Brazil Holidays |
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All You Need To Know About Brazil |
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Holidays in Via Costeira are the stuff of dreams. Imagine a great big sweep of squeaky clean sand that snakes into the distance. Add a generous peppering of palms that sway lazily in the gentle breeze. And lap with sparkling More
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Mention Brazil and what springs to mind? Snake-hipped dancers moving in time to hypnotic samba rhythms? Carnival revellers wearing feather headdresses shimmying through the streets of Rio ? Sun-bronzed volleyball players frolicking on the sugar-white sands of Copacabana beach? Vibrant and intoxicating, Brazil is all these things…and more!Roughly the size of the USA and covering almost half of South America , Brazil is one of the most diverse countries in the world. Boasting soaring mountain peaks, thundering waterfalls, coral reefs, palm-fringed beaches, desert sands, Arctic environments and dense Amazonian rain forests, Brazil 's natural beauty is beyond compare.Brazil is a veritable melting pot of cultures, having fused influences from Europe, Africa and the Americas . This cultural melange is reflected in the cuisine, music and dances of Brazil , where the tastes of Europe merge effortlessly with the passion of the Tropics. Brazil also exudes a distinct ‘live for the moment' appeal, which has garnered it a worldwide reputation for flamboyance and light heartedness. Little wonder, therefore, that Brazil has enjoyed a long-standing love affair with high-spirited pleasures such as samba, carnivals and football. In Brazil , smiles and laughter are all important.Most of our Brazilian Faraway Shores properties are situated on the northeastern tip of the country, close to Natal . Considered to be the home of the friendliest people in Brazil , Natal forms a heady mix of stylish hotels, tempting restaurants and glorious beaches and is a great introduction to Brazil . Literally translated, Natal means ‘Christmas' in Portuguese and the locals claim that it's Christmas every day in Natal - impressive credentials indeed! In fact, if you visit around Christmas time, you'll be treated to the excitement, colour and festivities of a traditional Brazilian carnival with the Natalenses celebrating in the streets. .Sightseeing - Unlike the Incas and Aztecs, with their pyramid-like temples and forgotten cities, Brazil 's indigenous Indians were not empire builders. Instead, they lived is scattered nomadic tribes and subsequently left no great architectural legacies behind them. However, much of Brazil 's 16th-century colonial past can still be seen today. The historic city of Salvador was Brazil 's first capital and has managed to preserve many outstanding examples of its Renaissance stonemasonry. Like a kind of living museum, the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Olinda is another Brazilian ‘must see'. Founded in the 1500's, it's said to be the birthplace of Brazilian culture at large. Its exquisite array of Baroque churches, convents and chapels and old grandiose houses provides a fascinating insight into Brazil 's Portuguese heritage. Passports & Visas - A valid passport (valid for at least 6 months from your date of arrival in Brazil ) is required for UK and most European citizens. On arrival in Brazil you'll be asked to fill in an entry form to obtain a tourist visa. Citizens of other countries should check with the Brazilian consulate for visa regulations before travelling. A departure tax is payable on departure from Brazil This infomation may now be out of date so we advice you to check before you travel. Shopping - From large American-style shopping malls filled with boutiques and cafés to local street traders selling wares from open-air barrows and stalls, Brazil offers a diverse range of options when it comes to retail therapy. Incense and perfumes are particularly good buys - several Brazilian perfumeries have been developing fragrances using Brazilian flowers, thereby creating more delicate scents with less essence than their French counterparts. Brazil History & Culture In 1500, a Spaniard called Vincente Yanez Pinzon became the first European to sight Brazil . However, the Spanish couldn't claim the lands for themselves. According to a treaty, the world beyond Europe was divided between the Spanish and the Portuguese along a north-south meridian line, with lands to the east belonging to Portugal and lands to the west to Spain . Therefore, most of the New World became Spanish possessions but Brazil fell just within the boundaries of Portuguese control. And so, later that year, led by the adventurer Pedro Cabral, the Portuguese settled in Brazil . At first it was regarded only for its profusion of a valuable red dye called ‘brasil' – from which the country takes its name – and for years was ruled from Lisbon . However, fearing invasion by Napoleon, the Portuguese royal family fled to Brazil at the beginning of the 1800's and declared Rio de Janeiro as the new seat of their court. By 1822, however, Brazil had been declared an independent empire and later became a republic. Three centuries of Portuguese rule certainly left their mark, not only in terms of language, religion and customs, but also in the lively Latin spirit that permeates through the nation.
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