Introduction

Welcome to the Gringoes.com email newsletter!
This newsletter pulls together some of the articles, photos, polls and other information that has been published on the Gringoes.com web site over the last week or so. Don't forget to visit the Gringoes.com site to checkout our article archive, useful information pages, classified adverts, services, forum and other pages. So read on and we hope you enjoy the newsletter. As always if you have any comments, such as what you'd like to see more or less of on the site or newsletter, don't hesitate to contact us at gringoes@gringoes.com.
Please note that although we are based in São Paulo, the site and newsletter are for the whole of Brazil. We are particularly interested in hearing from people outside of São Paulo city, specifically Rio de Janeiro and the Northeast, so if you would like to write about your experiences or any topic related to Brazil see our request for "Article Writers" below.
If you're interested to know the origin behind the site name, then read the "Dear Gringo" article here by Dr. G.


Brazil: São Paulo Entertainment Guide

This week's entertainment guide for São Paulo features a restaurant in Liberdade, a design exhibition at MCB, a recommended film, and a roundup of some other upcoming events.
If you have been to a restaurant, club, park, museum, or anywhere else in São Paulo that you would like to recommend to other readers in future Entertainment Guides then don‘t hesitate to contact us!
Also if you are a bar, restaurant, or night club owner (or hosting any other form of event that might be of interest to foreigners) that would like to be reviewed by Gringoes.com, as well as appearing in our entertainment guide, please contact us to arrange a visit. If you would like to submit an entertainment guide for your city we‘d be interested to hear from you also.
…click here to read the rest of the article>>


Brazil: The Grand Hyatt São Paulo's Christmas and New Year Programme

The Eau, Kinu and Grand Caffè restaurants are preparing special meals and menus to commemorate the new year, and the Upstairs Bar|Lounge will celebrate the arrival of 2007 with a big party, live band, DJ and open bar.
To commemorate Christmas and toast the arrival of 2007 the restaurants of the Grand Hyatt São Paulo - Eau, Kinu, Grand Caffé - and the upstairs Bar|Lounge will have a special programme for the end of year party. The hotel will prepare exclusive dinners, brunches, and menus, as well as a fun party at the turn of the year.
Below are the options for each of the restaurants and the bar of the Grand Hyatt for Christmas and the New Year.
…click here to read the rest of the article>>


Brazil: Let the Buyer Beware

By Richard Conti
Now you all know that no one has more nice things to say about Brazil then this gringo. I still believe Brazil is the best choice for us to look for that retirement and or vacation property. As I have always tried to be fair and opened minded and love all your responses to my articles I do feel the necessity to bring a few things to light that may be of dire importance to some if not interesting to others.
As you know for the past two years I have been investigating as well as in negotiations for a few pieces of land in Brazil. As an American I have always been thrilled with Beach front property and thought it was always valued much more than other properties, even oceanview properties that were not directly on the beach. This is NOT always true and certainly not the case these days in Brazil as well as in many other Countries I am sorry to report.
Although we know the obvious reasons that beach Property has always been more attractive in the past here in the USA as well as elsewhere in my endeavor to find the ideal property many new facts have come to light that are disturbing to say the least. Many many folks simply do not understand or know what is going on around the world and Brazil is no exception.
…click here to read the rest of the article>>


Understanding Brazil: The Sellers

By Ricky Skelton
Brazilians don‘t appear to be lazy, at least not to my eyes. Unlike at home, there aren‘t many people who do absolutely nothing. This might be a product of the welfare system, but even the streetkids juggle to get money. Everyone else is at least trying to sell something, and what they sell varies greatly. I enjoy seeing what people are hawking at the major road junctions. It makes me wonder just how many people set off for work in their cars first thing in the morning and got halfway there before realising ‘Oh no! I‘ve forgotten my binoculars! Where the hell can I buy a new pair around here? Aha! What a stroke of luck!‘ Or how many of them gnaw their way through the plastic steering wheel covers due to the stress of driving in such a Metropolis. Perhaps the binoculars are to see the front of the traffic jam. One thing I haven‘t seen is the (probably male only) drivers portable toilet for use in traffic that I saw in Bangkok. Perhaps I should import some.
…click here to read the rest of the article>>


Brazil: A Guide to Fernando de Noronha Part 5

By Mark Taylor
Here is the fifth and final part of Mark's guide to Fernando de Noronha. To read previous parts click the relevant link at the end of the article.
The Beaches
One of the highlights of Fernando de Noronha, and that which the island is very famous for, are the beaches. The main island has twelve principal beaches, some of which have won awards from the likes of Quatro Rodas and Viagem magazine for being the best in Brazil, as well as being generally well known as some of the most beautiful in Brazil. Not only are the beaches clean and often quiet, the water is generally very clear, and some beaches are great for snorkelling and surfing.
Two of the most beautiful beaches are Baía do Sancho (Sancho's Bay) and the not so beautifully named Baía dos Porcos (Pigs Bay). Baía do Sancho is probably the most difficult beach to access, and not for the fainthearted. It involves descending through two natural fissures in the rock, where ladders have been mounted, plus a series of steps. Suitable footwear and a light load are recommended for those visiting this beach. Baía dos Porcos is accessed via the neighbouring beach Cacimba do Padre (Priest's Waterhole). Again suitable footwear and a light load are recommended, as access is across several metres of slippery rocks.
…click here to read the rest of the article>>


Brazil: Driving São Paulo Style

By Steven Engler
Never having been to Rome, New Delhi, or Mexico City, I can‘t honestly say that the driving in São Paulo is the craziest on the planet. But it must be up there with the champions.
A lot of this has to do with some basic characteristics of Brazilian society. Most importantly, there is little sense of civic duty, of a shared public space that is more than a forum for individualistic "me first" behaviour. Not that there‘s anything wrong with that!
The rampant individualism of Brazilian public space, which is so visible in the streets of São Paulo, makes perfect sense in the context of Brazil‘s history. Brazilian sociologists point, for example, to the historical lack of a centralized government apparatus.
…click here to read the rest of the article>>


Brazil Through Foreign Eyes

Meet Chris Coates, from the UK, who has travelled to and is now living in Brazil. Read the following interview where he tells us about some of his most memorable experiences from Brazil and gives some useful advice to newcomers.
1. Tell us a little about yourself, where are you from, what do you do etc.?
My name is Chris Coates and I'm from London. Currently, I'm teaching English in various companies for a school, as well as privately. Myself and a journalist are making a documentary about Brazil, hoping to open people's eyes up. We are showing a different view other than Rio, Carnival, favelas, Samba and violence. We are filming in São Paulo city right now and then we will go to Maresias and Campos do Jordão. This is the first programme.
…click here to read the rest of the article>>


Article Writers

Are you a "Gringo" (foreigner) living in or travelling around Brazil with experiences you would like to write about, or with advice to offer? Are you a Brazilian who would like to explain about Brazil to foreigners, and help give advice on what to do, and where to go? Perhaps you just write a frequent blog about Brazil, and would be interested in publishing some of this on our site. If you are interested in writing an article, or series of articles, or posting your blog content on Gringoes.com we are interested in hearing from you! Don't be shy! All we ask is that the articles are focused on Brazil, will be of interest to foreigners either travelling or living here, and are written in English.
We are particularly interested in hearing from people who want to write about areas other than São Paulo, specifically Rio de Janeiro and the Northeast, although other areas as well. If you are unsure about a topic then drop us an email or a draft article. Send your articles or any questions to gringoes@gringoes.com with "articles" in the subject.


Interviews

Thanks to those who responded to our request for interviews. We're building up the queue of interviews, but can always do with more, so if you would like to be in our Brazil Through Foreign Eyes, or Foreigners Through Brazilian Eyes series please send us an email. As you can see it doesn't matter if you're a foreigner to Brazil, or Brazilian, we're still interested to hear from you. The interview series is a fascinating look at how real people are enjoying Brazil, and equally how Brazilians really see foreigners. They also give various tips on what to see in Brazil, and how to survive here.
The interview itself is a set of around 15 easy-to-answer questions, and ideally we like a digital photo of you as well we can place with the interview.
So if you're interested, don't be shy, send a blank email to mark@gringoes.com with "Interview" in the subject. We will then send you the questions, and instructions on how to complete. We'd love to hear from you!

A gentle reminder to those who have been sent questions. Please don't forget to complete and return them!


Book Donations

If you are leaving Brazil and/or have any unwanted books, and are happy to donate them, then Gringoes.com would be glad to receive them! We are considering setting up a book club for Gringoes.com readers if we can get sufficient interest. For details of how to donate your books then please contact gringoes@gringoes.com with "Book Donation" in the subject.
A special request: we've had an offer of around 200 books from a Gringoes.com reader in Belo Horizonte, but we are unable to get the books to our office in São Paulo. If any readers are travelling between São Paulo and Belo Horizonte, and are able to help with transport, then please contact us at gringoes@gringoes.com


Gringoes Poll

We're starting our poll up again this week. The poll that's been running over the last few weeks has been about driving in Brazil and how you find it. Generally opinion is not too great on driving in Brazil as 35% responded with it being "Awful!", 18% responded with it being "OK", and 16% "Bad".
This week's poll is on what most influences your opinion about Brazil, whether you trust your own experiences, that you see in the general media e.g. newspapers, TV and Internet, or what you read in travel guides. If you haven't yet voted go to our homepage and look for the poll in the left-hand column.
If you can't stand our poll ideas and have better ones, or are curious about some aspect of the Gringoes.com readers, then send your ideas to us at mark@gringoes.com with "Poll Idea" in the subject. If we choose your poll you will get a credit in the newsletter, as well as the satisfaction of seeing what the answers are!

Please send this email to anyone you think might find it interesting. If you have not yet registered with gringoes.com and would like to receive future newsletters click here. If you have mistakenly received this message, or would no longer like to receive mail from us, then please reply to this email with the word 'take out' in the subject line. If you are unsubscribing because the newsletter doesn't meet your needs then please let us know how we can improve it.

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Weekly Quiz

Last week's quiz question, from Steven Engler was: name two famous Portuguese castaways (or perhaps deserters) in the early 1500s who lived among indigenous peoples, each marrying a daughter of a cacique, and becoming important local leaders. Congratulations to Jacques Allain who was first with the correct answers, and here's the detailed answer from Steven - Diogo Álvares Correia, known as Caramuru, was shipwrecked around 1510. He became a leader among the Tupinambás and played a key role in founding the city of Salvador. João Ramalho (shipwrecked around 1508) became rich as a slavetrader in the Piratininga area.
This week's quiz question from Karolina Wrona (thanks Karolina!) is: what are the three other names of a tropical Brazilian plant commonly known as known as "dumb cane" (or Comigo-ninguém-pode in Portuguese) and why was it sometimes given to Brazilian slaves (put into their mouth)? Don't forget to answer all the questions! Send your answers to mark@gringoes.com with ‘Weekly Quiz’ in the subject line.
Thanks to all those who've been sending quiz questions, we've built up our reserves a little but more are always welcome! Do you think you can stump the Gringoes.com readers, then please send them to mark@gringoes.com with ‘Weekly Quiz Ideas’ in the subject line. Don't forget to send the answer to the question also! Remember it needs to be relatively difficult, and not something that can be found from a simple Internet search.


Photo of the Week

The photo of the week is Come Back, There's More Work To Do! and was taken by Paul Neal in Boipeba, Bahia. Click here to see the photo.
Thanks to all those who've sent in photos based on our request, but we can always do with more. So if you have a funny or unusual photo depicting life in Brazil please send it to gringoes@gringoes.com with ‘Photo of the Week’ in the subject line. Ideally we are after photos that are of something a little different, not traditional shots of beaches and sunsets. Please send relatively high resolution images (0.5 Megapixel / 640 x 480 or bigger), and let us know where you took the photo and if you have a title for it.


Tip of the Week

We've run out of tips, so a special request to Gringoes.com readers for more! Is there something you wish you had known while travelling, or something that makes life easier while living here in Brazil? Then share it, and let our readers know. Don't worry about the subject, it can be either a big or small piece of useful information. Send your tips to mark@gringoes.com with ‘Tip of the Week’ in the subject line.


Brazil: Portuguese Tip - Ninguém X Nenhum

By Teacher Claudia
Dear readers, some students have asked me about these two words, "nenhum" and "ninguém". Both of them contain a clear negative meaning, but they may be a little confusing at first, because they can be used in several ways and content. Today I‘ll try to help you understand them.
Activity 1
Read part of a song by Nando Reis, "Não Vou Me Adaptar":
Será que eu falei o que ninguém ouvia?
Será que eu escutei o que ninguém dizia?
Eu não vou me adaptar.
(Did I say what no one heard?
Did I hear what no one said?
I won‘t adapt.)
…click here to read the rest of the article>>


Brazil: Weekly News Roundup

Large Area of Rainforest to be Protected
An area of Amazon rainforest around 130,000km², larger than England, in the state of Para will be protected by the government. This is part of the government's dedication to protecting an area called the "Guyana shield", an area that borders Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana, which in total in an area around 400,000km² forming the world's largest tropical forest reserve. The trees and rivers within contain around 20 percent of the world's freshwater.
Brazil Lifts Takeoff Ban
Takeoffs from several Brazilian airports were banned on Tuesday due to a fault with an air traffic control system. These resumed on Wednesday but caused flight cancellations and travel chaos across the country. Many passengers were forced to sleep in airports, and some airlines suspended ticket sales. This has added to the problems caused by weeks of delays due to protests by air traffic controllers, sparked by Brazil's worst air crash.
US Pilots Allowed Home
On Tuesday a court in Brasilia granted permission for the two US pilots, who were involved in the worst air crash in Brazil's history, to return home. The pilots are allowed to pick up their passports in 72 hours, but have been told they must agree to return for any possible further inquiry and judicial action. The return comes amid claims by US politicians that the US government has not done sufficient to expedite their return, as well as paying attention to the case.
…click here to read the rest of the article>>


Economics and Politics in Brazil - a Tangled Web

By John Fitzpatrick
This is the time of year when the financial community looks back on the previous 12 months and ahead to the coming 12 months. Those analysts who were right in their predictions congratulate themselves and those who were wrong try and come up with convincing reasons why. Generally speaking, economists and analysts run in packs and consensus is the rule. Unlike some politicians who try to massage figures and make over-optimistic projections, the analysts are guided by computer models, indicators and historical statistics. These economists also know that their projections can influence multi-million dollar investment decisions by their employers and clients so they cannot allow political conviction or wishful thinking to intrude. Personally I have never had much faith in indicators and statistics. First of all, they can they be manipulated, as is obviously happening in China at the moment and was the case during the existence of the USSR. Secondly, they are often preliminary and can cause a shock when they are revised. This was case with the GDP figures for the US in the third quarter of this year which jumped from 1.6% in the first estimate to a final figure of 2.2%, well above the market expectation of 1.8%. Thirdly, and most important, they do not adequately cover the informal part of the economy. The black economy in Brazil is estimated at around 40% or even higher depending on who you talk to.
…click here to read the rest of the article>>


Two Brazilian Charmers Part 9

By Joe Lopes
Here is part 9 of Joe's article about two famous personalities from Brazil, Bidu Sayão and Carmen Miranda. To read the previous parts click the relevant links at9 the end of the article.
After several critically panned appearances, the dejected singer and her band withdrew for a two-month rest, a period principally taken up by the group to revamp its basic song structure into something that more closely resembled an overt form of social commentary.
With that in mind, Carmen emerged from her isolation brandishing a buoyant new number, ‘Disseram que eu voltei americanizada‘ (They say that I came back Americanized), in the faces of her previously unresponsive patrons. A cracklingly lyrical defense of her supposed conversion to American ways - and mockery of some distinctly Brazilian ones - this cleverly-written topical ditty was a huge hit in Rio, and recatapulted the star to the top of her seaside area stomping-ground.
…click here to read the rest of the article>>


Brazil Blog: Visas and Marriage Part 1

By Gringo Blogger
By way of introduction I'm a foreigner who's lived in São Paulo city for a few years. I came here for romantic reasons with the hopes of finding a job, like many gringos (only to find out that getting work in Brazil is a near impossible task). So I'm not your typical wealthy gringo. Thankfully I am now working part time in a great job, but am still on the Holy Grail-like quest of finding full time work. I married my girlfriend early last year, so have some idea of the highs and lows of a multicultural relationship.
In my blog I'm just documenting some of the day-to-day events that happen to me, amusing or not, to give an impression of what it's like for a gringo living in the bustling metropolis of São Paulo, and Brazil in general. It's at times also meant as a tongue in cheek look at gringo life, so shouldn't be taken too seriously.
Although I‘ve explained a lot of recent events in my blog, I thought I‘d go back in time and explain some of those troubles and tribulations I went through when I was first here. It might prove useful for those who are contemplating being in a similar situation or are already there.
When I first came to Brazil it was with a view to living with my then girlfriend. Like many foreigners that come here, I‘d come with the intention of turning a long distance relationship into a more practical short distance one. I was most certainly naive, not just to the job situation which I‘ve already written about, but also to what would be involved with visas. I had some idea that I was allowed to stay in the country for 90 days per year, as a British citizen, but that was about it.
…click here to read the rest of the article>>


Discussion Forum

If you've not had a chance yet then pop over to our web forum, register, and start joining in the discussion about Brazil. There are many forum areas such as Living in Brazil, Teaching English, Visas and Documentation, and even a place to Vent Your Frustrations! There's also a forum which allows you to comment on Gringoes.com, either with your views about past articles, areas of the site, or to make suggestions for future articles and content.
Each week in the newsletter we will choose a Post of the Week to give you some idea of what's happening in the forum, and a good thread to visit and read. This week we recommend the post "Importing Food Items" started by the user Paddy in our "Living in Brazil" forum. The post is a discussion about importing foreign foods to Brazil.
If you have a recommendation for the best Post of the Week then send an email to mark@gringoes.com with "Post of the Week" in the subject.
On a serious note, foul language and abusive posts made in the forum will not be tolerated. The forum is intended to be a constructive and lighthearted place for discussion about Brazil.

Forex

There have been a few ups and downs over the last few days although the US dollar remains unchanged over the week, at R$2.15. The Euro has shown a similar trend but with a slight drop, now at R$2.84, compared to R$2.86 a week ago. There's been a similar trend with the British Pound, currently R$4.21, against R$4.23 a week ago.