Five Senses on the Road

Do’s and Don’ts in BRAZIL

serendipitously — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 10:16:00 GMT

Brazil. When you think about my country, probably your first thoughts are about soccer, Carnival and beautiful women. Well… Here you’ll find them, sure. But Brazil is much more than just stereotypes, believe me.

From North to South you can discover so different landscapes, cultures, food, music, weather, accents, faces… But our language, Portuguese, unifies us. We are the same people, apart regional differences. Some people warmer than others, but each of us love to receive our guests and show up our country.

That’s why, one of the “DOS” in Brazil is to visit as many regions as possible. You should visit the most famous places, like Rio de Janeiro (RJ) and Iguaçu Falls (PR) – but make an effort to expand your itinerary.

You need to plan carefully your destination. Imagine, Brazil has 8.514.876 km², while Europe has 10 498 000 km² - if you don’t have a plan, you can spend infinite time exploring this country.

Brazil doesn’t have train rails like Europe, so your transport will be buses and planes – you can rent a car eventually. Or you can use a travel agency to plan everything for you – but then the experience won’t be so authentic (some references below, just to help you).

So, in my list, I would include the following destinations in Brazil:

Rio de Janeiro (RJ); Paraty (RJ); Ouro Preto (MG); Mariana (MG); Tiradentes (MG); Belo Horizonte (MG); São Paulo (SP); Cataratas do Iguaçú (PR); Florianópolis (SC); Gramado (RS); Canela (RS); Bonito (MS); Chapada dos Veadeiros (GO); Pantanal (MG); Porto Seguro (BA); Chapada Diamantina (BA); Jalapão (TO); Manaus (AM) Belém (PA); Lençóis Maranhenses (MA); Fortaleza and (specially) around (CE); Fernando de Noronha (PE)...

Such long list (even being a compacted version)… and lots of kilometres separating each one of those destinations. So, DO IT: research on internet what you will find in each one, and decide for those that matches better with your style. Don’t forget that there are lots of other destinations very interesting. So, make your own research and have fun!

Also, make friends in Brazil! DO IT! They will help you to plan your trip and have an experience more authentic.

About DONT’S in Brazil…

Don’t forget to use sunscreen, specially if your skin is white… “Gringos” (foreigners) who are so white with pink marks along their bodies are pretty funny – and you will suffer with the pain. Sun is powerful here!

Don’t forget to go to a Barbecue Restaurant. The amount and quality of meat served will surprise and amaze you :-)

Don’t ask a Brazilian if our capital is Buenos Aires, pleaaaaseee. Just to make sure you know the right answer, Brazil’s Capital is BRASILIA, in the very middle of our country. Buenos Aires is Capital of our neighbour Argentina (if you have time, it would be nice to visit them as well….) – don’t forget that even being a nice people, when the subject is soccer, Argentineans are our enemy! So if for some reason you think Maradona is better than Pelé, DON'T say it out loud. Just an advice ;-)

*********************

So, trustful and cheap Brazilian airlines to help you:

GOL: http://www.voegol.com.br/int/Paginas/home.aspx

AZUL: http://viajemais.voeazul.com.br/

About busses, in each bus station you will find information available – but if you come during high season, be careful: buy your tickets few days before, otherwhise you´ll spend your precious time waiting for hours for the next bus.

Rent a car with Localiza (I trust them, and they are present all over the country): http://www.localiza.com/Reservas/Default.aspx

One travel agency to recommend is CVC, quite big and a little bit impessoal: at least they take you to your destination for a price ok, including hotel.

Photos: Brasil

serendipitously — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 09:43:00 GMT

That's my Country

Photos: Turkey Explored

serendipitously — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 15:05:00 GMT

My Travel Writing Scholarship 2011 entry - Journey in an Unknown Culture

serendipitously — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 15:00:00 GMT

SERENDIPITY

“Look at your left hand. That’s your map of Turkey!” said proudly our Turkish guide. Maybe…

I became determined to go to Turkey, and I didn’t know what’d made me feel so focused on this trip. I was expecting to find stunning sceneries, good food, see something different from my culture and routine, make friends and come back home with nice photos and stories to tell. Since nobody could join me, a young woman, I departed alone from Brazil to this unknown country a little bit afraid, but proud of my decision.

After a perfect first impression of Istanbul, I joined an eclectic group which whom I would explore Turkey. Our first stop was in Gallipoli, where I’d learnt about the honor and respect between Turks and ANZAC’s, despite 9 bloody months in a WWI battle set just where we were stood. At the highest point of that National Park, surrounded by forest, blue sea, Dardanelles, memorials, old trenches and cemeteries, I saw our tour guide dropping tears while telling us the History of his country, his heroes and their suffering and conquests. I started to realize myself more sensitive while I learnt the passion that Turks have for their country.

As days were going by, I was feeling myself more thoughtful, yet finding my contemplative side too. After hiking around Hierapolis and walking barefooted on the really white floor in Pamukkale, seemingly to be so soft, but actually so hard, and then relaxing with my foot submerged in that so comfortable warm water going down the hill, observing the scenery being colored in orange shades by the sunset, I noticed two beautiful foreigner girls in bikinis, just beside a Muslim lady covered according to her beliefs – each of them in their own worlds, all of them being bathed by Pamukkale water. Surprised, I understood that different cultures cohabit peacefully in Turkey.

Already having a mysterious peace inside me, we reached Urfa. I don’t doubt that the view up from the Castle had changed minimally since hundreds of years ago. The terra-cotta color scattered homogeneously in small buildings melted into hills on the horizon only contrasted with the cloudy sky and few dark green trees. This sacred city houses the cave where Prophet Abraham was born, and with him Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Turkey is a Muslim country, was virtually cradle of Christianity and part of the word brings a little of Turkish history in its beliefs.

Nearby Ephesus is Virgin Mary’s house. She’d lived her last days in that place up of the hill, whose atmosphere makes faithful people, from all over the world, feel peace and reflect. Being Catholic, I lighted my candle and asked her blessing.

I really felt blessed for I had lived such inspirational experience. Serendipitous. Each moment, each person I’d met, each single thing done in Turkey helped me to find my own self, my happiness, my peace, my balance. Turkey will be always in my heart - also in my left hand.