My Gringo Friend in Sao Paulo...

LOVES IT! I just got an email back from him proclaiming his love for the city. Not really a surprise to me, but an affirmation.

He said the people love foreigners who learn Portuguese, and that the city itself is amazing.

I don't have much more to report on other than that, but it just made me happy to have someone that I actually know like it from a non biased view.

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In other news, its going to be 102 degrees with an index of 115 here. Happy happy joy.

Touchy Topic, but It needs to be discussed.

Please don't be annoyed by this topic.

All my life I have been told by the media that Brasil is a dangerous place. I read on the news of the problems with the drug trade, and how recently the country has fallen into another crack epidemic, which sucks.

I know statistically things are getting better with less street crime and significantly less murders, but I have to ask: does it feel safe?

Feeling safe and being safe are two completely different animals. I can walk down the street in Philadelphia or Washington DC and feel safe, but not actually be safe. Hell, Philadelphia has a higher homicide rate than Rio at this point!

But my question to my fellow bloggers is: Do you feel safe walking down the street in "Big City' Brasil? I know its a vague question, but if you have any expertise in the area and any stories to share I would be quite happy to hear them.

I know it's not as bad as they say, but I don't want to be naive either.

Again, fellow Brasileiros who read this blog, please take no offense to this post. It's just something I've been sort of thinking about for a while.

You can call me stupid, but even if Brasil were as violent as Baghdad, I don't think it would change my opinion on wanting to move there.

Abs!
Alex

I might be going to Brasil soon!

Hi everyone,

As some of you know, I have been doing an internship with a development company that owns hotels, shopping centers and commercial real estate. I have been working with the Vice President of the company for a few days, and in the beginning he made a remark about how he is very interested in Brasil and it's economy. I told him that I speak Portuguese, and that I have a love affair with the place and I too believe that its a great place for investment.

                                                                          Skyline - Salvador, Bahia

Well the other day he asked me to start to put together a tour of Brasil for businesspeople! He wants to go to Rio, Sampa, and the Northeast...probably Salvador. I'm in the process of putting an itinerary together, which is exciting! He wants me to go with him because I can translate! I'm not sure when it will be and I don't know if its 100% set in stone as of yet, but it sounds promising! I just hope its before August 16th and after September 1st because I don't want to miss my Hawaii vacation either.

I'll keep you updated!

Picture of the Moment

I'm not one to go and talk about the poverty in Brasil and advertise it to my friends, because quite frankly everyone thinks that Brasil is basically a giant version of Haiti. Obviously that is completely false, but we all know that there still is a good percentage of people living in poverty. I think this is a cool picture, I love the grit and color. It's Heliopolis, the largest favela in Sampa. Luckily, they are urbanizing this favela, like most in the city. Later on I'll post some pictures of the rendering of the new buildings they are placing in the location on former favela barracos.

Outchi Baki

This is kind of random, but I think it's funny that Outback has like a million restuarants in Brasil and they keep expanding. They have 8 locations in Rio (Capital), 9 in SP (Capital) and more in RS, MG, GO, BA and DF. They are opening another in Sao Jose dos Campos and one in Recife in the future. I don't even like Outchi Backi.

                                                                 Outback in Sao Paulo