Showing posts with label Brazil. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Brazil. Show all posts

Sunday, May 23, 2010

It's Sunday... Saudade mata a gente!

It's Sunday! Way back in the day Sunday used to be an amazing day, a sort of family and friend's day. You knew that either you would be going to someone's house, or your house would be full of people. It was a day to have a special lunch, or a barbecue with your buddies, conversation, music, fresh flowers, or perhaps a major trip to the beach with the whole entourage, where half the kitchen would be packed in the trunk of the car… LOL! Yes, because there was no such thing as going home after two hours or so. It was a whole day affair. I miss those days...

Today I have the newest TV, a car where my kids can watch movies and plug their video games in case they run out of charge, a Coach purse (that you better believe I didn't pay full price for), the alleged opportunity to make loads of money (although I'm still broke), a set of amenities for my children (who have no idea what it means to actually play outside, and cannot conceive the thought of any fun that doesn't involve some kind of electronic device), and accomplished academic college degree on the wall. I think you got the examples and you know where I'm going with this. Yet, I'm constantly worried about money, there's no music playing, no family coming over (in fact I missed a great deal of their lives because I wasn't around, and today some of them are already DEAD - the word deceased doesn't do justice), less than a hand full of real friends, and no special lunch or barbecue going on today... But hey, I bought fresh flowers!

Do I dislike where I've been living for the past 20 years? Absolutely not. I love it! I love the efficiency, the power of purchase, the opportunities, the beach... It's not about that. It's not about hearing the infamous, "go back to your country" overrated line. I can care less about idiotic and ignorant people oblivious about the history of their "own country." It's about choices we make, it's about recognizing that we cannot have it all (unless you win the lottery), it's about weighing pros and cons and making decisions, it's about balance, it's about venting and expressing feelings (I haven't signed up for the psychiatry "Pill Popper Club" yet, so I have to deal with reality), it's about reminiscing over a time when things were so much simpler, when caring & loving & being myself was all I needed; when spontaneity, and genuine hugs were part of my day (note, I said genuine). It's about acceptance and sense of humor…

Ohhhh well... I better put a sock in it... I guess I had my fix for today. I believe I saved $150 in therapy fees.
It's Sunday and life is not so bad after all.

XOXOXO,
Cheers!


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Saturday, May 22, 2010

Caipirinha - Brazilian National Drink

Close friends of mine are aware of the fact that when I begin suffering from human warmth depravation I pack my bags and go to Brazil. As good as I feel when I arrive in Rio and hang out with friends and family, enjoying amazing beaches, stuffing my face with bolinhos de bacalhau (cod fritters), and getting toasted on caipirinhas, the unanticipated time to leave is something that I have to deal with, and once I get home, it takes a little while to get that whole fever out of my body… Thanks to the internet, I can browse around for a couple of days, manage my descent, and ease into my routine… On that note, while cruising around, I stumbled on a Blog called “John in Brazil.” The post was about Buzios, and anything related to the Lakes Region is right up my alley. But what I thought was really funny was the way the blogger summarized the caipirinha, “Tasty, by deadly.” I think he nailed it… LOL! So here's the inspiration for this post: "How to make a Caipirinha." :) Don't be fool! It's sweet, but it'll knock you out...

XOXOXO,
Cheers!



Caipirinha Recipe
by Irohner

*Cachaca (You may substitute with aguardiente)
* Limes
* Superfine sugar
* Crushed ice
* A "lowball", "rocks" or "Old-Fashioned" glass
* A pestle (from a mortar and pestle, or something similar) for the muddling

Preparation:

* Cut the ends off of the lime and discard.

* Cut the lime in half lengthwise and cut out the white pith in the middle.

* Cut the lime in half, and cut one half of the lime into four wedges and place in the glass. If your lime is small, you will need to add more lime to the glass.

* Add one to three tablespoons of sugar. The amount of sugar depends on your personal taste as well as the size of the lime you are using.

* Use the pestle to "muddle" the limes and sugar together. Basically, you want to crush the limes so that they mix in well with the sugar. Be careful not to break the skin of the lime. When you've gotten all of the juice out of the lime, you're done.

* Pack crushed ice in the glass all the way to the top.

* Add cachaca all the way to the top of the glass. (It's really only about 2 oz.)

* Use a larger glass or bottom of a cocktail shaker and put it over the top of your drink. Pick up with two hands and shake very well for at least 15 seconds.

* Garnish with a wedge or slice of lime.

* Drink...and enjoy the best caipirinha!

PS: A Caipirinha made with vodka is called "Caipiroska." A Caipirinha made with white rum, such as 151, is called "Caipiríssima."

Drink responsibly.

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Sergio Vieira de Mello - A heart-wrenching documentary from HBO entitled “SERGIO.”

Sergio Vieira de Mello, a Brazilian United Nation’s diplomat and well known humanitarian killed in the Canal Hotel Bombing in Iraq, along with 20 other members of his staff on August 19, 2003. Sergio was serving as the Secretary-General's Special Representative in Iraq. Here's a short preview of the 2009 heart-wrenching documentary from HBO entitled “SERGIO," well worth watching... This morning, I came across it again, and I thought I should should make a note...

Some people come into this world for amazing and extraordinary things…



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Saturday, April 24, 2010

Cabo Frio is not a place, it’s a feeling!

I had the opportunity to see “my Cabo Frio” again this month of April. What a feeling! I can honestly say: "I Love Cabo Frio!" If you never heard of it, Cabo Frio is one of the best spots in the Região dos Lagos (Lakes Region) located in Rio de Janeiro. The amazing sea, the soft white sand, spectacular dunes, the wind… Everything is just an invitation to live life to the fullest… And let’s not forget Gamboa street, the famous Bikini Street (Rua dos Bikinis), offering great shops, awesome bathing suits, and everything else to make your beach experience the most fashionable and enjoyable one. There’s nothing like walking along the Forte Beach (Praia do Forte), or chilling at one of the many kiosks at Peró Beach, savoring succulent seafood and drinking an authentic caipirinha, why not? CB is trully paradisiacal... It's heaven on earth!

XOXOXO,
Cheers!


























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Thursday, August 13, 2009

Reminiscing...

It’s amazing how we only value certain things after we can’t enjoy them any longer. I spent the first hour of my morning looking at pictures and reminiscing about a place and time that I’m not really sure I appreciated the beauty that surrounded me. Now that I’m so far away and can only enjoy it through photographs (at least until my next trip), I just love these snapshots.

Niteroi - RJ - Brazil

Niteroi - RJ - Brazil

Niteroi - RJ - Brazil

Paraty - RJ - Brazil

Paraty - RJ - Brazil
Paraty - RJ - Brazil

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Wednesday, August 5, 2009

The best burger in the world! Even if I have to run 100 miles to burn it off…

OMG! It’s incredible how the taste of certain foods can actually take you back to a moment in time. I just had the most scrumptious sandwich that took me away back when I was growing up. The Brazilian famous X-Tudo, which could be translated as the “cheese everything.” The sandwich is basically a cheeseburger with everything in it: fresh buns, hamburger, cheese, fried egg, ham, bacon, lettuce, tomatoes, onion, ketchup, mustard, and mayo. Don’t ask me how many calories this baby can load up… I don’t really want to know, since I just eat one. The term X-Tudo comes from the word cheeseburger, and since the ch in Portuguese sounds like a sh in English, when pronounced with the Brazilian twang it sounds a lot like the letter x (xis). Well, earlier this evening “my sistah from another mistah” and I just went out for a stroll and bought all the ingredients for the “Everything Burger.” I haven’t had one of those in quite a few years. Wow! I just stuffed myself with a load of memories from childhood. The first bite took me straight back to a kiosk by the beach… What a feeling! Thanks for driving me around tonight, Rob! You have to try one next time… Time for me to go. Nite, nite world!
XOXOXO,

Cheers

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Tuesday, August 4, 2009

Dreaming of Buzios...

Here I am again! Hellooooooo!!! Anybody? Hmmmm… There’s no one… I can hear my echo. Bummer! Oh well, I guess it’s a good time for skinny-dipping… LOL!!! Anyway... Every time I look at this banner I feel that everything is going to be okay, whatever life brings my way... I spent the first part of the day running around taking care of business, and now it’s time to unwind a bit. Let’s see… Where should I go? What about Buzios? Yessssss, bingo!
Where’s my cold beer?

XOXOXO,
Cheers!





Statue of Brigitte Bardot in Buzios, Brazil. Bardot has been credited with popularizing the city of St. Tropez, on the French Riviera, and Buzios, Brazil, which she visited in 1964 with her boyfriend at the time, Brazilian musician Bob Zagury. A statue by Christina Motta honors Brigitte Bardot in Buzios.

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Monday, August 3, 2009

Nostalgia

I’ve been working on the blog for a while now… It’s time to call it the quits! A girl’s gotta eat! But I have to say that it was great to check out so many awesome pictures today… It almost made me forget the million problems that I have to deal with tomorrow! Nite, nite world!

XOXOXO,
Cheers!

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Sunday, August 2, 2009

Cabo Frio - A Forever Love Affair...

Snapshots of paradise!
Xoxoxoxoxo,
Cheers :)






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