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.


Article Writers - Gringoes.com Wants You!

Are you a "Gringo" or Brazilian interested in writing for our site? Have you...

Photo of the Week

The photo of the week is titled Cashew Break taken by Robbert Hofman in Pipa, Rio Grande do Norte. 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.


Around Brazil: Boiçucanga

By Mark Taylor
March 10, 2008
São Paulo state‘s litoral norte (north coast) is popular with paulistas because of the cities, towns and associated beaches scattered along it that get them away from the hustle and bustle. Some are better than others though, so some time and effort in investigation is required in sorting the wheat from the chaff. I‘ve written before about Ubatuba, another city and region along the litoral norte, and specifically Lázaro beach where I had a pleasant stay. I had my second stay towards the end of last year in Boiçucanga, 3 hours drive away from São Paulo city.
Boiçucanga isn‘t as far as Ubatuba, situated before Maresias, São Sebastião, and Ilha Bela. It falls more into the town category, and has a smattering of shops including a small but relatively interesting shopping centre. The latter does a lot to lift the feel of the town, as it‘s relatively clean and contemporary look is a bit at odds with some of the less clean back streets and run down areas - prefeitura take note. The shopping centre also has a small food court, and although it escapes having a McDonalds, it doesn‘t escape a Bobs - although it appeared to be closed on our most recent visit. Further away from the shopping centre and on the main street, that runs parallel with the beach, there are a few more shops and restaurants which rapidly peter out as you go further away from the beach.
…click here to read the rest of the article>>


Ask a Brazilian: Hispanics or Latinos, and Duvets

March 6, 2008
This is our regular column called "Ask a Brazilian", the idea being that you can quite literally ask a question of a Brazilian - for those issues you aren‘t sure about but perhaps dare not ask someone else. It is meant as a bit of fun and answers should not be construed as expert opinion or the definitive reply on the matter. For that reason we ask you to please send comments and experiences in order to add to our replies.
Meu Amigo,
According to English, Brazilians are both Latin and Hispanic.
According to Brazilian Portuguese, they are Latin and not Hispanic.
Your thoughts please..
Muito Obrigado,
Ken
Why call us Hispanic or Latinos, Ken?
We are Brazilians!
Yes, we are Latinos, but most of all ... we are Brazilians.
And for Hispanics, I might say a Hispanic is almost as gringo as you are, if it wasn't for the language, that we can easily understand.and here's a secret: they can't understand us! : )
…click here to read the rest of the article>>


Brazil: "Tristeza Não Tem Fim" ("Sadness Has No End") Part 9

By Joe Lopes
March 6, 2008
No More Blues? Man, You Got That Wrong!
Elizete Cardoso‘s flagrant disregard for his unsolicited advice did not deter João Gilberto from putting his own spin to "Chega de Saudade," laid down by him as a 45-rpm single in July of that year and subsequently issued on Odeon Records - with the unseen hand of its arranger, mestre Tom Jobim, having moved heaven and earth to accommodate the incredibly demanding singer-guitarist.
What normally should have been a straightforward, two-to-three-hour recording session dragged on interminably beyond all practical limitations.
In spite of his well-earned reputation as an obsessive, nitpicking perfectionist, the fastidious and reclusive Joãozinho took full control of the infant bossa-nova idiom from the start with his unrivaled ability to pull the vocal line every which way.
"Bossa nova overwhelmed us," offered fellow Bahian and devout apologist, Caetano Veloso, by way of elaboration. "What João Gilberto proposed was a deeply penetrating and highly personal interpretation of the spirit of samba."
…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! If you've got some burning question about Brazil, or just want to discuss a particular topic, then you're bound to get an answer there.
There's also a forum which allows you to comment and give us feedback on Gringoes.com, either with your views about past articles, areas of the site, or to make suggestions for future articles and content.
Note that foul language, abusive posts and certain types of advertising in the forum will not be tolerated. Make sure to check the Read This First area first before posting. The forum is intended to be a constructive and lighthearted place for discussion about Brazil.


Forex

The US Dollar remains unchanged over the week, at R$1.69. The Euro has risen, from R$2.58 to R$2.62. The British Pound has also risen, from R$3.36 to R$3.42.