| |
|
|
| |
Home
>
World
> South America
> Brazil
|
Social Profile
Food & Drink: Many regional variations are very different from North American and European food. One example is Bahian cookery, derived from days when slaves had to cook scraps and anything that could be caught locally, together with coconut milk and palm oil. Specialities include vatapá (shrimps, fish oil, coconut milk, bread and rice), sarapatel (liver, heart, tomatoes, peppers, onion and gravy), and caruru (shrimps, okra, onions and peppers). From Rio Grande do Sul comes churrasco (barbecued beef, tomato and onion sauce), galleto al primo canto (pieces of cockerel cooked on the spit with white wine and oil). From Amazonas comes pato no tucupi (duck in rich wild green herb sauce), and tacacá (thick yellow soup with shrimps and garlic). In the northeast dried salted meat and beans are the staple diet. In Rio de Janeiro a favourite dish is feijoada (thick stew of black beans, chunks of beef, pork, sausage, chops, pigs’ ears and tails on white rice, boiled green vegetables and orange slices). Types of establishment vary. Table service is usual in most restaurants and cafes and a service charge of ten per cent is added to most bills. If resident in a hotel, drinks and meals can often be charged to account.
All kinds of alcoholic drink are manufactured and available and there are no licensing hours or restrictions on drinking. Beer is particularly good and draught beer is called chopp. The local liqueur is cachaça, a type of rum popular with locals, but not so much with visitors. This phenomenally strong spirit is often mixed with sugar, crushed ice and limes to make caipirinha, a refreshing if intoxicating cocktail and the Brazilian national drink. Southern Brazilian wine is of a high quality. Some bars have waiters and table service. Brazilian coffee is served in espresso-sized cups and is extremely popular.
Nightlife: The best entertainment occurs in Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo. In Rio the major clubs do not present their main acts until after midnight and the daily paper gives current information; small clubs (boites) provide nightly entertainment throughout the city. São Paulo nightlife is more sophisticated, with greater choice; the shows tend to start earlier.
Shopping: In Rio and São Paulo major shops and markets stay open quite late in the evening. Rio and Bahia specialise in antiques and jewellery. Special purchases include gems (particularly emeralds), jewellery (particularly silver), souvenirs and permissible antiques, leather or snakeskin goods. Fashions and antiques, crystal and pottery are a speciality of São Paulo. Belém, the city of the Amazon valley, specialises in jungle items, but be careful that you are not purchasing objects that have been plundered from the jungle, contributing to the general destruction. Check for restrictions on import to your home country of goods made from skins of protected species. Shopping hours: Mon-Sat 1000-2200. Supermarkets are open Mon-Sat 0800-2200. Major shopping centres also open on Sundays 1500-2100. All the above times are subject to local variations and many shops open until late in the evenings, especially in December.
Special Events: There are a number of lavish festivals throughout the year in Brazil, the two most notable being Bahia’s Carnival just after Christmas (from December to March) and the Carnival in Rio de Janeiro (February/March), widely regarded as the most spectacular and extravagant in the world. Following are a few events occurring in 2003; further details of other special events may be obtained from the Brazilian Tourist Board (EMBRATUR); see Contact Addresses section:
Mar 1-5 Carnival. Apr 6 Brazilian Formula One Grand Prix, São Paulo. Apr 17-20 Holy Week Processions, Ouro Preto. Jun Bumba-Meu-Boi Festival, São Luís. Jun 28-30 Boi-Bumbá; Parintins, Amazon. Jul Fortal (Carnival out of season), Fortaleza, Ceará. Aug Gramado Film Festival; Barretos Livestock and Rodeo, São Paulo. Sep International Fishing Festival, Cáceres. Sep-Oct Rio Film Festival, Rio de Janeiro. Oct Oktoberfest, Santa Catarina; Rio Marathon, Rio de Janeiro; Círio de Nazaré (religious festival), Bélem; Recifolia (carnival out of season), Recife. Oct 12 Our Lady of Aparedcida (patron saint of Brazil); Aparecida, São Paulo. Dec Carnatel (carnival out of season); Natal, Rio do Norte.
Social Conventions: Handshaking is customary on meeting and taking one’s leave, and normal European courtesies are observed. Frequent offers of coffee and tea are customary. Flowers are acceptable as a gift on arrival or following a visit for a meal. A souvenir from the visitor’s home country will be well-received as a gift of appreciation. Casual wear is normal, particularly during hot weather. In nightclubs casual-smart (eg blazer, no tie) is acceptable. For more formal occasions the mode of dress will be indicated on invitations. Smoking is acceptable unless notified otherwise. The Catholic Church is highly respected in the community, something which should be kept in mind by the visitor. Tipping: Ten to 15 per cent is usual for most services not included on the bill. Tipping taxi drivers is not normal practice.
Copyright © 2003 Columbus Publishing Ltd.
Terms and Conditions apply.
|
|
|
|
|
