Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Arrival
The strangest things happen to me when I arrive at Brazil. Last time, my jaw dislocated itself or something the first night here (but eventually fixed itself); this time, I awoke the first morning and couldn't hear a thing out of my right ear. Nothing like adding another level of difficulty to communicating in Portuguese. That morning we went to a doctor who went mining in my ears for treasure and found a couple large nuggets of wax. When he removed the one from my right ear and the world became clear again for me, he spoke English to me for the first time: he knocked on my head and shouted "HALLLOOOO! Anybody home?!"
Brasileiros: Coisas estranhas acontece para mim cada vez eu chego aqui no Brasil.. A vez passada nos viemos aqui, meu maxilar dislocou, ou alguma coisa.. E desta vez, quando eu acordei no primeiro dia aqui, eu nao pudia ouvir da minha orelha direita. Nos fomos para um doutor engracado, e podia falar com ele em Portuguese quase o tempo todo.. Falei direito? Com certeza nao. Mas ainda, eu estava tao feliz com isso..
Bahia
Bahia is where the europeans from Portugal first landed on the new land and eventually founded Brazil.. Salvador, the capital of Bahia, was also Brazil's first national capital. There is, therefore, tons of history there; and some of the oldest European history in all of the American continent, north or south. Walking through the historic areas of the city, I didn't feel like I was Brazil. I didn't even feel like I was on this continent - I felt like I was back in Europe. Cobble-stoned streets everywhere. European-stye cathedrals around each corner. Portuguese tiles still tiled on walls from centuries ago. And though I haven't been to the Mediterranean yet, when we were walking around the beaches, it looked like what I expect it to.
Baianos (people from Bahia) are said to be some of the happiest & most festive in Brazil. My bro Marcelo, who lived with us for a little while in Portland, is a Baiano and was already ample attestation to this assertion for me. We spent Sunday on Mar Grande - an island just a couple miles off the coast of Bahia where Marcelo's family has a house. I got to meet lots of Baianos there (it was a Sunday, so everyone naturally came over), and I most definitely found this to be true. Granted it's Carnaval, but everyody I met was in happy mode.
The cuisine in Bahia is said to be some of the best in Brazil. Again, our bro Marcelo (one of the best chefs I know) made a strong case when I lived in Portland. Many of the dishes there are tough to find outside of Bahia, and when they are, are nationally known as Baiano dishes. Music from Bahia is said to be some of the best as well; I've always felt like #2 above simply becomes evident in it. Though it's debated, many Baianos claim Capoeira originated in Bahia.. But whatever the case, there is a huge Capoeira influence in Bahia.
To come next: Carnaval...
Arrival
The strangest things happen to me when I arrive at Brazil. Last time, my jaw dislocated itself or something the first night here (but eventually fixed itself); this time, I awoke the first morning and couldn't hear a thing out of my right ear. Nothing like adding another level of difficulty to communicating in Portuguese. That morning we went to a doctor who went mining in my ears for treasure and found a couple large nuggets of wax. When he removed the one from my right ear and the world became clear again for me, he spoke English to me for the first time: he knocked on my head and shouted "HALLLOOOO! Anybody home?!"
Brasileiros: Coisas estranhas acontece para mim cada vez eu chego aqui no Brasil.. A vez passada nos viemos aqui, meu maxilar dislocou, ou alguma coisa.. E desta vez, quando eu acordei no primeiro dia aqui, eu nao pudia ouvir da minha orelha direita. Nos fomos para um doutor engracado, e podia falar com ele em Portuguese quase o tempo todo.. Falei direito? Com certeza nao. Mas ainda, eu estava tao feliz com isso..
BahiaBahia (say Bye-ee-yah) is a state in Brazil that I'd been most excited to see for some time now, for many reasons.
Brasileiros: Eu estava animado demais para ver a Bahia por muito tempo. A historia, a comida, os pessoas, a musica, etc.
Brasileiros: Eu estava animado demais para ver a Bahia por muito tempo. A historia, a comida, os pessoas, a musica, etc.
Bahia is where the europeans from Portugal first landed on the new land and eventually founded Brazil.. Salvador, the capital of Bahia, was also Brazil's first national capital. There is, therefore, tons of history there; and some of the oldest European history in all of the American continent, north or south. Walking through the historic areas of the city, I didn't feel like I was Brazil. I didn't even feel like I was on this continent - I felt like I was back in Europe. Cobble-stoned streets everywhere. European-stye cathedrals around each corner. Portuguese tiles still tiled on walls from centuries ago. And though I haven't been to the Mediterranean yet, when we were walking around the beaches, it looked like what I expect it to.
The cuisine in Bahia is said to be some of the best in Brazil. Again, our bro Marcelo (one of the best chefs I know) made a strong case when I lived in Portland. Many of the dishes there are tough to find outside of Bahia, and when they are, are nationally known as Baiano dishes. Music from Bahia is said to be some of the best as well; I've always felt like #2 above simply becomes evident in it. Though it's debated, many Baianos claim Capoeira originated in Bahia.. But whatever the case, there is a huge Capoeira influence in Bahia.
To come next: Carnaval...
Oi Brent!
ReplyDeleteGreat pictures!
Did you try the rebolation dance?
I have disagree about the music from Bahia being the best, they haven't done anything good since the 70s. :P
Pois eh irma! I am kinda stuck in the 70s anyway though, so it's very fitting for me. :)
ReplyDeleteEntao, qual regiao voce acha tem a musica melhor?