BRAZIL - A SENSATIONAL COUNTRY

(Credit: Acervo MRE)

Sunshine all year round, warm transparent waters and the chance to sit for hours in the shade of coconut trees, sipping sweet, refreshing coconut water, on some of the beaches that tourists from all over the world have declared to be the most beautiful on Earth – this may seem too good to be true but it does exist. It’s Brazil, a sensational country for you to visit on business or just for pleasure; on your own or together with friends or family. And, if you think Brazil is limited to just Sun and Beach, you will be surprised.

Ecological Reserves, mountains, innumerable waterfalls and ecological trails are all part of the trip, too. Brazil is made up of six different Biomes with the most varied landscapes, vegetation and climates imaginable: Cerrado savannahs, Atlantic Forest, Caatinga scrublands, the Amazon, the Pantanal wetlands, and the Pampas. Here, in this immense country, you will find the greatest and most famous forest in the world: the Amazon Rainforest. Brazil is also a perfect setting for sports activities. Brazil’s waters, skies and lands offer amazing landscapes, a wide range of possibilities and the best spots in the world for scuba diving, mountain climbing, canyon rappelling, bungee jumping, rafting, canoeing, paragliding, hang-gliding and golf, among many others.

Nowadays, Brazil’s enchantment is not limited to its amazing natural beauty or the great range of options for having fun. Brazilian hospitality is widely renowned. Here are happy people that have sprung from a mixture of cultures that have produced unique sounds, aromas, flavors and architecture. Here, the cultural richness of the people can be seen in museums, musical shows, plays, art exhibitions, or even on the streets where the greatest festival in the world takes place: the Carnival.

Getting to know Brazil might be like taking a journey through time, a journey back to the past — traveling through historic cities, heritages—, or a journey into the future— through the modernity of its planned cities like Brasília, the Brazilian capital. So, pack  your bags. Get to know Brazil and become a fan!

CARNIVAL

(Credit: Acervo MRE)

It can be said without fear of contradiction that the Carnival is an explosion of Brazilian happiness. The Carnival is one of the biggest and most popular festivals in the country, and one of the biggest folk celebrations in the world. It brings together emotions, creativity, colours, sounds, plasticity and much joy. In the months of February and March, this happiness takes over the streets, clubs and hotels, from the North to the South of Brazil.

In Rio de Janeiro, the rhythm of the Carnival unfolds to the sound of the sambas, the drums and the people parading through the ‘Sambódromo’, the place where the ‘Samba School’ parades take place on the Marquês de Sapucaí Avenue. The heart beats faster, it is impossible not to enter into the spirit of the fancy dresses, the sambas, and all the creativity of the Brazilian people coming together to make the Carnival a unique and unforgettable celebration.

Sumptuous or original costumes are elements of a theatrical performance in the halls of Hotel Gloria, on the afternoon of the Saturday of Carnival. The huge and dazzling costumes represent historical characters or different concepts, according to the imagination of the gentlemen, ladies and of drag queens that participate in the event.

It is said that it is impossible to stand still if you are behind a truck mounted mobile stage with a band playing on it (trio eletrico). To check that out, join in with the two million Carnival celebrators that dance, jump, and have fun along the 25 kilometers of streets and avenues during Salvador’s Carnival celebrations, in the State of Bahia. The trio eletrico is a Brazilian invention: big trucks with huge amplifiers for the music, real mobile stages that entice the multitude along behind them in a festive and happy spirit.

In Olinda, giant dolls parade up and down the steep hills, getting everyone in the mood to party. The Olinda Carnival is renowned as one of the most attractive and democratic Carnivals in the world. So, go out on to the streets, and let yourself go to the rhythm of the ‘Frevo’, a local kind of rhythmic dance music played by small bands with wind instruments.

The biggest Carnival troupe in the world opens the celebrations in Recife, also in the State of Pernambuco. It is called the Galo do Madrugada, and marks the official opening on Ze Pereira Saturday, the first day of Carnival. Show off your imagination in your fancy dress and have a great time. You will be enchanted by the variety of rhythms: frevo, maracatu, bois, caboclinhos, and by the small troupes that form spontaneously, as well as the big samba associations.

Brazilian Travel Agencies Association: http://www.abav.com.br/default_en.aspx