Brazil For the Brazil “Nuts”
Feb 5th, 2008 by admin
Brazil spans almost half the continent of South America and shares its borders with almost every other country in the continent; only Chile and Ecuador are spared. Despite the vastness of territory the country’s has a very unbalanced population density, with the majority of it concentrated on the major cities. Besides coffee, carnival, beaches and football there is something else that the country is renowned for, UFO sightings. Brazil is probably the undisputed leader when it comes to sighting weird flashes of light and spinning discs in the night sky. The mind-boggling number of sightings recorded in the country has actually led to the casual acceptance of the idea of extra terrestrial among the general populace.
Even if the dollar is weak everywhere else, it’s certainly is not so in Brazil. You can get some real neat bargains, especially those of you who are looking for luxury at an affordable price; Travelers who are searching for a vacation tend to overlook the pristine stretch of beaches near Salvador. Getting there is a little bit tricky, but well worth the trouble as you will be saving much more once you get there. If you are planning to stay longer than 7 days in the city of Rio, then it’s recommended that you check out the neighboring places as they offer some things that Rio doesn’t. Buzio is a slick party town that also happen to have some of the best beaches in the country, the Petropolis area has always been a hang out for mountaineering enthusiasts, Sao Paulo is another major city which is famed for helicopters, smog and skyscrapers, not really the kind of things you would be interested in while in a vacation but still. Rio de Janeiro is one of the top cities and the former capital. Salvador is a tropical precinct and one of the culture hotspot of Afro-Brazilian culture. All of these places are famed for their individual tourist attractions and numerous churches, museums, cultural centers and gardens.
The city of Rio is steeped deep in an exotic amalgamation of art and culture, the city houses numerous theaters, museums and libraries. The city throws a massive party, christened as the “Carnival” every year for its residents and visitors from around the world. It kicks off the Friday before Ash Wednesday and is famed for samba dancers and vibrant costumes. It is the perfect occasion to have a blast singing and dancing the night away. While in Rio make sure you take the Sugar Loaf tram ride to the granite dome, it gives you a stunning aerial view of the place and is better if you take the ride at the beginning of the trip to get a better idea of the landscape. The beaches of Copacabana, arguably the most famous beach in the world is located in the city and you can even do a bit of surfing here if you come with a board, even if you don’t you can always rent one. Also try taking a stroll through the botanical gardens, as the precinct wears a really tranquil aura, especially in the evenings. Corcovado is a 2230 feet high mountainous terrain which houses the statue of the Christ the Redeemer at top. The ride up and down the mountain is amazing by itself, you get to go through some lush Atlantic rainforest, and when returning do stop to see the waterfall on the side. To visit Rio and miss the view from the top of the Corcovado, you either have to be really dumb or acrophobic.
Relaxing on the beach tends to be an undefeated pursuit of pleasure when you start getting the feeling that you are in the midst of a gathering of morons. Sleazy gawkers happily snapping away your girl friend’s picture and pasty loudmouths can instantly kill the vibe. Thankfully, Brazil has some really secluded and virgin beaches that are yet to be tainted by the grubby clutches of commercialism. Ilha Mendes is an awesome 1.8 mile arc beach that not many know of, it’s proximity to Rio has caused it to be over shadowed and made it thankfully obscure. Fernando de Noronha is another quaint beach island off the coast of Recife where you can get some privacy and quiet as only about 400 people are allowed to be in the beach area at a time. The island has some 20 beaches, each of which possesses its own beauty, charm and character. The island with its warm and secluded feel makes for a perfect vacation precinct. Just off the silvery sands, a low rocky hill embraces the beach, almost enclosing the beach in its protective arms. Those possessing a more adventurous soul can go exploring these rocky terrains as they hold a quite a few natural pools. These are spread sporadically throughout the place and are filled with clear warm water, the whole setting sports a surreal ambience almost as if taken out of a fantasy tale. Unlike other island vacation spots which tend to target the wealthy by featuring only luxury hotels and leaves the less fortune to sleep on the beaches, this one has quite a few bed & breakfast establishments which make for a nice anchor spot for backpackers. The crime rate in the island is so small that the houses don’t even have gates, and by the way the only way you can become the resident of the island is by living there your whole life.
The Rio Grande do Sul is a town on the southern part of the country sporting a prominently European/German influence. Nearby is the German styled city of Gramado, it is comparable to the Utah’s Park City in terms of the unique feel and vibrancy. Garopabo is another awesome beach city which is a few hours drive away. Porto Alegre houses some of the best churrascarias, which are basically Brazilian barbecue restaurants. Foz de Iguaçu is another city worth visiting; many travelers regard it as the most beautiful place on Earth, the place houses the Iguaçu Falls.
