Sunday January 9, 2011
Trancoso, Bahia is a perfect destination for a romantic getaway or honeymoon in Brazil, with its charming village atmosphere, beaches lined with cliffs and inviting pousadas and guesthouses.
It doesn't take long to ease into a slowed down pace once you're there: mornings are the best time to go to the beach and nights are fun at the Quadrado, the town green; nothing beats retreating to your own cozy, private place after lunch, during the hottest part of the day.
Picture yourself in a pousada like Soleluna, owned by Stefano Barberi, an Italian photographer specialized in weddings. Soleluna is a perfect example of a romantic hideaway in Southern Bahia: private, immersed in nature, and rustic and elegant at the same time. And it will be even better later this year, after new accommodations are added.
More About Trancoso:
Photo courtesy of Soleluna.
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Saturday January 8, 2011
Rio de Janeiro is starting 2011 with one of the best initiatives ever in inclusive travel in Brazil: Praia Para Todos (Beach for All), which has evolved from a touring program to a fixed spot in Barra da Tijuca aimed at being a model for multiplication on other beaches.
As of today and throughout summer 2011, Praia Para Todos will be at Posto 3 in Barra (in front of Praça do Ó) every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Beachgoers with disabilities can go surfing, play volleyball and frescobol. Mats to facilitate wheelchair access are available.
So are amphibious wheelchairs.
There are activities and toys for kids, hand bikes you can loan and tents with the support team always on hand.
The project's goal is to have similar points in each and every major beach in Rio de Janeiro. Praia Para Todos started with a collaboration between physical therapist Alexandre Pinto Reis and his client Ricardo Gonzalez Rocha Souza. It was launched in Leblon in summer 2009, pioneering inclusion on the beaches of Rio.
It then toured other beaches in the summer of 2010, with great success. Supporters include Michelin, the Rio de Janeiro Tourism Secretariat and local business and organizations. Things are looking good for the project and hopefully Rio will soon have several points where everyone can fully enjoy a sunny day on the beach.
- Praia Para Todos Website: www.praiaparatodos.com.br
- Praia Para Todos Flickr Photostream: www.flickr.com/photos/praiaparatodos
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Saturday January 8, 2011
The recipe for one of Brazil's most famous feijoadas goes more or less like this:
- 265 pounds of beans
- 265 pounds of sun-dried meat
- 176 pounds of linguiça
- Many pounds of pigs' feet, ribs, loin of pork and pig's stomach
- 143 pounds of manioc flour to make farofa
To serve the feijoada on Saturday, gather a team of over 20 cooks and assistants. Start working on Wednesday, cleaning the salted meat cuts which will go into the humongous pans. Work joyously on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, singing the finest samba as you go along.
Serves hundreds.
This year, Feijoada da Portela will celebrate its 8th anniversary. This fabulous event takes place every first Saturday of the month at Portelão, the headquarters of the famous Portela samba school in Rio de Janeiro, and nobody goes there just to eat: there's samba, and lots of it.
Today, the party is honoring Casquinha, a member of Velha Guarda da Portela (the samba school's old-timers) and the Velha Guarda is performing, after a show with Gilsinho e seus Capangas.
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Saturday January 8, 2011
Of many fun things to do in Rio de Janeiro on the first Saturday of every month, one of the best is the antiques fair on Rua do Lavradio, Lapa (officially called Feira do Rio Antigo, or Old Rio Fair). Today, the first fair of the year is in full swing.
There's always live music in the street during the fair, either on Rua do Lavradio or neighboring streets. This afternoon, the shows are:
- Grupo Sincopando o Choro at 3:30 p.m. in front of Rua do Lavradio 192
- Elza Ribeiro at 3:30 p.m. in front of Rua do Resende 28
- Grupo com a Corda Toda at 4:30 p.m. at Praça Emilinha Borba on the corner of Rua do Lavradio and Rua do Senado
If you're a Lapa regular, you probably know that on the same Rua do Lavradio, one of Lapa's best nightlife venues is packed with antiques - over 10,000 pieces, in fact - like the ones you'll see at the fair: Rio Scenarium.
Fair photo courtesy of Polo Novo Rio Antigo; photo of clocks at Rio Scenarium by Patricia Ribeiro.
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