Guest on the blog: Carolina, Portugal

Today’s guest on my blog is Carolina Teodozio from Portugal. I met her last year on the student exchange in the Netherlands. She lives in Covilhã, Portugal, but has spent New Year in Brazil because she has some relatives there… and that’s what her post is about. She also writes her own blog, named Spotless Lounge, with posts in both English and Portuguese. Enjoy!

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Brazil: land of samba, football, sun and breathtaking natural views. Well, that’s the general view, it’s also a country full of natural resources, independent and with a good industry – Brazil is not just carnival. (:
But, in my opinion, the best is the people – I admire them. Although it has so many qualities, Brazil has its flaws, that unfortunately is what more gets to us by the news – poverty, criminality, corruption – and that should be enough to make a citizen depressed and frustrated with his country, but no. It’s incredible how they keep up the good humor and the smile on their face, it’s incredible how they seize the day. It’s impossible not getting invaded by such optimism. Even having few, they give a lot and they help in what they can. Should be an example for many.

It’s capital city is Brasília, but the most known cities are, undoubtedly, São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro : São Paulo is famous for being one of the biggest cities in the world – you can find everything there, and I mean it; Rio de Janeiro is known for its beaches and, of course, because of the Girl of Ipanema. There is also where the magic of the Carnival happens: every year, in the Carnival, the city gets invaded by people from all around the world, that travel until there to see the beautiful parade, full of color, music, joy and samba. It’s the biggest and most beautiful carnival of the world – and it does deserve such status.

Another thing that I love about Brazil is the music – there is a wide variety of musical styles and there are excellent compositors and musicians as well. Probably, you may have already heard about Tom Jobim ,one of the best in what Bossa Nova is concerned. There are other styles, like Samba, very known too because of its joy.

There is so much to talk about this country, I could be here all day. But still, I feel that I wouldn’t be able to describe satisfactorily this Brazilian essence. Who lives there, who has already been there can certainly understand what I mean.
And yes, this can be interpreted as some kind of argument in favour of those who ever consider to visit Brazil (:

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