Originally posted by NICB Dreary is a great word to describe this city. It's such a provincial backwater that people really believe that they are 'European'. They believe that they are living in a developed city with efficient systems. They haven't a clue. The worst part about it is that you can't say anything to them as they are so overly sensitive. I think living in an expat bubble is a very different experience to living like a Brazilian. I don't know where the friendly bit came from as they definitely don't have the warmth of their northern neighbours. In fact I find them really cold. It's like living with uneducated Germans without any of the benefits of Germany.

Haha you just described Ireland didn't you? "dreary,provincial,European,backwater"


Wow you really hate it there don't you! I must admit a year was plenty for us and now we are back in Rio.
How much longer can you last? you sound like your at breaking point? - I actually like in general the people there - married a gaucha! think the women down there are fit as....
However only in the posh bits... don't like the poor side of Porto Alegre that's for sure.











Edited by Boycie - 23 July 2012 at 17:09

Originally posted by Amsterdam Originally posted by Boycie Originally posted by Amsterdam Sorry, but that sort of place wouldnt interest me in the slightest. Not saying that where i live is the best either but at least we have the weather and the beaches. Fortaleza interests me the most now. Yeah obviously if you can afford to live well in a city near the sea like Fortaleza, then grate. However if your earning a middle to lower end salary, then I would put a bet Porto Alegre gets you a better quality of life for a lower price. Fortaleza interests me also but the people as nice as they are, would get on my tits after a while. At least in the South the German/Italian influence makes people a little more switched on.... a little. ps where do you live in Brazil Amsterdam?       I didnt mean to upset Boycie, sorry if you felt my comment was a little inconsiderate.   And I understand Boycie, if thats where your work is i guess. And your point about the people up here is pretty spot on. Well where i am anyway. I just dont like the colder weather personaly.

Not upset at all Amsterdam.

Just trying to help other people who might be living there see some of the other sides/points.

With Porto Alegre its a bit of a funny one because you'd never see the benefits or understand why people would bother living there unless you've lived in another Brazilian city beforehand.

It would be a pretty depressing first impression of Brazil if that's where you first went but there are good things about the place if you live in a good area/have a fairly well payed job.(same goes for anywhere I guess)

The grass is always greener - I've lived in Porto Alegre and Rio and know the pros and cons of both city's very well now.

As a gringo its a very tough to see the benefits but as a Brazilian, compared to many other parts of Brazil, Porto Alegre is a very well run & organized city.

[/QUOTE]Haha you just described Ireland didn't you? "dreary,provincial,European,backwater"[/QUOTE]

You've got some neck saying that, given you're from the country that oppressed and pillaged Ireland for centuries. This post is NOT about Ireland, which I know isn't perfect (nor is the UK). However, at least in Ireland one doesn't have to live behind prison gates, or risk their life every time they cross the road.



Edited by NICB - 23 July 2012 at 22:52

well, to START with, most gringos who come to Porto Alegre are probably people that like different stuff, a cosmopolitan feel, variety of cultures, etc. Otherwise, they would stay in the place they were born.

Yes, to those people Porto Alegre will certainly be boring.

As for Porto Alegrenses thinking they are european... well, southern brazilian are undoubtly more european than other brazilians... even in their "COLDNESS" that even foreigners notice, at least compared to other brazilians.

What means to be "european" is hard to describe specially because europeans are not a uniform group of people, and a spaniard is not the same as a german or a brit or an hungarian.

Now, that said, Porto Alegre and Rio Grande do Sul are not independent from Brazil, nor is Brazil TRULY a federation that gives enough freedom to its states.

Most stupid brazilian laws, bureaucracy and taxes and other stuff that favor corruption, exist in Rio Grande do Sul and there is NOTHING that can be done about it except a secessation from Brazil.

the author of the photos, Gerson Ibias, who is a brazilian living in London for over 15 years (but he travels twice a year to Brazil) agrees with what you say of Porto Alegre, except the dog sh*t part mentioned by NICB.