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.


Hostelling in Brazil

By Alice Woolliams
August 19, 2008
Budget Travel from Rio to the Rainforest
With its chaotic cities, glamorous beaches and expanses of rainforest, Brazil is excitingly diverse. Along with the country's sights and scenery, a lively culture and relaxed, open attitude have helped make it one of the world's most attractive backpacking destinations.
Thanks to its affordable cost of living and enduring popularity, Brazil is very accessible for budget travelers and there is a wide range of hostels across the country which offer cheap beds and a great place to socialize with other backpackers.
Urban Culture from Sao Paulo to Salvador
In the south of Brazil sits Sao Paolo, a cosmopolitan mix of affordable international cuisine, renowned local coffee and a lively arts scene. It's also home to Brazil's super-rich, with more helicopter traffic here than any other city in the world.
…click here to read the rest of the article>>


The Old South Lives on in Brazil

By Rita Shannon Koeser
August 18, 2008
"There was a land of cavaliers and cotton fields called the Old South"
- from the opening of the film "Gone with the Wind (1939)
Surprisingly, at a cemetery in Brazil, in the interior of Sao Paulo state, the pre-Civil War American south is kept alive in songs, music, food and dance. Women in hoop skirts, and men in confederate uniforms eat the foods, dance the dances and listen to the music of the Old South. They come to this cemetery to keep alive the traditions of their ancestors, to recreate some of the traditions of the Old South, and to remember their heritage.
Campo cemetery (pictured below), located outside the city of Santa Barbara d'Oeste, amidst rolling hills and sugar cane fields, belongs to the members of the Fraternity of American Descendents (Fraternidade Descendencia Americana). There is a graveyard in which about 400 American settlers and some of their descendants are buried. One of the graves belongs to W.S. Wise, a great uncle of Rosalynn (Mrs. Jimmy) Carter, wife of the former president of the United States. In 1972, Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter made a visit to this cemetery. The cemetery contains a small chapel, an obelisk with the confederate flag and the names of the original families, and a small museum with photos and artifacts from the original settlers.
…click here to read the rest of the article>>


Brazil: The Search for the Perfect Waterfall Part 2

By Laurie Carneiro
August 13, 2008
Here is part 2 of Laurie‘s article about her search for the perfect waterfall. To read part 1 click here.
The next day we planned a day trip to the Gruta da Lapinha in Lagoa Santa, which is located approximately 25km from Vespasiano. The car ride to the cavern was memorable - I have vivid memories of being jammed in the back seat with four small children (three of my own and one niece). For most of the trip I was constantly hitting my head on the roof of the car as my brother-in-law never slowed down for any ruts or speed bumps in the road, which were many! Since most cars are small and economical (gas and ethanol have always been expensive in relation to Brazilian salaries) the goal (when needing to travel from point A to point B) seems to be how to fit as many people as possible into the smallest car. Until I learned more about the economic situation (i.e. cost of gas and cars), I wondered if this was a Brazilian idea of family togetherness. Since Brazilians seems to like to be together ("the more, the merrier" truly seems to exist here - for almost any occasion) they don't seem to be bothered by lack of personal space. I understand the mentality and the necessity of this, but for a "spoiled American" it makes traveling by car a challenging experience at times, especially when several nieces or nephews want to come along.
…click here to read the rest of the article>>


Interviews

Thanks to those who responded to our request for interviews. We've almost run out though, 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!


Gringoes Poll

Last fortnight's poll was for gringoes living in Brazil, and on the topic of citizenzship. Would you have considered becoming a Brazilian citizen, are you one already, or is it something you would never contemplate? In first place with 37% is "Yes, for sure", "I'm considering it" has 31%, "No" has 27%, and "I already am!" with 5%.
This fortnight's poll is on that hard to escape topic of the Olympics. How do you feel Brazil is doing in the Oympics 2008? 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.

Photo of the Week

The photo of the week is titled Mercado Central taken by Andrea Molnar Szego in Manaus. 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.


Brazil Through Foreign Eyes

August 13, 2008
Meet Jase Ramsey from the USA who recently moved to Brazil to work. Read the following interview in which he tells us about some of his most memorable experiences and gives some useful advice to newcomers.
1. Tell us a little about yourself, where are you from, what do you do etc.?
I'm a 34 year old male who was born in the United States. I grew up in the Midwest (Kansas), and have lived on both coasts for work reasons. Most recently, I was living in South Carolina. I have lived in Mexico, Spain, Moldova, and Barbados.
2. When did you arrive in Brazil and what brought you here?
I arrived in Brazil in April, 2008. I moved here without ever setting foot in the country in order to take a professorship at a business school in Belo Horizonte. Furthermore, I moved here alone without knowing a single person.
…click here to read the rest of the article>>


Brazil: Hidden Pousadas - Hotel 7 Colinas, Pernambuco

By Alison McGowan
August 11, 2008
The Hotel 7 Colinas (7 Hills) is often referred to as a pousada and the atmosphere here is definitely more pousada-like than any normal hotel. Where the difference really comes out is in the extra comforts which come as standard. Bathrooms have great powershowers, and all rooms have fans and airconditioning, cable TV with good reception, a table to work on, telephone, and free wi-fi internet.
Situated in extensive grounds in the heart of the historical centre of Olinda, the 7 Colinas is a blend of well designed new buildings housing the accommodation wings, a fabulous high ceilinged reception in colonial style, plus the original 19th century mansion, where there is now a museum and small cultural centre. From the restaurant and breakfast room you look out over lovely swimming pools surrounded by palm trees and flowers and ceramic sculptures. Altogether it‘s a perfect place to relax, read, and write, whilst still being within walking distance of all the sights and restaurants and bars.
…click here to read the rest of the article>>


Ask a Brazilian: Tiles

August 10, 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.
Hi Vanessa, hope you are doing well. Please forgive my ignorance but why are Brazilians so in love with tiles? I see tiles everywhere: floors, walls and ceilings. What is it with the tile fetish?
Thanks in advance!
-- Mike
Hi, Mike
I love that you ask that...
Guess who brought the "tiles fetish" to Brazil?
One chance...
…click here to read the rest of the article>>


Brazil: João Pessoa Meet Up

August 6, 2008
Well it seems like only yesterday that we had the last get-together at the Arquipélago restaurant, but it really was two months ago. Pictures from the last meeting can be viewed here.
The next meeting is going to be on Sunday 31st August in Tambau, at Giramundo Restaurant, this is right on the beach about 300 meters from the Tambau tropical hotel (heading towards Cabo Branco).
The restaurant is going to open just for us, so I hope lots of people turn up and make it worth their while.
They will open at 1pm and close around 7pm, and the full address is: Giramundo Restaurant Avenida Almirante Tamandare, in front of the house number 654 (Pizzeria Lion near Hotel Imperial). More and less in the middle between Avenida Epitacio Pessoa and Hotel Tambaú.
Please send a Private Message on the forum to London Lad …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 has risen over the fortnight, from R$1.58 to R$1.62. The Euro has dropped, from R$2.44 to R$2.38. The British Pound has also dropped, from R$3.08 to R$3.01.