INTRODUCTION

WHAT YOU WILL FIND IN THIS SITE

Information relating to Brazil, Brazilian culture and people, and the Portuguese language.

Suggestions on travel and tourism in Brazil, including airlines, transportation, fares, hotels, etc... Where to go and what to do in Brazil. Wonderful places like Buzios, Angra, Salvador, Pantanal, the Amazon.

A list of services we can provide, including translations, cultural training, travel arrangement, contacts, research and even meeting Brazilians.

Hints and helps for doing business in Brazil. Facts about markets, products, production, markets, government, laws, trade, stocks, etc...

A history of Brazil and a list of influential people. Observations on popular culture, including TV, cinema, music, dance and art.

A section pertaining to Portuguese language and literature, with particular interest in teaching Portuguese to foreigners.

links and news relating to Brazil.

Essays about food, drink, and many common aspects of life in Brazil.

Many other good things.

WHY BRAZIL?

Because Brazil is a great country -- one of the largest, most populous and, by any account, most interesting of all 200 or so nations on this small planet of ours. Yet it is unknown to most of the American public, many of which don't even realize that the capital of Brazil was moved from Buenos Aires to Brasilia in 1960 (Joke!!!!!. BA never was the Capital of Brazil.)

DID YOU KNOW?

Brazil is the fifth largest country in size and the eighth in population. Brazil is bigger than the continental US (excluding Alaska).

More people speak Portuguese as their mother tongue than Japanese, French, German or Italian. Portuguese is the sixth most common language in the world.

Almost half of the people in Latin America don't speak Spanish - they speak Portuguese. Brazil is larger than Argentina, Mexico, Venezuela, Colombia and Peru combined. The social, historical and economic development of Brazil is unique.

Brazil has a large and growing economy, which currently presents great opportunities for investment.

Blessed by nature with white sandy beaches, lush green forests and a friendly people, Brazil is a country worth visiting.

WHY WE CREATED THIS WEB SITE

To share something of our experiences in Brazil. To help those who are curious about Brazil or who would like to visit that country or do business in it.

This is the result of 25 years of Brazilianitis, a strange disease that affects mostly the mind. It is characterized in many ways: by a wistful smile, a swollen abdomen (technically referred to in medical terms as churrascus maximus and/or cervejumas geladissimas). Brazilianitis also is know to cause an uncontrollable rhythmic swaying of the body and an overwhelming desire to express emotions.

To facilitate travel on this site, we have suggest you use the Topic Updates page that lists all subjects on this site in cronological order.

HOW TO CONTACT US

Just click on the CONTACT button on any page. Your questions, comments and suggestions are welcome.

OUR WEB PAGE PHILOSOPHY

This is a KISS page, meaning Keep it simple, stupid. You will find a few nice graphics here, but not 47 consecutive 90k JPEGs pictures in one page. You will find facts and figures, but only enough to make a point. Sometimes a little subjectivity will creep into a statement, but be assured it is the result of 25 years of careful observation. Our main focus is to create an interesting WWW site presenting the many unique aspects of the Brazilian people and culture that will help and enrich the lives of those who who visit (the country and the web site).

LEGAL STUFF

All material here is original, unless otherwise indicated. Some data and text has been gathered over the last eight years from unknown sources, which we would like to identify. Graphics and icons are original or from the public domain. All information on this site is free and available for private use, but please give us credit. We believe all facts and opinions herein to be accurate and fair. However, we assume no responsibility for the people, companies, products or services mentioned in this site, which are presented only as possible resources available to the public interested in Brazil.

GETTING AROUND THIS SITE

Most new stuff will be posted in the TOPICS and UPDATES section. This will include general information, Brazilian issues, editorials or opinions and anything else I decide to throw in.

NOTICE: UNDER CONSTRUCTION

This whole site is being put together -- slowly. We plan to have most of our material up and on line by the end of September, 1999. Any page or title with the

Under Construction sign is incomplete, often nothing but a shell set up for organizational purposes. Oh yes, before I forget, a

symbol will indicate a Portuguese language site or page.