure Adventure And Nature

Jalapão Brazil Is Pure Adventure And Nature

Jalapão: a main route for people who practice eco-tourism and adventure tourism. It is impossible to find equal scenario anywhere in the world.

Jalapão has cinematographic scenery. It has abundant waterfalls, rivers and lakes. And all of this is punctuated by fine, reddish sand dunes in the midst of sparse backwoods vegetation. It is no doubt the perfect background for tourism and radical sports such as rafting, canyoning and vertical modalities.

It is a place that is attractive and rustic, ready to be conquered. It derived its name from a common habit in the region. Jalapa-do-Brasil is a native plant used to cure stomach ailments. Because of its bitter flavor, local inhabitants normally eat it with a piece of bread. That is where the juxtaposition comes from: jalapa-pão (pão is bread in Portuguese).

No matter what, Jalapão impresses with its pure size: it occupies approximately 20% of the State of Tocantins. Sandstone plateaus that reach one thousand meters in height dominate the landscape. They say that here is where the sea became the hinterland. It would be a desert, if Jalapão were not also a paradise of waters and a place where the presence of flowers and exotic animals jumps to the eye. A call for contemplation and adventure. Despite being considered a desert, the fauna abound: the maned wolf, the pampas deer, the rhea, the great anteater, the jaguar and other regional species hide in the typical hinterland vegetation to escape the punishing sun that accentuates the dry climate with its constant 30ºC temperature. The biggest surprise for all those who venture here is to find an abundance of perennial rivers with transparent and still pure water.

Attractions

Brejo da Cama Waterfalls
This is in the middle of the plateau, in a hole. The road to Chiquinho Farm, 50 km.

Cachoeira da Velha Falls
Fed by the Rio Novo River, the Cachoeira da Velha waterfall is the largest of Jalapão and one of its main attractions. There, the waters run in great quantity, falling into two separate falls in the shape of a horseshoe, each of more than 20 meters wide. The falls are an imposing spectacle in which nature shows its exuberance and all its strength.

Right next to the waterfall there is a small beach, of calm freshwater and surrounded by gallery forest. The trail to reach the small beach is an attraction in itself, easy to walk through, with stops on the way for sightseeing and resting.

Cachoeira da Formiga Waterfall
The Cachoeira do Formiga is a small water fall surrounded by lush vegetation, with tall trees, and native palm trees. But the true spectacle is the pool that forms at the foot of the waterfall, where enchanting emerald-green waters invite for a dive. It is a jewel where you can bathe and see all the way to the ground, with calcareous sand.

.
.
.
.

Fauna
The most observed animals are the wildcats, deer, capybaras, foxes, monkeys and small mammals. Besides the common types of fauna found in the hinterland, several endangered species can be found in the Jalapão region, such as the maned wolf, puma, pampas deer and tapir. The regional bird fauna has species such as the macaw, parrot, toucan, rhea, crested seriema, and lapwing. Among the reptiles, one finds the anaconda, boa, rattlesnake, chameleon, tegu lizard and many more.
.

Fervedouro
It seems like an oasis. Amidst closed vegetation, swamps and streams, there is a place of rare beauty surrounded by banana trees. In its center is a large pool of transparent blue water - in reality, the spring of an underground river. The water that springs from clear sand creates the phenomenon of upwelling, which makes it impossible for the most persistent swimmer to submerge. In Fervedouro, you'll have fun and get to know the real feeling of lightness.

.
.

Lajeado Waterfalls
There are a series of steps over which the water runs until forming a 10m high waterfall and natural pool. It is necessary to climb down a stairway of stones, some of which are very slippery. The road to Chiquinho Farm, 45 km.
.

Mumbuca Village
In your tour through the Jalapão valley it is worth reserving time to visit a traditional village, Mumbuca, 35 km away from the city of Mateiros. It was in this place, formed in majority by slave descendants, that the much popular handcraft in golden grass emerged.

Follow the skillful hands of women of working Mumbuca the golden grass, producing craft pieces that will be distributed throughout Brazil and in several countries.

Mumbuca has less than 200 residents. There, men and women have very definite roles. Men plant for family consumption, while women reap the production and prepare meals, in addition of course to working as artisans.

Prainha of the Cachoeira da Velha Falls
After enjoying the exuberance of the Cachoeira da Velha falls, it is time to take the trail of approximately one hour that leads to the small beach, a very pleasant place, with shade, calm freshwater, and lush gallery forest.

Some of Jalapão’ tourists find at “prainha” an ideal place for camping, spending more time in contact with nature. Others are content swimming in its waters, enjoying the beauty of the scenery.
.
.

Pedra Furada Hill
An opening in the rock, carved by erosion and the wind. The road to Pindorama do Tocantins, 31 km.

Rafting
Every adventurer who goes to Jalapão has a certain destination: rafting on the Rio Novo rapids. But you need not be experienced or even able to swim to face the sometimes turbulent, sometimes calm waters. You should only be equipped with safety accessories supplied by the tourist agencies.

There are two options. The first is the long distances that take up to four days, where you get to experience high level difficulty waterfalls and make stops in small beaches of white sand that build up on the banks of the river. The second option, which is much faster and chosen by most tourists, is a descent that lasts three hours (six kilometers).

The best season to practice rafting is from May to September, the period of drought in Tocantins State. It is at this time also that the roads with access to Jalapão offer better traffic conditions.

Rio Novo River
One of the last rivers of drinking water in the world, Rio Novo has fully crystalline appearance, making vivid the wilderness that surrounds it and the beautiful beaches that are formed along its banks.

Rafting is common in the waters of Rio Novo River. But there is room for other sports such as canoeing, rappelling, cross-buoy (downhill by river’s rapids in individual buoys) and acquaride (where the player is prone on top of the buoy).
.
.

Sand Dunes
A scenario both unexpected as unforgettable, formed by huge dunes of golden sand (of quartz sand), up to 30 meters in height. Imagine the feeling of walking on the sand contemplating the sunset in the center of a landscape like this!

The dunes of Jalapão are in constant motion, driven by winds. Around it is the Espírito Santo Mountain with sandy formation, which the wind gust causes erosion, thus, creating the dunes.
.
.

Serra do Espírito Santo Mountain
Postcard of the region, Espírito Santo Mountain is an imposing rise, which through the process of erosion (rain and winds), creates the dunes that are formed at its feet.

There is also a gazebo in the mountain, where after an hour of walking toward the summit, you can get a privileged view of the entire region. The top of the mountain is a large flat area, which resembles an immense elevated table. It's the perfect place to enjoy the landscapes and horizons of Jalapão.
.

Suçuapara Canyon
This canyon is 60m long and 15m high. It was opened by the water running over the sandstone, thus forming the small canyon and the waterfall. Moss and hundreds of ferns grow along the steep slopes. The road to Mateiros, 15 km.

Basic information:

• State: Tocantins
  
• Region: North
  

The region’s climate is called sub-humid (AW), with maximum annual temperatures between 30°C and 32°C from August to November, partly due to the end of the dry season when smoke from the burning brush in the hinterland contributes to higher temperatures, and lows of between 18º and 19ºC, in June and July.

There are two well-defined seasons during the year: the rainy season, between October and April and the dry season, between May and September.

There is no support structure in the park. The cities of Mateiros and Ponte Alta serve as support stations for visitors. Both have hotels, restaurants, tourism agencies and guides that take visitors on excursions.

____________________________________________

Older Post:

Brazilian Tourism - Social and Environmental Impacts

Natal - Rio Grande do Norte

Natal - Rio Grande do Norte

Cliffs, rivers discharging in the sea and mangroves full of natural life complement the spectacle that converts the capital city of the State of Rio Grande do Norte into one of the most attractive tourism options in Brazil. In Natal, visitors can enjoy more than 300 sunny days a year. White dunes surrounded by coconut groves, clear and warm waters – everything there conspires to make your stay in the city the most pleasant as possible.

Attractions

Alberto Maranhão Theater
It was built in 1904 in neoclassical style. It is open from Monday to Friday, from 8h to 18h.

Três Reis Magos Fort
Constructed in 1598, it was occupied by the Dutch from 1633 to 1654. The shape of the Fort resembles a 5-point star. There are guided tours in the Fort. It is open everyday, from 8h to 16h30.

Santo Antônio (do Galo) Church
Work dated 1799 in baroque style. There is a museum of religious arts. It is open for visitation from Tuesday to Sunday, always from 9h to 17h.

Câmara Cascudo Museum
Its collection houses fossils, skeletons and Indigenous utensils. It is located at Hermes da Fonseca Avenue, 1398 – Tirol. It is open from Tuesday to Friday, from 8h to 10h30 and from 14h to 16h30. On Saturdays and Sundays, from 13h to 17h.

Pirangi Cashew Tree
That is the biggest cashew tree in the world, with a crown of 8,400 square meters. It is located at Dep. Márcio Marinho Avenue.

Tourism Center
A former prison built in the 19th Century. There visitors find handicraft and gift shops. Every Thursday it stages the “Forró com o Turista”, at 22h. The Center is located at Aderbal de Figueiredo Street, 980 – Petrópolis. It is open everyday, from 9h to 19h.

Barreira do Inferno
Brazilian rocket launch base. There are guided tours. It is located at Rota do Sol, in the municipality of Parnamirim, 19km far from Natal.

Shopping

Hand-woven Lace
There is a cooperative in Natal that gathers about 20 lace-makers. They weave tablecloths, stair carpets, etc.

Beaches

do Forte
There is where the Três Reis Magos Fort is located. Visitors can enjoy wonderful natural bathing pools.

do Meio
The beach is closer to the city’s downtown, but there are many reefs.

Barreira D’água
The beach is very long, but some sites are not proper for bathing because of the large number of reefs.

Ponta Negra
One of the most famous beaches in Natal. There is a boardwalk and nice sites for sea-bathing. It houses the Morro do Careca – a dune of 120m in height that lends its beauty to the landscape. That is one of the postcards of the city.

do Cotovelo
The waves are mild and there are wonderful cliffs on the south end.

Pirangi do Norte
Most of the vacation houses are found there. The beach has countless natural bathing pools, where one can practice the free diving.

Pirangi do Sul
Mild waves, some reefs and many natural bathing pools.

Búzios
There are strong waves and dunes.

Barra de Tabatinga
Full of cliffs and reefs, the beach is a site for watching dolphins during the high tide.

Camurupim
With mild waves, it houses the Arituba Pond.

____________________________________________

Older Post:

Tourismus: Balneário Camboriú - Brasilien

Brazilian Tourism - Social and Environmental Impacts

Brazilian Tourism - Social and Environmental Impacts

Brazil’s potential for leisure and tourism based, among other factors, on its magnificent landscapes, pleasant climates, and rich biodiversity, has only recently begun to develop destinations for international travelers and domestic holidaymakers.

Though tourism has ample scope for expansion in Brazil, to a great extent the prospects of this sector are dependent upon water resources, and many of its activities could be severely jeopardized by damage to the quality and quantity of these resources.

As the Brazilian people become increasingly aware of environmental issues, eco-tourism particularly has gained ground, as well as fishing trips, and travel reflecting rising interest in scientific and technological themes. In this specialized travel and tourism segment, Brazil is host to increasing numbers of foreign visitors, attracted mainly to unique areas such as the Pantanal wetlands and Amazonia.

However, this type of tourism requires special attention, in view of its potential impacts on the environment and local communities. This requires policies that foster activities aimed at promoting sustainable social and environmental practices.

____________________________________________

Older Post:

State of Ceará: Investment Opportunities

State of Ceará: Investment Opportunities

State of Ceará: Investment Opportunities - The CRAJUBAR region of Cariri (Crato, Juazeiro and Barbalha) has significant economic development potential. In the Cariri region, tourism and manufacturing industries, such as footwear, have been major drivers of private investment.

Tourism in the region encompasses a variety of activities ranging from religious to scientific, cultural, ecological and commercial. Most tourists come for religious reasons, to celebrate the legacy of Father Cicero, an influential Catholic priest who resided in Juazeiro do Norte during the late 19th century and early 20th century.

Major events in honor of Father Cicero take place throughout the year in Juazeiro and the city hosts nearly 1,800,000 pilgrims each year, mainly from the Northeastern region. Most of the jobs in Juazeiro are tourism-related (restaurants, commerce, handcrafts, lodging) and a large portion of them informal. Other municipalities in the Cariri region also have significant potential for tourism, as the region holds an extensive fossil basin which, under UNESCO’s auspices, is lending to the creation of the first geopark in the Americas. Given its peculiar nature, rich culture, emerging commerce and geographic location, Cariri region has become one of the preferred sites for tourism business events.

Finally, the shoe industry in Cariri ranks as third largest in Brazil, is responsible for nearly 8,000 jobs and approximately 40% of shoe firms located in Ceará. Small and medium firms prevail, however, with a corresponding lack of skilled labor, innovation capacity, technical knowledge and market information. With heightened global competitive pressure in this sector, it is critical that the sector be upgraded in terms of design, technology, skills, marketing and other innovations.

____________________________________________

Older Post:

Brazilian flavors: Bahia

Brazilian flavors: Bahia

Brazilian flavors: Bahia
by Ericivaldo Veiga

The city of Salvador was founded to meet the expanding needs of the Portuguese mercantile system and to serve as the capital of Brazil for over two centuries. The city became the most important trading post in the colony. Single-culture agriculture, especially with sugarcane in the Brazilian Northeast or mineral extraction, formed significant cycles in the exploitation of the resources of the lands that had been discovered. This type of appropriation was based on slave labor brought by the thousands from several African regions. There was a time when the city’s black population was larger than that of white people formed by the economic elites, the clergy, administrators and poor white people. Although trading activities with Portugal were centered in Salvador and the Recôncavo, he colonialist venture also penetrated the hot and humid regions of the south as well as the vast region known as the Hinterland, which is characterized by the presence of caatingas, meadows, mountains, and valleys.

With a heterogeneous geographic and cultural development, the hinterland is less populated and still stigmatized by constant droughts. The anthropologist and essay writer Antônio Risério, who is also an observer of contemporary life in Salvador, believes that the transfer of the colonial capital to Rio de Janeiro, which was motivated by political and economic factors, led the city to isolation and to the development of an ethnically diversified population.

It is no longer a secret the fact that the cuisine of Bahia is diversified and that researchers complain about the prevailing interest for the cuisine of the capital and the Recôncavo, which is predominantly marked by dishes of African origin or dishes containing palm oil. During the 20th Cultural Meeting of Laranjeiras, held in the state of Sergipe, in the mid-1990s, the Bahia-born folklore researcher Hildegardes Vianna, in her “Breve Notícia da Alimentação na Bahia” complains about the lack of research “on the State’s hinterland and southern cuisine”. She tries to fill in the gap by presenting a short list of seafood dishes found in the cuisine of the southern region of Bahia bathed by the Atlantic Ocean: crab and fish dishes, and westwards, in the border with the State of Minas Gerais, meat and seafood dishes from the East Coast. The typical cuisine of the hinterland of Bahia, in turn, is presented by Vianna as being sober and a reflex of the poverty environment. In the basin of the São Francisco river, the daily cuisine is marked by the presence of manioc root flour and goat meat, fresh beans and manioc mush, in which the flour is scalded in milk, meat or fish broth.

The engineer and professor at the Engineering School of the Federal University of Bahia, Guilherme Radel has recently written the recipe book entitled “A Cozinha sertaneja da Bahia”. The book reveals secrets of the hinterland cuisine and shows its evolution. In the introduction, Radel’s hinterland cuisine is refined both in the technique and in the ingredients, although they can all be found in the region. The author helps to reveal the secret of the new flavors and confirms the lack of dissemination of other Bahia dishes as well as the dictatorship of the palm oil. According to the author “The hinterland cuisine spreads throughout Bahia and its presence is weaker exactly where the presence of the Afro-Bahia and Indigenous cuisines is stronger: in Salvador, in the Recôncavo, and on the shore. In the interior of Bahia, people eat basically the dishes that are typical of hinterland cookery: beans; different types of sun-dried meat dishes; sautéed, stewed, and roasted goat, lamb and pork; meninico; goat or mutton haggis; pork giblets; sautéed and stewed chicken; milk mush; mush made of corn meal; pumpkin purée; cassava; pumpkin; maxixe (a type of gherkin); fresh beans cooked in butter; golden-fried manioc meal; and a dish made of goat and golden-fried manioc meal. Such is the structure of hinterland cookery, which is undoubtedly the main contribution to the cuisine of Bahia.

However, this very important aspect is not fairly disseminated, thereby allowing the Afro-Bahia cuisine to make up the so-called cuisine of Bahia, as if the African people had been the only ones to contribute to its development.

In the set of recipes recorded by the author there are 362 different dishes made of goat, lamb, pork, beef, poultry, eggs, fish, and game.

The secrets of religion are one of the elements responsible for the frequent use of the much-criticized palm oil in hinterland cookery. The religious syncretism of African origin extends, so to speak, to hinterland cookery during the Passion Week. Radel records 14 dishes containing palm oil in hinterland cookery, which are included in the category of food for occasions of “fasting and rules”.

The fixation of researchers with the Bahia cuisine of African origin might be explained by historical reasons. Something similar occurs with the candomblé brought to Bahia by the Yoruba people to the detriment of the candomblé of Bantu origin, among other groups of African matrices.

Particularly in Bahia, where the presence of certain African groups could not be matched by any other Brazilian region, cookery has been strongly influenced by this interaction process that made up the Brazilian society. The strong presence, especially of spices such as the palm oil, has contributed to the development of the cooking system of the Bahia cuisine. In his text entitled “Dietas Africanas”, the anthropologist Vivaldo da Costa Lima expressed the methodological lines to understand the Afro-Bahia cuisine, which has been mistakenly disseminated as a homogeneous cooking system. According to Costa Lima, the cuisine of Bahia is “The cuisine of a whole geographic sub-region of Bahia known as “Recôncavo”. The cuisine that developed in the region – the Bahia cuisine – is also popularly known as oil food, in an allusion to the palm oil, which is extracted from the pulp of the fruit of the Elaesis Guineensis palm tree.

Different types of pepper are “another constant ingredient in Bahia cookery”, especially the Capsicum pepper, of the solanaceous family.

In his book entitled “A Bahia do Século XVIII”, Luís dos Santos Vilhena, a Greek professor who lived in Bahia late in the 18th century, offers us a menu of African dishes sold in the streets of Salvador which, in Vilhena’s view as a foreigner are “despicable and insignificant”:

“It is impossible not to notice eight, ten, and even more black men and women coming out of the wealthier houses in this city, where major negotiations and deals are made, to sell in the streets the most insignificant and despicable things, such as different sorts of delicacies like calf’s foot, carurus, vatapás, mingaus (porridge), pamonha, canjica, i.e., corn mush, acaçá (corn meal and rice flour mush), acarajé, ubobó, coconut rice, coconut beans, angu (mush made of corn meal), and the most shocking thing: dirty water mixed with honey and other ingredients known as aloá, which black people drink as lemonade.”

The menu presented by Vilhena reveals trends of a hybrid – although already Brazilian – Bahia cuisine. These trends will be expressed mainly among folklore researchers of regional-oriented mind and sociologists.

In “Arte Culinária na Bahia” published late in the 1920s, Manoel Querino expresses interest in the “customs and habits of each region”; he introduces Bahia cookery as a hybrid cuisine in “the ethnical development of Brazil”.

In the end of the 1930s, Sodré Vianna retired to a voodoo center to copy 50 recipes of Bahia cookery, which he later on published in his Xangô Journal. The same author, in the text entitled “Sauces of Bahia”, published in the Anthology of Food in Brazil and organized by Luís da Câmara Cascudo, emphasizes the preference of the people of Bahia for sauces especially prepared with red pepper. In the same anthology, writer J. M. Cardoso de Oliveira describes a dinner served in Bahia in 1889. A history of passion filled with moquecas (broiled fish), efó (vegetable paste with dried shrimp, palm oil, red pepper and other spices), acarajé, abará (dish made with beans, pepper and palm oil, and rolled in banana leaves), acaçá (corn meal and rice four mush)... Food is as much an element of the house as its windows and residents. As Cardoso de Oliveira wrote in his aforementioned book:

“On the window sills there was a line of bowls of sweets. On the table, bowls of beaten eggs and dough, and nutmeg and sugar clove packets lined up. In the corner, Inacinha, although nauseated, prepared the sponge cake, the coconut pudding, the manuês (variety of corn cake made with honey); in the kitchen the girls prepared the caruru made of okra and leaves, sifted the flour for the vatapá, cleaned the shrimps for the efó. In the grocery stores on the same street, African women would provide the abará, the acarajés and the aberéns (baked cakes made of corn, sugar and water, and rolled in banana leaves). D. Eugênia was in charge of making the cassava cupcakes, the small milk acaçás, and her two specialties: coconut and cheese cupcakes and smoked bacon. But she interfered everywhere, tasting something here, adding butter there”.

It is in the book entitled “História da Alimentação no Brasil” that Câmara Cascudo gives us one of the most complete descriptions of Brazilian cookery. He describes in detail the menu of cooking techniques and the sociological aspects of the Brazilian cuisine. Although he ate vatapá and caruru in Salvador, at some of his colleagues’ from the medicine course, in 1918, he restricts these dishes, in sociological terms, to the popular scope.

Sociologist Gilberto Freyre visited Bahia in the 1930s and was impressed with the politeness and the cuisine of the people of Bahia, as he wrote in the foreword of his “Casa Grande e Senzala”. Freyre, who was Franz Boas’ student at Columbia University, praised the sweets and cakes prepared in the Brazilian northeast, as recorded in the book entitled “Açúcar”. It is a sociology of sweets, whose first edition dates back to 1939.

The books by folklore writers Hildegardes Vianna and Darwin Brandão, which have the same name - “A cozinha baiana” – describe the Afro-Bahia cuisine of Salvador and the Recôncavo.

Roger Bastide, a French sociologist, was particularly interested in palm oil dishes within the context of the candomblé.

Costa Lima describes this cuisine in its religious context and in the observation of its dynamics in the secular context, as seen in the text entitled “Etnocenologia – e etnoculinária – do acarajé”. The author of this article studied the Bahia cuisine of African origin through a methodological approach that adopts the perspective of the Training Restaurant of Bahia cookery of the National Service of Commercial Apprenticeship (SENAC).

The institution developed a six-month cooking course on Bahia dishes aimed at the hotel-tourism market. The course reflects the vicissitudes of its organization and of the professional market in times of globalization.

The dissemination of popular culture, particularly of the Bahia cuisine of African origin, which has been transformed into icons through delicacies such as the acarajé, the abará, the vatapá, the caruru and the shrimp bobó has contributed to the development of important supramaterial conditions in the rationalization of tourism: an image that defines Bahia as a special and unique place for its cuisine and the happiness of its people reinforce these conditions. Writers and artists from Bahia are the most important disseminators of this image that was built in the historical and cultural process of the daily lives of the people of Bahia. The mid-19th century is the time limit when the image of Bahia as the land that nourishes traditions was established. Salvador, the state capital, is still proud of its status as the “queen of the Atlantic”, which has been consolidated by its commercial position in relation to the Southern Atlantic Ocean: “Europe, France and Bahia” is an expression of the Brazilian folklore, which was probably coined in the 19th century and reveals the status of Bahia. An analogy translated as something like Paris in relation to Europe, and Bahia (Salvador or the city of Bahia) in relation to the New World (America).

The secrets of the flavors of Bahia also imply observing the movement of tradition and modernity. As a result, we witness the emergence of new cooks and the gastronomic and occupational reinvention of the cuisine of Bahia. Many cooks like D. Flor, a character in Jorge Amado’s novel “D. Flor e seus dois maridos” (D. Flor and her two husbands), a book in which palm oil dishes color the pages of the book golden yellow. Cooks like Dadá, Alaíde, Dinha and Cira – all of whom are heirs of the guardians of the practical know-how of the cuisine of Bahia, old cooks of centuries-old families or of the candomblé centers of Bahia. But they also preserve tradition by including the new and welcoming reinvention.

On the other hand, the Bahia cuisine of African origin is being used by NGOs and community institutions such as African groups during carnival as a pedagogic element to bring education, self-esteem, and citizenship especially to youths of African origin; black organizations with strong mobilization power set up cooking festivals to entertain and preserve the memory and identity of the cuisine of Bahia.

The African cuisine of Bahia therefore fulfills its political role and wants more than just reproducing the biological existence of its fans. The food, although aimed at consumption, preserves and renews the memory kept in taste, in the sound of boiling palm oil, in the piquancy of the red pepper, in the crispness of the acarajé. These secrets and flavors are revealed to help strengthen and renew humanity.

____________________________________________

Older Post:

State of Sergipe: a great place also to invest

State of Sergipe: a great place also to invest

State of Sergipe: a great place also to invest

With a privileged geographic localization, in the central axle of the main markets of the Northeast region, Sergipe is the smallest Brazilian state territorially speaking, but it is the best well structured among its neighbor states of the Northeast region.

Sergipe has the major GIP per capta of its region and it is a regional center in ascension, with its beautiful beaches, modern services, security and free of the stress of big metropolises.

The state is rich in mineral resources. It has a modern and diversified industrial park. It is a mark in the agro business, in the tourism, in the culture of shrimps and similar ones, in the energetic sector, in the civil and naval construction, in the area of technology, in the health sector. Aracaju has the second major income per capita among the northeast capitals and in the interior, the main cities are growing and becoming developed. Besides that, Sergipe is the land of a hard working people who is ready to build a great state, with opportunities for all.

Set on a privileged location, in the middle of the Brazilian coast, Sergipe concentrates in it’s little less than 22 thousand square km a landscape and cultural diversity that impress visitors, converting itself into an opportunity, an ideal place for travel business.

There are more than 163km beaches, without natural obstacles, warm water surrounded by dunes and cut by six river mouths, which generates an excellent option for leisure travel.

Aracaju, a port of entry to get to know Sergipe, has shown a vocation for events tourism, relying on a center of conventions and auditoriums. Its beautiful beaches and modern Atalaia coast, one of he city’s main postcards, is 6km long and is at 9km from the city center, being one of the most beautiful and equipped coasts of Brazil, fully prepared for tourism, leisure and entertainment. It has special lighting for night baths, multisports blocks and a complex of bars and restaurants. It is one of the main concentration points of the night of Sergipe.

New hotels and resorts are being built, competing to strengthen the potential in this segment. A planned city, endowed with an airport with capacity to receive international charter flights is also a center of services and leisure.

The northern coast stands out for its ecotourism. It contains one of the first bases of the Tamar Project (preservation of marine tortoises) and the Biological Reserve of Santa Isabel, but the northeast region of Pantanal also deserves emphasis and, culminating all the beauties is the mouth of the São Francisco River.

One of the greatest attractions of Sergipe is the region of Xingó, which has the 5th largest navigable canyon in the world, archaeological sites and places where outlaws walked, fought and dies, including Lampiao and Maria Bonita (two important figures of Brazilian history). The Caatinga (stunted spare forest region in Brazil’s northeast), the canyon, the Grotto of Angico, scenario of Lampiao’s last combat, are an invitation to adventure, history and entertainment.

The first tourist-real estate complexes begin to be built in Sergipe, especially directed to the second residence of foreigners.

____________________________________________

Older Post:

State of Pernambuco: Investment Opportunities

State of Pernambuco: Investment Opportunities

State of Pernambuco: Investment Opportunities

• Project: Road Access and Bridge to Paiva Beach
  
• Institution in Charge: Secretariat of Planning of the State of Pernambuco
  
• Value of Investment: 1 billion dollars
  
• Location: South Coast (Santo Agostinho Cape) - Pernambuco
  

The structuring of Paiva Beach as an international destination for tourism and leisure is a initiative of Odebrecht Building Company and of Cornelio Brennand and Ricardo Brennand Groups in partnership with the Government of Pernambuco. The planned urban infrastructure has the objective of attracting high level international tourism, as well as of expanding the supply of housing units and of leisure and service facilities to the population of the Metropolitan Area of Recife.

The Government of Pernambuco considers the Paiva Beach Project as very relevant for the State, due to its capacity to stimulate complementary investments, to create employment, income and tax revenues, generated by economic activities to be developed in the area. Also due to the expressive social impact that education, professional and technical training of the population will be able to induce, and which will consequently result in the increase of the IDH in the surrounding area.

The Project, as a whole, will require a private investment of around 1 billion dollars, and will be implemented in two stages, the first of which will demand an investment of US$ 250 million.

The Paiva Beach Project will constitute an important pole of metropolitan economic development which is expected to create very important and significant impacts such as:

• a) the generation of an average of 4,440 jobs per year, considering both direct and indirect jobs, along the 20 years of the project implementation, mainly concentrated on building activities. With regard to tourism, leisure, commerce and services activities, the Paiva Beach Project has the capacity of generating approximately 38 thousand jobs, both direct and indirect, until its completion;
  
• b) the attraction of high income level tourists flows (leisure, business and residential tourism) to Pernambuco, by offering an international pattern of infrastructure, not yet available in Northeast Brazil;
  
• c) greater attention to preservation and sustainable use of the environment, deriving from the urbanistic conception of the Project, which takes advantage of the diversity of existing landscapes (mangroves, beaches and woods) in a responsible way. The rates of use and occupation of land indicated in the project promote the preservation of more vulnerable areas, avoiding their degradation.
  

Among the several government actions to support the Paiva Beach Project, two were elected as priority actions to be accomplished by means of Public Private Partnerships, through Sponsored Concession: (1) Construction, Operation and Maintenance of the bridge giving access to Paiva Beach and (2) Implementation and Maintenance of the Paiva Beach Road System.

• Project: Pontal Project
  
• Institution in Charge: Secretariat of Economic Development of the State of
  
• Pernambuco
  
• Value of Investment: US$ 63.5 million
  
• Location: Petrolina / Pernambuco
  

The irrigation project of Pontal is located in the municipality of Petrolina, in the semi-arid region of Pernambuco, where the biggest irrigation pole of the country is. The Brazilian Government has invested approximately 70 million dollars to build part of the irrigation infrastructure, which stretches from the São Francisco River to the Pontal area, and has the intention of transferring this area to the private sector.

The Project is divided in two areas: South Pontal and North Pontal, with only one point of water capture in the São Francisco River. The engineering works already completed in Pontal (around US$ 146.00 million in nominal values) include the water capture infrastructure and the water conduction system to both North and South areas. Calculated at market prices, the private sector will need US$ 63.56 million to complete the common infrastructure to all the Pontal Project.

The State Government will be responsible for the exploitation of the irrigation public service, by means of the operation and maintenance of the infrastructure for common use, in order to guarantee the occupation and development of the irrigable areas of the Project, according to the rational use of soil resources.

The objective of Private Sector participation in the Pontal Project is to attract a company, or a companys consortium, with enough financial capacity to achieve the Projects goals, and capable of attracting, to the region, other enterprises with expertise in agricultural activities.

Company for the Development of the São Francisco Valley (CODEVASF), through several studies, has concluded that 7,716 hectares of the Pontal area are considered irrigable, due to their soil characteristics. This area is adequate for several cultures including tropical fruits, citric fruits and sugar cane, among others. The State Government is ready to give the Private Sector total freedom in the choice of products to be cultivated. The remaining 19,239 hectares of Pontal were considered as dry land, which can be used by the local population to develop traditional activities such as goat raising, or even the structuring of agricultural products processing units.

To guarantee the compatibility of financial interests of the private sector with Government objectives, regarding land occupation, the companies will receive the counterpart from the Government, only after proving the use of irrigable lands for agricultural activities. Also, the land will only be considered occupied when the commitment of the enterprise with the development of agricultural production can be proved.

____________________________________________

Older Post:

Embassy: United States of America

Embassy: United States of America

Embassy: United States of America

Country: United States of America - USA

Address (Embassy):

• SES Avenida das Nações quadra 801 lote 3
  
• CEP 70.403-900
  
• Brasília-DF
  
• Brazil
  

Telephone/Fax: (55 61) 3312-7000 / (55 61) 3312-7676

Rio Grande do Norte: Opportunities in Tourism

Rio Grande do Norte: Opportunities in Tourism

Rio Grande do Norte is one of the main tourism destinations in Brazil. The State receives more than one million visitors a year, most of them are Brazilians and Europeans tourists who come to Natal on 14 charter flights, attracted by the beautiful beaches with dunes and clear waters, warmed by the almost all year long and by the heavenly scenery and biodiversity.

Along the 410 km coast, there are more 140 beaches, some of them internationally famous, e.g. Ponta Negra, Pipa and Genipabu. Along the entire coast in the State, there are places proper to the development of big projects such as hotel, real estate for second home, resorts, golf courses, etc. These projects are being planned and some are being implemented by foreigners, mostly Europeans.

Handcraft, regional cuisine and other cultural manifestations also amaze visitors, who are unanimous to declare, as they leave the State that they intend to return here and that they will recommended it to their relatives and friends.

The increase in the number of visitors and the expansion of tourism demand more services, attractions and accommodations. Aiming that market, Rio Grande do Norte is investing in ecologic and religious tourism as well as adventure tourism in the country side of the State – which stages several landscapes like semi-arid, sertão (backland), agreste (typical northeastern forest), hills, architectural monuments and baroque style sacred images – as well as business, educational and event tourism. A great opportunity for those who seek to combine work with quality of life, investing in one of the most beautiful and promising tourism poles in Brazil.

____________________________________________

Older Post:

Consulate and Embassy: Albania

Consulate and Embassy: Albania

Consulate and Embassy: Albania

Country: Albania

Address (Consulate):

• Avenida Rui Barbosa - 1654
  
• CEP 50052-000
  
• Recife - PE
  
• Brazil
  

Telephone/Fax: (55 81) 3441-5606 / (55 81) 3268-6185

Brazilian Beach Volleyball

Brazilian Beach Volleyball

Playing volleyball on the beach is something that has been around since the 40’s and 50’s, in countries of vast coastal regions such as Brazil. Beach volleyball gained strength in Brazil as of 1985, when it began to host regional and national championships. Today, national doubles in both the male and female categories, are among the world’s finest.

Beach Volley is quite strong in the State of Rio de Janeiro and the Northeast. The main tournament of the modality is the Brazilian Beach Volley Circuit of Banco do Brasil. It is comprised of 16 stages, taking place in the coastal cities, and even the inland center of Brazil, in improvised arenas, but with real sand.

Many beaches have courts erected for the practice of the sport. In them, it is possible to find professionals training, instructors giving lessons and hints on the game to students of many ages.

Tourism & Travel: Sabará | State of Minas Gerais | Brazil

Tourism & Travel: Sabará | State of Minas Gerais | Brazil

Sabará is a Brazilian municipality located in the state of Minas Gerais. The city belongs to the microregion of Belo Horizonte.

Located in a majestic valley where the Velhas and the Sabará Rivers meet, this beautiful city in Minas Gerais emerged from the 18th Century gold rush. Few cities were able to keep their architecture virtually intact like Sabará, so much so that the entire history of an era can be told just by walking down its streets.

Sabará is a faithful portrait of one of the most fascinating periods in Brazilian history, told through its churches baroque architecture, through the mines hidden in the mountains, through the wooden troughs and other crude instruments used in gold extraction. Many of these, by the way, can be found at the bottom of the rivers

To walk the streets and city neighborhoods is to know part of the glorious saga of those explorers who searched for gold, and how the emerging Minas society was formed. It is also to be in an open-air museum.

That’s why the city catches the interest of tourists and scholars alike who can admire the best representative engravings of the baroque movement in the urban center.

Sabará is located in the Gold Circuit in the central tourist area of Minas Gerais. The main attractions are the townhouses, churches and big houses spread about the city’s narrow and centuries-old streets.

• Events
  

Holy Week
Holy Week is a tradition in the city and it is celebrated with the re-enactment of Christ’s Passion and Death in a very beautiful presentation. Presentations of solemn liturgies, the Via Sacra of Penitence and several processions are also part of the celebrations.

Sabará Festival
During the entire month of July, activities and cultural workshops are held to celebrate the elevation of Sabará to the Royal Villa.

Our Lady of Assumption Festivity
This is a traditional celebration in the Ravena district (former Arraial da Lapa), one of the first settlements in the region. A novena, little stands, Mass, music shows, auctions and a procession are highlights at the traditional event.

Cachaça (Sugar Cane Rum) Festival
This festival is held on the Esportes Square with cachaça tasting and selling of the best sugar cane rums in Minas Gerais. Little stands, music shows, the Best Cachaça Contest and the Best Snack Food.

Festival of the Divine
This is one of the city’s traditional parties, with the participation of the Butler and the Emperor, who organize the entire event together with the Society for the Divine Holy Spirit. The highlights include the raising of the flagpole and flag, processions, the distribution of bread and medals.

• Attractions
  

Our Lady of the Rosary Church
Work began in 1768 and it portrays the faith and strength of the African Negro. The slaves decided to build their own church, but the decline in gold mine activity did not permit it to be completed.

Our Lady of Carmo Church
This is one of the most spectacular stages for the art and geniality of Antônio Francisco Lisboa, the Aleijadinho. The images of San Juan de La Cruz, Saint Simon Stock and the Atlantes are attributed to the artist.

Saint Francis of Assisi Church
Before its construction, the site was home to a simple, rustic chapel dedicated to Our Lady Queen of the Angels, to whom Saint Francis was devoted. Work began in 1781, and truly accelerated between 1798 and 1805.

Municipal Theater
This is the second oldest theater in Brazil, and still in full operation. It has excellent acoustics and its architectonic lines are influenced by the English Theaters during the reign of Elizabeth I. That”s why it is also called the Elizabethan Theater.

Museum of Gold
This is an authentic example of crude Brazilian colonial architecture of the 18th Century (1713). This old Foundry and Magistrate House (the only construction with these characteristics still standing in Brazil) served for some time as a school. It has a permanent exhibit of sacred art and furniture pieces on the upper floor, which was the Magistrate”s residence. The ground floor is paved with round stones and it exhibits pieces related to the extraction, foundry process, coining and control of gold.

Tourism & Travel: Urubici | State of Santa Catarina | Brazil

Tourism & Travel: Urubici | State of Santa Catarina | Brazil

The charming town of Urubici was founded in 1915, as the village of São Joaquim. Today, its natural beauties attract tourists and backpackers from all corners of Brazil looking for the landscapes of the mountain ridge of the state of Santa Catarina. Located in the valley of the Canoas river, the town has in its hills, valleys, trails and waterfalls perfect places for those who want to rest or go for ecotourism and adventure tourism.

Urubici is part of the important São Joaquim National park, which is very rich in flora and fauna. The park has an area of 493 km2 (190.34 square miles) and is divided between the fields on top of the ridge, where we have the lowest temperatures in Brazil, and the area at the foot of the ridge, with temperature around the 20°C (68°F). A visit to it reveals incredible landscapes, such as the Laranjeiras Canyon (Canyon of the Orange Trees) and the famous Pedra Furada (Holed Rock), which can be seen from the Morro da Igreja (Church Hill), known as the highest point in the South of Brazil, with 1,827 meters (5,994.09 ft.) of altitude. In the surroundings of the town there are other places that deserve a visit, such as the Avencal Waterfall, with 100 meters (328.08 ft.) of free fall, and indigenous caves that are found in the area. There it is possible to see rupestral engravings which date back to more than four thousand years ago. In the severe winter, between the months of June and August, there can be some snow, which gives a European appearance to its streets. In 1996, the town registered the lowest temperature ever recorded in thermometers in Brazil, -17.8 °C (0.04°F). It is the ideal weather for those who like chatting in front of a fireplace, sipping some good wine, or just relax.

Throughout its history, Urubici suffered the influence of Portuguese, Italian, German, African and Latvian settlers, who have left their characteristics in its culture, arts, architecture, and cuisine. The city is also known as the land of the vegetables because of the variety and quality of the local production.

• Attractions
  

Morro da Igreja (Church Hill)
Located in the center of the São Joaquim Park, the Morro da Igreja is one of the most beautiful mountains of the area. With 1,822 meters (5,977.69 ft.) of altitude, it is the highest peak of the state, greatly sought by those who like mountain climbing and mountaineering. In clear days, it becomes a great belvedere to see the scarps of the General Mountain Ridge (Serra Geral) and the coast, at more than 60 kilometers (37.28 mi.) away from there. It was in the Morro da Igreja that the lowest temperature in Brazil of -17.8°C (0.04°F) was recorded.

Pedra Furada (Holed Rock)
A rocky formation with a window-shaped hole, with approximately 30 meters (98.43 ft.) of circumference, sculpted by the action of nature, in the middle of the Atlantic forest. It can be seen from the Morro da Igreja.

Springs of the Pelotas River
The springs of the Pelotas river are in an area of flooded fields, where there are many trails. From there it is also possible to see the Morro da Igreja (Church Hill).

Corvo Branco Mountain Ridge (White Crow Mountain Ridge)
One of the town’s most visited places, there is a road connecting Urubici to Grão-Pará, crossing its highest point, at 1,470 meters (4,822.83 ft.) of altitude. On the way there, it is possible to see canyons and deep valleys from many belvederes. In the winter it may snow in the area.

Avencal Waterfall
One of the most beautiful waterfalls of the area, the Avencal Waterfall has a fall of 88 meters (288.71 ft.). To get there, we have to walk for an 800-meter (874.89-yard) long trail.

Campestre Hill
Located at 8 km (4.97 mi.) from the center of Urubici, in that hill there is belvedere which offers partial view of the valley of the Canoas river. The best time of the day for visitation is right before the sunset.

History of the Brazilian Golf

History of the Brazilian Golf

Golfe is the Portuguese word that names this sport in Brazil, deriving from the English word golf, which, on its turn, comes from the German word kolb, which means club. There are many versions for the origin of that sport, a synonym of elegance, but the mostly likely one is that it was created in Scotland, around the year of 1400.

Its rules as they are known today were defined in the eighteenth century, in the year of 1744, in the Scottish city of Edinburgh. And the games consists in going from a certain place, in an open field, and put the ball into holes that are strategically placed at varying distances, with the fewest strokes possible. Games are normally played in courses of 18 holes, and the one who has the fewest number of strokes at the end of the 18 holes is the greatest winner.

The arrival of the sport to Brazil happened in a fairly curious way. Towards the end of the nineteenth century, English and Scottish engineers who were building the Santos–Jundiaí Railway convinced the Benedictine monks to cede them part of the area of the Saint Benedict Monastery (Mosteiro de São Bento, in Portuguese), so that they could make the first golf course in the country, in the area that is currently located between the Luz Station and the Tietê River.

The expansion of the city towards the river forced the transference of that course, in 1901, to a place near the confluence of the Paulista and Brigadeiro Luiz Antônio Avenues. Until today the place is called "Morro dos Ingleses" (Hill of the English), due to such “Englishmen” who used to play golf there.

In 1957, representative of the Royal & Ancient Golf Club of Saint Andrews – considered the creator of the modern golf – and of the United States Golf Association met in Washington, D.C., to organize the first world team championship. Brazil was invited to participate in it through Seymour G. Marvin, at the time the only Brazilian member of Saint Andrews.

Brazil was present in the World Amateur Team Championship in Saint Andrews, Scotland, with a team led by Seymour and also formed by Humberto de Almeida, Raul Borges, Sylvio Pinto Freire Jr., and João Barbosa Correa. Until today, Brazil and the United States are the only two countries to have participated in all world championships.

Today there are nearly 25,000 golfers in Brazil, and the sport is booming, thanks to the development of new projects and to the marketing initiatives aimed at fostering the practice of golf throughout the whole country.

Brazilian Tourism & Travel: Araxá | State of Minas Gerais

Brazilian Tourism & Travel: Araxá | State of Minas Gerais

Located in the West of the state of Minas Gerais, Araxá is a town that has some of the most relaxing tourist attractions in Brazil. It is there that we find the famous thermal and sulfurous springs, whose waters fill the many pools where we can take baths in therapeutic waters. The so-called Termas de Araxá are located in the town’s outskirts, and they may be reached from the Tropical Grande Hotel through a suspended gallery, approximately 100 meters (109.36 yards) long. The view from there is simply unforgettable.

The hotel was built in 1944, and it was one of the greatest symbols of the town’s economic development. Details from that time can be seen in the finely worked mirrors, in the Carrara marble floors, and in the majestic chandeliers that embellish the ballrooms. The gorgeous gardens were planned by the famous landscaper Burle Marx.

The town is also famous for having been where lived Dona Beja, a daring courtesan, greatly respected in the town. The stories of that exuberant and luxurious inhabitant are still alive in Araxá. Dona Beja’s old big house was transformed into a museum by the journalist and communications tycoon Assis Chateaubriand, and nowadays displays some articles that belonged to Beja, who used to bathe in one of the towns fountains. Besides the natural beauties, the town of Araxá is a destination that offers many museums and old churches, mostly built in the nineteenth century.

The Chapel of São Sebastião (Saint Sebastian's Chapel), built in colonial style, is an example. The place also houses a sacred art museum. Those who visit the town also get to see the most beautiful women craft pieces made in looms, and the delicacies of the cuisine of the state of Minas Gerais, such as compote candy and cookies. As a natural frame for the cozy streets of Araxá we see the beauty of the Bocaina Mountain Ridge, whose peaks reach 300 meters (984.25 ft) of height. The weather and the relief are perfect for the practice of adventure sports, such as hang-gliding.

Attractions

Barreiro Complex
Located at six kilometers (3.73 mi.) from the center of Araxá, the Complex of the Barreiro district is one of the most visited places of the town. It is there that we find the famous radioactive and sulfurous mineral water springs. The architectural group of the place, which includes the Grande Hotel e Termas de Araxá, has been listed as a landmark by the government of the state of Minas Gerais and has great historical, cultural, and artistic value for Brazil. In the Complex visitors can also stroll around woods, lakes, squares, and it is possibly to walk around the gardens that were especially projected by the landscaper Burle Marx.

Ruin of the Hotel Rádio and Cascatinha Woods (Little Cascade Woods)
The place where the oldest hotel of the Barreio district was built in 1919 is today a beautiful park for leisure and fun. It has walking trails and cycling lanes, promenades and orchards, with much varied fauna and flora. From there, it is possible to get to the Cascatinha Woos, an ecological sanctuary in the area. The hotel became famous because Alberto Santos Dumont, the father of the aviation, stayed there many times.

Argenita Waterfall
A gorgeous waterfall, with a fall of 40 meters (131.23 ft.), formed with the water of the São João River. To get there we have to take the Sacramento road, in the town of Ibiá, and we need to be escorted by a local guide.

Andrade Júnior Spring
The fame of the healing powers of the waters that come from that spring has been known since the nineteenth century. Those waters are indicated for the treatment of diabetes, obesity, gastric, rheumatologic, urologic, and hepatic problems, among many others.

Dona Beja Spring
That place became famous because Dona Beja used to bathe naked there. The spring is in a rock, and its waters have radioactive properties.

Dona Beja Museum
The big house, built in the beginning of the nineteenth century, was one of Dona Beja's residences and has house, since 1965, a museum and a cafeteria. It is a cozy place for a coffee break and a chat with friends.

Brazilian Tourism & Travel: Gramado | State of Rio Grande do Sul

Brazilian Tourism & Travel: Gramado | State of Rio Grande do Sul

Gramado, located 126km from Porto Alegre, capital of Rio Grande do Sul State, is the stage for major events – such as the Film Festival and the Winter Festival – and boasts a schedule full of attractions to please all tastes.

The charm of the streets and gardens embellished with countless hydrangeas in bloom, the details of the colonial architecture, the cozyness of the vast hotel network, the sophistication of the gastronomy, the quality of products and services, the hospitality within the people, the scent of nature, actually, everything in Gramado seems to conspire so that unique pleasant moments can be experienced.

Joining the natural beauty with the Italian and German traditions – brought with the settlement – makes Gramado a destination that is more than charming and picturesque to visit and enjoy. There one can find all the reasons to feel good and want to return often.

Events

Gramado Film Festival
Main Brazilian event in the field and one of the most important in Latin America, the Gramado Film Festival happens annually since 1973, for six days in the month of August.

Actors, directors, technicians and visitors give prestige to the competition, which shows dozens of films and offers prizes in two categories: Brazilian productions and Latin-American, Portuguese and Spanish films. The program also incudes short films, independent films, workshops and talks. The screenings are at the Festivals Palace – with capacity for 1,200 people – and at the Municipal Culture Center. All the screenings are open to the public, who can even participate on the judgment of the films.

Winter Festival
This Festival brings together music, literature, crafts and cinema in Gramado. It happens between July 1st and September 20th, when the city becomes the capital of winter and culture. The schedule includes established events such as the Film Festival and the Book Fair, and also new events such as the Gramado Canta e Encanta project. Altogether there are over 50 musical shows.

Colônia’s Party
Event with food stalls and many other typical products, crafts, music and dance from the Italian and German communities. The Party happens every year, between the months of March and April.

Attractions

Paragliding
The sport is one of the hang gliding modalities and arrived in Brazil in 1989; a year later it could be seen in the skies of Rio Grande do Sul. Since then the techniques and gear have been evolving, allowing ever better performances. Age or physical type don’t matter for those wishing to learn to “fly” on a paraglider.

The greatest excitement of the flight is in the combination of the right techniques with the Nature factors. It is possible to fly without engine, for long distances, and at great heights – two or three thousand meters, for example. What determines the duration of a flight is the climate conditions, and it should be possible to remain flying for up to ten hours.

Mini World
Miniature city with replicas of castles and homes in typical European style, mills, squares, railways and cascades. The miniature city is featured permanently at Horácio Cardoso Street with Pedro Candiago Street, and is open to the public Tuesday to Sunday from 1pm to 5pm.

CTG Rodeio Velho Museum or Museum of the Gaúcho Serrano
The only museum in the State dedicated exclusively to show the habits of the gaúcho serrano. It was organized by Lúcio and Cilda Petersen for 50 years, and brings rare pieces from the time of the Farroupilha Revolution and the so called Leather Era.

There one can find exclusive crafts, such as the surrão, a leather storage for keeping cereals, the genuine boleadeira, the tirador, the badana, the soveu and many pieces made of Bolivian silver; all collected from the region of São Francisco de Paula, Bom Jesus, Lajeado Grande, Vacaria, Cambará, Canela and Gramado. In total there are over 1,500 objects registered. There are also viola players playing typical music from the highland gaúchos. The museum is located at Rua Augusto Zatti, 55. It is open to visitors twice a month – every first and second Thursday – from 8pm to 10pm.

Perfume Museum
The first of this kind in the Country. There the visitor can know the world perfumery classics. The place has around 450 bottles of the main international perfumes, with data on the composition, manufacturer, history and curiosities. Besides the Museum, there is also a shop and a perfume factory. It also sells sachets, soaps, shampoos and conditioners. The Perfume Museum is located at Hortênsias Avenue, 3662 and opens daily, including weekends and public holidays, from 9am to 6pm.

Santa Claus Village
Created by Oscar Knorr in 1940, there’s a Santa’s House, a wood and the Vale dos Quilombos observatory. It is on Bela Vista Street and is open for public visiting from Monday to Friday, from 2pm to 9pm and on weekends from 10am to 9pm.

Shopping

Colonial Furniture
Shops in the city center and on the road to Canela.

Crystals
There are crystal pieces of all types, formats and sizes. Shop opens from 9am to 7pm. At the back there is a demonstration of crystal making, from 9am to 7pm. Access through the RS-115, towards Taquara, km 37.

Chocolates
At the city center, many factories and shops such as Caracol, Lugano, Planalto and Prawer sell the famous “Gramado chocolate” in bars, branches, bombons, truffles, liqueurs and different shapes for children.

Brazilian Tourism & Travel: Matinhos | State of Paraná

Brazilian Tourism & Travel: Matinhos | State of Paraná

The town of Matinhos is located on the coast of the state of Paraná, at 110 km (68.35 mi.) from the state’s capital, Curitiba. Along its coast there are 36 resorts, the first one being at the Jardim Monções Beach Resort, where we have the border between the towns of Matinhos and Pontal do Paraná, and the go up to the famous Caiobá Beach Resort. In total, there are approximately 17 km (10.56 mi.) of beaches. Within the limits of the town there are also nine different rivers: the Draga, Matinhos, Onça, Canal da Lagoa Amarela (Yellow Pond Canal), Indaial, Novo, Cambará, Meio, and Cachoeirinha rivers. In the town there are also the Cabaraquara, Escalvado, Canela, Bico Torto, Taguá, Pedra Branca, Batatal, and Boi (Ox) hills. All of the mare excellent places for those who enjoy spending time in direct contact with nature. The Caiobá Beach Resort is among the most sought attractions in Matinhos. There, among its mane beaches, the Mansa, Bela, Brava, and dos Amores beaches are the most favored by tourists, having beautiful landscapes and allowing delicious sea baths. The Tartaruga or Farol Island (Turtle or Lighthouse Island) are also greatly appreciated by the visitors. To complete the tour, a great option is paying a visit to the João José Bigarella Ecological Museum, located in the town’s center and having in its collection many samples and collections of corals, minerals, crustaceans and shells, besides other rarer items. In case there is any energy left, the tip is paying a visit to the Rio da Onça State Park, where tourists will find a Visitor’s Center and trails of easy access, amidst formations of sandbanks, coppices, and caxetais (patches of growths of bigonisceous trees).

Weather
The climate of the area is the temperate super-humid. The annual average temperature is around 18°C (64.40°F), with average highs around 26°C (78.80°F), and average lows around 15°C (59°F).

• Attractions
  

Águas-Claras Water Park
Located on the Alexandra-Matinhos highway – at about kilometer 20 (12.43 mi.) – the Águas-Claras Water Park has an excellent leisure structure. There, visitors find beautiful fishing lakes, waterslides, rapids swimming pool with buoys, infantile water park, sports courts, barbecue grills, snack bars, restaurant, souvenir stores, and ice-cream parlor. The place offers adequate structure for walking, trekking, and hiking.

Igrejinha de São Pedro (Small Church of Saint Peter)
A construction built between the years of 1938 and 1944, it housed the Mother Church of São Pedro (Saint Peter) for many years. It is the only historical site that pays homage to the town's past. In 1987 it became listed as a landmark by the Institute for the Historical and Artistic Patrimony of the State of Paraná.

São Pedro Mother Church (Mother Church of Saint Peter)
Church of simple architectural lines, located in the town’s center. It was built to accommodate the growing number of followers that used to attend masses and go to the Igrejinha de São Pedro, the old Mother Church.

João José Bigarella Ecological Museum
It is located in the town’s center. In its collection it has many samples and collections of corals, minerals, crustaceans and shells, besides other rarer items.

Rio da Onça State Park
It is located near the Riviera and Praia Grande Beach Resorts. With an area of 118.5 hectares (292.82 acres), it shelters rich samples of fauna and flora, playing an important role in the preservation of the coastal ecosystem. The Park has a Visitor’s Center and trails of easy access, amidst formations of sandbanks, coppices, and caxetais (patches of growths of bigonisceous trees).

Boi Hill (Ox Hill)
It has approximately 160 meters (524.93 feet) of height and trails that take to the sea; it is an excellent place for fishing, technical climbing, parasailing, and hiking.

Escalvado Hill
With 260 meters (853.02 feet) of height, it is also known as the Cruz Hill (Hill of the Cross) It has accesses by trails and, in cloudless sunny days, from there it is possible to have a beautiful view of almost all beaches and towns of the area. The trails take visitor from the Bela Beach to the other side of the Costão (Wild Coast), where the open sea provides good places for the practice of the fishing. The place is also adequate for the practice of action sports such as rappel, technical climbing, and parasailing.

Tartarugas or Farol Islands (Turtles or Lighthouse Islands)
It is connected to the Amores Beach by an isthmus of natural rocks. It is small, and covered with rich flora. It gained that name because of the lighthouse that exists in the place, which guides the fishing boats that enter the Guaratuba Bay. It is an excellent place for fishing, hiking, and diving.

Mirante das Pedras (Belvedere of the Rocks)
It is one of the main tourist attractions of the town of Matinhos and it is located between the Brava and Mansa beaches. It is a hill amongst rocks and stones, washed by the sea. It is one of the best places for surfing on the coast of the state of Paraná.

Brava Beach
It is located in a bay of shallow and somewhat rough waters, surrounded by a yard and some vegetation. In one of its ends we find the Boi Hill, and in the other, the Matinhos Rock. It is there that the surf championships are organized. In total, this beach stretches over a span of 3,500 meters (11,482.94 feet).

Mansa Beach
It is also located in a bay, at the entrance of the Guaratuba Bay, having very calm and somewhat deep waters, besides a beautiful yard surrounding it. It is approximately 1,500 meters (4,921.26 feet) long. From there, it is possible to reach the Bela Beach or the Prainha do Farol (Small Beach of the Lighthouse) and the Tartarugas Island.

Did you know that: Rio de Janeiro

Did you know that: Rio de Janeiro

The first Samba Schools parade in Rio de Janeiro was held in 1935. Since then, the show has become greater year after year. Today, there is a “samba-drome” built especially for the annual vent. Some Schools spend up to R$2 million to prepare for their parades.

Soccer: Brazilian National Football Team | Brazil

Soccer: Brazilian National Football Team | Brazil

When the Englishman, Charles Miller, landed in Brazil at the end of the nineteenth century carrying a football and hoping to start the new game of soccer that was becoming popular in England, it could never have been imagined that a South American country would become the world's great footballing nation. The sport spread like wildfire and was soon played on the grass of the elegant clubs and on pitches. The English and their descendants started the first teams and formed the first leagues - soccer was on its way to becoming Brazil's national passion.

During the 1920's, Brazil was already established as a force in South America soccer. In the 1930's, European fans were already being enthralled by the football of Domingos da Guia, a full-back with a talent for attacking and dribbling the ball out of his own area; with Leônidas da Silva, who achieved international fame by inventing the incredible bicycle kick; and with Friedreich, a formidable striker who was said to have scored more than one thousand goals.

The first world title was some time in coming Brazil's way. Whilst the nation had great talent in relation to soccer, sport was in administrative disarray. Early in the 1930's the establishing of professionalism divided the clubs. Teams competed abroad without even the slightest evidence of structure. The chance to win a major title came in 1950 when Brazil hosted the World Cup and built the largest stadium in the world, the Maracanã.

Defeat by Uruguay in the final showed just how great the national passion really was. The Maracanã Stadium fell silent before erupting into sobs. There were heart attacks, brawls and even attempted suicides. Stars from the 1950 team, such as the goalkeeper Barbosa, the fullbacks Pinheiro and Juvenal and the attackers Zizinho, Ademir and Jair - all first line players - were greatly affected by the tragedy. However, Brazil recovered eight years later. With João Havelange - the present chairman of FIFA - at the head of the Brazilian Sporting Confederation (CBD), Brazilian soccer's governing body, the Brazilian team set off to compete in the Swedish Cup with a level of organization never seen before, led by the "Victory Field Marshal", Paulo Machado de Carvalho.

The golden age of Brazilian soccer had arrived. The nation became world champion in 1958 with a dream team: Gilmar, Djalma Santos, Bellini, Nilton Santos, Didi, Garrincha, Vavá, Zagallo and of course, Pelé, twice world champion of clubs with Santos, the team comprising of Pelé, Coutinho, Mengálvio, Gilmar and Pepe. Arguments raged in Brazil as to whether Santos was the best team or whether it was Botafogo, with Garrincha, Nilton Santos, Didi and also Amarildo's team, Quarentinha. A combination of the two helped Brazil to become world champion two years running in Chile in 1962.

The third winning of the championship in Mexico in 1970 brought the golden age to a close with a team considered by journalists to be the best of all time: led by Pelé with Carlos Alberto, Clodoaldo, Gerson, Jairzinho, Rivelino and Tostão. Brazil continued to be a source of great players - Paulo César, Reinaldo, Falcão, Sócrates and Cerezzo - but the national team failed to win titles. The clubs were also founts of Brazilian talent: Flamengo with players such as Zico, Júnior, Leandro, Andrade, Adílio and Tita, was world champion in 1981 and two years later it was the turn of Grêmio, the team that included the veteran, Paulo César, Mário Sérgio and Renato.

Twice the team got as far as the Olympic final only to lose. However, from the winners of the silver medal in Los Angeles in 1984 and Seoul in 1988, emerged the basis of the first Brazilian team to become champion four times in the 1994 World Cup held in the USA. The goalkeeper, Taffarel, the captain Dunga and the striker Romário - perhaps the most important players in that campaign - formed part of Olympic teams. At the Olympic Games in Atlanta, Brazil's team, headed by the four-time world champions Aldair and Bebeto, and by the biggest revelation of our football at present, Ronaldinho, won the bronze medal. In France, in 1998, Brazil was the World Cup's vice champion.

Fuelled by the scintillating play of the "Three R's" (Ronaldo, Rivaldo, and Ronaldinho), Brazil won its fifth championship at the 2002 FIFA World Cup held in South Korea and Japan. When the groups were drawn, Brazil seemed to have been lucky; Brazil's adversaries would be Turkey, China and Costa Rica. At the end, it turned out that Turkey finished the tournament in third place, showing that indeed Brazil's group was stronger than most had expected. Brazil went on beating all three opponents, scoring 11 goals and conceding only three, and topping the group.

Next they defeated Belgium 2-0, which had been the most difficult match for Brazil in the tournament. Against England in the quarter finals, Brazil won 2-1. Ronaldinho scored a remarkable goal and assisted teammate Rivaldo for the victory goal, but was then sent off. The semifinal was against Turkey, which Brazil had faced in their group. Again, this match was difficult, as Brazil won 1–0 with a goal by Ronaldo. Rivaldo had scored one goal each in all five game up to this one but did not manage to hit the target in the sixth. He had seemed all set to repeat Jairzinho´s great achievement in 1970 when he scored in every game of the World Cup.

The final was between two of the most successful teams in the competition's history: Germany and Brazil. Either Germany (or West Germany) or Brazil had played in all World Cup finals since 1950 - except 1978 (If the last game of 1950 is considered to be a proper final). German goalkeeper Oliver Kahn had been the tournament's best keeper, but could not maintain that level of play, as Ronaldo vanquished his France '98 demons, scoring both goals in the Brazilian 2-0 triumph.

These teams had never played each other in the World Cup before. There was however a match between Brazil and East Germany in the 1974 FIFA World Cup. Brazil won 1–0.

FIFA World Cup victories
Winner (1958, 1962, 1970, 1994, 2002)
Runners-Up (1950, 1998)
Third (1938, 1978)
Fourth (1974)

FIFA World Cup appearances
(1930, 1934, 1938, 1950, 1954, 1958, 1962, 1966, 1970, 1974, 1978, 1982, 1986, 1990, 1994, 1998, 2002, 2006)

Continental titles
Winner
Copa America (1919, 1922, 1949, 1989, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2007)

Runners-Up
Copa America (1921, 1925, 1936, 1945, 1946, 1953, 1957, 1959, 1983, 1991, 1995), CONCACAF Gold Cup (1996 USA, 2003 USA/Mexico)

Best Results
Winner
FIFA U-20 World Cup Final (1983, 1985, 1993, 2003), FIFA Futsal World Cup Final (1989, 1992, 1996), FIFA Confederations Cup (1997, 2005), FIFA U-17 World Cup Final (1997, 1999, 2003), FIFA Club World Cup (2000, 2005, 2006), FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup Final (2006, 2007)

Runners-Up
Olympic Football Tournament Final (1984, 1988), FIFA U-20 World Cup Final (1991, 1995), FIFA U-17 World Cup Final (1995, 2005), FIFA Confederations Cup (1999), FIFA Club World Cup (2000), FIFA Futsal World Cup Final (2000), Olympic Football Tournament Women Final (2004), FIFA Women's World Cup Final (2007)

Third
FIFA U-20 World Cup Final (1977, 1989, 2005), FIFA U-17 World Cup Final (1985), Olympic Football Tournament Final (1996), FIFA Women's World Cup Final (1999), FIFA Futsal World Cup Final (2004), FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup Final (2005), FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup Final (2006)

Fourth
Olympic Football Tournament Final (1976), Olympic Football Tournament Women Final (1996, 2000), FIFA Confederations Cup (2001), FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup Final (2002, 2004)

General Information
FIFA Trigramme: BRA
Country: Brazil
Country (official name): Republica Federativa do Brasil
Continent: South America
Capital: Brasilia
Major cities: Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Belo Horizonte, Salvador, Fortaleza, Nova Iguacu, Recife, Curitiba, Porto Alegre, Belem, Goiania, Campinas, Guarulhos
Currency: Real
Official languages: Portuguese
Motto: Order and progress (Ordem e Progresso)

Geographic Information
Surface area: 8,511,965 km²
Highest point: Pico de Neblina 3,014m.
Neighbouring countries: Uruguay, Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay, Peru, Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, French Guiana, Surinam
Neighbouring seas and oceans: Atlantic Ocean

Population
Population (in millions): 182
Density (inhabitants per km2): 21.39
Average age (in years): 27
Life expectancy at birth (in years): 71.13

+ Brazilian Tourism & Travel:

São Paulo | Rio de Janeiro

Brazilian Tourism & Travel: Maraú | State of Bahia

Brazilian Tourism & Travel: Maraú | State of Bahia

The Peninsula of Maraú has been just discovered by natives of Bahia and tourists, but the oldest inhabitants tell that the small city has been visited even by the French writer and aviator Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, the author of "The Little Prince", who would have remained in the village enough time to settle himself there. However it may be, the importance of the city over the past centuries is revealed today in the old-architecture buildings. From the belvedere in the uptown, it’s possible to appreciate a wonderful view of the Maraú estuary and the lower city, and even the wide open-fair area and the vessels at the harbor. The fishing is an important source of income for the city. In Agriculture, it’s grown rubber trees, dendê [African oil palm and its fruit] (introduced in the late century XIX), clove, pupunha palm, cocoa, guarana and black pepper. An open fair enlivens the city on Saturdays. Still in the Peninsula of Maraú is located Barra Grande, a village which has one of the country’s most beautiful beaches, full of attractions and natural swimming-pools suitable for baths and diving. Most of the inns and restaurants of the city are located in Barra Grande.

• Attractions
  

Cachoeira do Tremembé (Tremembé Waterfall)
Surrounded by forest, this wonderful waterfall being 30m wide and 5m tall makes a vast lake. The bath in the place is very enjoyable, but jumping from the boat near the waterfall is dangerous due to the water strength.

Povoado de Taipus de Dentro (Taipus de Dentro Village)
Located inside the Baía de Camamu (Camamu Bay), in the Taipu Mirim island, this small fishing village has a good urban infrastructure, inn and restaurant.

Povoado de Campinho (Campinho Village)
The small village has a harbor and a private Yacht Club, where navigators usually stay. There are other inns in the place and a restaurant. Considering the modest size of the village, the night life can be rated as very lively.

Ilha de Sapinho (Sapinho Island)
Small fishing village. The local restaurant serves seafood dishes. The owners preserve and raise in captivity live lobsters, crabs and goiamuns (ten-feet edible sea crustacean), and the customer chooses which one to eat. A stroll through the island takes to a footbridge that provides a complete view of the swamp area and the crab catchers. The island has countless fruitful trees.

Ilha do Goió (Goió Island)
An islet composed of the swamp area with a narrow white-and-thin sand strip. Suitable for bath. The access is through the Sapinho Island, from where you can cross about 200 m by boat.

Povoado de Barra Grande (Barra Grande Village)
It is the largest village in the peninsula. Due to its location at the edge of the Peninsula of Maraú (where the Ponta do Mutá is located), the access is both through the Camamu Bay and the Atlantic Ocean, as well as through road, through the BR-030 highway.

Mirante do Morro do Taipu (Morro do Taipu Belvedere)
It is located in the peninsula’s North coast, in Praia de Taipus de Fora (Taipus de Fora Beach). Also known as Morro do Farol (Lighthouse Hill), it is the peak point of the peninsula (51 m tall), from where you can have a view of the whole extension of north and south beaches, until the city of Itacaré. The best access way is on foot, through the Taipus de For a Beach.

Lagoa do Cassange e Mirante Bela Vista (Cassange Lagoon and Bela Vista Belvedere)
Wonderful dark lagoon, surrounded by white sand. The lagoon is very long, extending for almost 5 km. It is worth bathing in its water full of lanolin, a substance used in the manufacture of shampoos, which are excellent for hair. The still waters of the lagoon also allow enjoyable canoe rides.

Trilha Barra Grande – Pontal (Barra Grande Track – Pontal)
The track of almost 40 km long starts in Barra Grande and provides a pleasant walking through all the peninsula beaches, and the observation of the wonderful visual composed of coconut trees, sandbanks and brooks that disembogue in the sea. In the way to the Cassange and Saquaíra beaches, there are inns, coastal bars and restaurants. Thence, and until the Pontal Beach, the region is more deserted. It is recommended to seek orientation with the PROMAR Institute (Institute for the Sustainable Development of the Peninsula of Maraú).

• Beaches
  

Praia de Mangueiras (Mangueiras Beach)
Calm, with warm and clear waters. It is suitable for walkings and provides assured entertainment at the bars.

Praia Ponta do Mutá (Ponta do Mutá Beach)
Beach with wonderful rocks that arise on the water surface and very diverse vegetation. It is suitable for bath. A short walking takes to Barra Grande, bathed by the waters of the Camamu Bay.

Praia dos Três Coqueiros (Três Coqueiros Beach)
It has an open sea, strong waves, thick sand, coconut trees and holiday houses.

Praia Cassange (Cassange Beach)
Subtle waves, soft sand, coconut trees. The Cassange Lagoon is located there, suitable for the practice of sailing sports.

Praia Arandi (Arandi Beach)
Subtle waves, natural swimming pools and coconut trees.

Praia de Algodões (Algodões Beach)
Subtle waves, a wide coconut-tree field and thin sand. It is possible to rent rafts for rides.

Praia de Piracanga (Piracanga Beach)
Strong waves, coconut trees, circled by the Piracanga River.

Praia de Aibim (Aibim Beach)
Subtle waves, coconut trees and thin sand. Suitable for baths and walkings.

Praia de Pontal (Pontal Beach)
The sand strip is very wide, with coconut trees and strong-wave sea.

Praia de Taipus de Fora (Taipus de Fora Beach)
The great attraction of the place are the 7 km of natural swimming pools surrounded by coral reefs and waters full of fishes, excellent for diving and the sea fauna observation. In the reefs, people can observe the octopus fishermen. There are also gamboas (fish traps made of interwoven bamboo) in the pounding of waves.

Praia de Saquaíra (Saquaíra Beach)
Beach with a straight sand strip, subtle-wave sea, coconut trees and a small village.

+ Brazilian Tourism & Travel: Rio de Janeiro

Brazilian Tourism & Travel: Parintins | State of Amazonas

Brazilian Tourism & Travel: Parintins | State of Amazonas

Guaranteed or Capricious? Heart or star? Red or blue? That’s how it is in Parintins: you have to choose which side to take. The historical rivalry between the two bulls called Guaranteed and Capricious dominates the city, permeates people’s imagination and culminates in one of the most popular parties in Brazil: the Parintins Folklore Festival held every night on June 28, 29 and 30. In the bumbódromo arena, the Bulls put on a grandiose spectacle of dance, music, drama and special effects – a true rural opera that drives its 40 thousand daily spectators into a frenzy. Located on the Island of Tupinambarana, along the right bank of the Amazon River, 420 km from Manaus and almost on the border with the State of Pará, Parintins, with its 80 thousand inhabitants is a pleasant and agreeable city in the interior of the the States of Amazon. At the end of the 19th Century, the region received migrants from the northeast in search of the riches generated in the Amazon from rubber extraction. They brought with them one of their strongest cultural traditions, the northeast’s bumba-meu-boi. There it found another bull, a truly Amazon bull, and it became the boi-bumbá of Parintins. Until the 1960s, the Bulls were always staged in the houses and backyards of Parintins; every once in a while, they would meet in the streets, and the sometimes violent confrontation was inevitable. The fun was organized, grew, evolved and became a true spectacle. The Bulls incorporated characters, rituals and legends that go back to the inhabitants of the Amazon forest, the Indians, the rural settlers, and the ecological and social issues that afflict them. Ever since 1988, they have been holding the spectacle at the bumbódromo, a stadium built just to receive the festival. The Bulls, with approximately 2.5 thousand participants, occupy the arena with 2:30 spectacles each. Guaranteed is the white bull with a red heart on its forehead. Capricious is black, and it bears a blue star on its forehead. Tribes of dancers accompany them and form a carpet of color in movement. The gigantic floats that move about and articulate, creating a scenario for the presentation of the most important figures: the elegant cunhã-poranga, the folklore queen, the standard-bearer, the young miss of the farm, and the powerful witch doctor. Everything is explained in detail by the narrators and moves to the contagious sound of the songs sung by the tune “leaders” and the beat of more than 250 drums. On separate sides of the stadium, the two tireless, super-motivated cheering groups, the galeras, also participate in the spectacle. When their Bull is performing in the arena, one half of the bumbódromo actually shakes, while the “enemy” fans remain in the most respectful silence. Parintins is home to an unusual number of artists, artisans, musicians and poets to produce the festival. In no other city of the Amazon will you find such a concentration of talent. The warehouses and galleries, where the most complex and gigantic floats to the most delicate headdresses are made, hold the secrets of wizards who prepare their spells with ink, glue, Styrofoam, iron, artificial feathers, seeds, straw, sparkles and plastic.

• Events
  

Parintins Folklore Festival
From June 24-30, with the peak of the festival taking place on June 28, 29 and 30 with the presentations of the two bulls, Guaranteed and Capricious.

• Attractions
  

Uaiacurapá River
Beautiful fluvial beaches with white sands and dark water surge between the months of August and February, during the low water season. The do Pacoval, das Onças and das Guaribas islands are near the river.

Parintins Mountains
This 152 m high area is surrounded by thick vegetation and forms the border with the state of Pará. It is also called Valéria Mountain and it has a special attraction: the branch of the river that forms the beautiful Valéria Lake.

Macuricanä Lake
This beautiful lake can only be appreciated during the Amazon summer. It is part of a lacustrine complex that includes approximately 40 lakes.