North Eastern Brazil

In Brazil they drink a lot of coffee and Pele lives there. It is the fifth largest country in the world and is the largest in South America. The people speak Portuguese. Salvador was founded in 1501 ,trading in sugar , tobacco and mines . When sugar fell , salvador declined. Not many people speak english so it is helpful to speak some Portuguese. A room will cost about $10 per night including breakfast. Nearly half the population is black, descended from slaves. The street kids drum on tins for money. The north east is the poorest in brazil. Brazilians love music and rhythm. The whole town loves to party. Once a week the band rehearses in the street and the whole town turns out to dance. Coffee sellers are out early in the streets in Pelerino. Vendors sell small sweet potent doses of coffee. You can get the local tucker from the street vendors as well. You can go visit an old deserted dungeon where they used to store slaves. Capoeira is a combination of dance and martial arts. Salvador has over 300 churches with gold leaf all over them. The church of bomfin is famous for its healing powers. photos and letters adorn the walls.

From Salvador you can go to Lencois in the interior. Ceremonies of old African paganism are common here. Food is passed out as the dance continues all night. It is a call to the spirit and the dancers fall into trance. Itaparica is a small town on the way. the buses are fast cheap and on time. but they can get full and uncomfortable. There used to be diamonds in the river in the national park. The interior of the north east is dry and is often hit by drought. There is cattle farming but it is a very poor region. They still manage to have fun with dance and music at their festivals.

Recife was a port for the sugar industry and best known now for a beach resort. There are excellent beaches protected by coral reefs. Football is a national obsession of course. Play on the beach or go to the Stadium. Top football players are treated like rock stars. Street kids are everywhere as well in North Eastern Brazil. Get on the bus and head off to the carnival at Fortaleza. The famous lace makers can be visited and the craft comes from the portuguese. The carnival at Foraleza in North East Brazil happens in February before Lent. Sugar cane alcohol is cheap and widely used. Boa Constrictors can get quite large in this area. In the far north there are huge areas of sandhills with villages scattered around. The fishing boats return in the morning with their catch. Stay with a family in the villages and experience the local life and culture. Help pull the fishing nets in and scale and gut your own fish and cook it and see what it tastes like. Heavenly!

To get into the Amazon River go to the city of Belem and Marajo. Marajo has large numbers of buffalo and are used for meat and labour. Belem is the main port for ships that go up the Brazilian Amazon. It is the gateway to the Amazon Rainforest. The markets sell anything including 3 toed sloths and monkey heads. Get on a riverboat and head up into the jungle. Find a guide and go for a trek into the rainforest. The people live on what the forest and river provide - coconuts and fish and brazil nuts. The weather changes quickly and you can get caught in a downpour so bring some wet weather gear.

Brazil Resources

Music in Brazil: Experiencing Music, Expressing Culture Includes CD (Global Music Series) - Music in Brazil is one of several case-study volumes that can be used along with Thinking Musically, the core book in the Global Music Series. Thinking Musically incorporates music from many diverse cultures and establishes the framework for exploring the practice of music around the world.

Lonely Planet Brazil - Sunbathe in Tambaba, float down the Amazon on a riverboat or dance to pulsing axé in Salvador - whatever your dreams, live them in Brazil. Explore its pristine beaches, steamy jungles and music-filled cities with our inspirational guide, which takes you from Rio's unrivaled nightlife to the Pantanal's spectacular wildlife without missing a beat.

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