BRAZIL IS....

A 500-YEAR-OLD COUNTRY

Imagine an old big country, so huge that no one can invade. You have few examples like USA, China, Russia and Australia. All of them were born by conquests, acquisitions, wars or merges. Not here. Brazil is the only big country that ever was Brazil, even before its discovery (search Tordesillas Treaty). 

Brazilian people have no race, no face, no color, no suit, no surname, no specification. In this world, you can't detect a brazilian by any characteristic. Brazilians are of any kind, indeed. 

And the climate? Just good weather all the year round, everywhere.

As for food, Brazilians have become natural gourmets due to vast and easy food availability. Enormous supermarket chains, fairs everywhere and big malls, spread all over the country, lead to a healthy consume of foods ranging from japanese to ubiquitous italian.

Looking for night life? There is no other country that sleeps so late. Heavy midnight traffic. São Paulo (the whole city) never sleeps. Beaches (8.000 km) are filled with little bars, and smaller cities also carry through the night easily, with loud samba or forró(NW) rhythm.

Police and public service? Not so bad, but no one counts on them.

MORE by: Marcos Ficarelli

BRAZILIAN WINS OUTDOORS SCENES PICS CONTEST BY NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC

First Place Winner: Brazil Aquathlon

15,000 photographers from around the world entered the 25th edition of the award. The winning photo, "Dig Me River," is by Wagner Araujo and shows contestants at the Brazilian Championship Aquathlon running towards the Rio Negro, in Manaus, capital of the Amazon state.
Photo and caption by Wagner Araujo: "I was in Manaus, Amazonas, during the Brazilian Aquathlon (swimming and running) championship. I photographed it from the water and my lens got completely wet, but there was so much energy in these boys that I just didn't worry about that". —Wagner Araujo

National Geographic Traveler Director of Photography Dan Westergren, one of this year's judges, shares his thoughts on the first place winner:


“This photo really captures my attention because of the peak action it depicts. I love the horizontal tension caused by the main subject on his way out of the picture to the right. Classic photographic rules of composition say that you should not have subjects moving out of the frame, but this shot shows that sometimes the most exciting photo can be made by breaking the rules. I also love the body language of the main subject; he's trying to lean forward but still holding back to get his last breath before plunging into the water. Finally, the addition of the tall buildings along the waterfront makes this more than just a sports picture; it’s also a portrait of Manaus, Brazil.”

Wagner won a ten-day expedition in the Galapagos Islands aboard the National Geographic Endeavour vessel. The trip is made in the company of a team of naturalists and offers the chance to get close to unique species such as giant tortoises, sea lions and marine iguanas.

The winning images will be published in the December/2013 issue of National Geographic Traveler.
Location: Rio Negro, Ponta Negra Beach, Manaus, Amazon, Brazil
Category: Outdoor Scenes

SOURCE: NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC

80 DAYS ON MULEBACK? NO WAY!

Yes! That is what a group of mule riders has been doing for the last month - crossing part of Brazil to fulfill an old dream of theirs.  
Why mules? Because a mule is the offspring of a male donkey and a female horse, and the mule possesses the even temper, patience, endurance and sure-footedness of the donkey, and the vigor, strength and courage of the horse.
The adventurers will travel almost 3,500 miles and spend three months away from home. The ride began one month ago in the municipality of  Espera Feliz (Happy Wait) in Minas Gerais and the adventure will only end in Passo Fundo, in the gaucho state. 

The routine begins with a prayer and soon everybody is on horseback for another day's journey. The ride takes an average of 40 km/day, and at that pace they are supposed to cross six states in 80 days. They should reach their final destination in the first half of May. The group is made ​​up of 20 riders, mostly traders, farmers and retirees from the states of  Espirito Santo and Minas Gerais, who invested in the project of  reviving long gone muleteer times. "Our objective is to unwind and get to know new families of horseriders", says one of the participants. 

The trip was planned over a year, and everything is happening as anticipated. Difficulties were also included along the journey - leaving family and jobs behind. The second obstacle was the  knock-down heat in Rio de Janeiro. The third one is the cold south. In short, they chose to tread the path of ancient drovers. And it pays!