Ola a Brazil!
Grab your rain boots and bug spray because we are headed to the Amazon Rainforest. Did I mention the bug spray? With over 3 million insect species and one giant opossum eating tarantula, we need to be prepared for anything.
Located in South America, Brazil is the biggest country on the continent. It is home to some of the worlds best beaches, the Amazon Rainforest, Carnival, futbol, and Jesus.
Are you breathing a little better suddenly? That’s because the Amazon Rainforest produces over 20 percent of the earth’s oxygen. If that doesn’t want to make you do some deep breathing exercises, nothing will. With all that oxygen, plants, animals, and insects thrive in the Amazon environment. There are so many species in the rainforest that scientists are constantly discovering new things everyday. In fact, there are even people in tribes who live in the Amazon rainforest who have never seen the outside world. That means, they have never seen a car, cell phone, computer, or TV.
WHAT????? Can you imagine a world without youtube? These kids can.
While we are on the topic of people who wear minimal clothing……On the opposite side of Brazil, these bright and shiny ladies are Samba dancers. With feathered headpieces, high heels, glitter, and bling everywhere, these ladies really know how to catch the eye. And that is before they start shaking their hips.
Samba dancers all over Brazil practice all year for a celebration known as Carnival. It is a week long celebration with parties, food, and music topped off by a huge parade where all the dancers and dance schools compete to see who is the best in Brazil. Carnival is one of the biggest, most colorful celebrations on earth. Besides the Samba dancers, the parade also has amazing floats, costumes, and musicians. After the parade is over, parties last all night and into the morning while people celebrate.
Whoa, who is the big guy with his hands spread out looking over the water? Why, it’s Jesus Christ, of course. And after the parties and festivities for Carnival, he’s probably a pretty popular guy in Brazil come lent. The Christ the Redeemer statue stands almost 100 feet tall with a 26-foot pedestal and is one of the the most popular tourist attractions in Rio de Janeiro. In fact, the statue is such an icon and so recognized around the world, that it has been named one of the new 7 wonders of the world. Now that’s a pretty big deal. Pun intended.
No trip to Brazil would be complete without attending a futbol game (soccer for us Yankees). As the national pastime and most popular sport in the country, Brazilian’s love their footie. And they should. No other national team has won the World Cup soccer tournament more than Brazil. They also have the highest all-time rating in the world as well as tied for the most games consecutively won. The list of achievements of this futbol program is almost as long as it takes a player to get off the ground after tripping over himself and writhing in mock pain. Eu sou brasileiro!
Brazilian food is full of all kinds of different flavors. Because so many people from all over the world moved to Brazil, it has influences from Africa, Europe, Asia, and of course it’s own indigenous people. Would you like to try to cook some Brazilian food? Here are some of Chef Sizzle and Dizzle’s recipes.
