Tatiane Lima capoeira party

Following on from last weekend’s very unbrazilian party, this weekend we went to a very brazilian party – a capoeira graduation party for the kids at our community centre – Tatiane Lima in Batan Favela in Bangu, Rio.

The party was held across the road from the main centre in what appeared to be a garage converted nicely into nightclub with dancefloor, bar, seating area for families and stage for VIP dignitries (us whities). We arrived early to make hotdogs for the kids, then headed on over to party. The night had been organised to celebrate the graduation from some of the kids from one level of capoeira to another.

For those who don’t know, Capoeira

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May 30th, 2010 | Tags: , , | Category: Brazil, Volunteering | Leave a comment

Never help a Brazilian across the road

It’s happened to us all right? You’re standing at the edge of the road waiting to cross, when an old lady with a bunch of shopping bags looks at you forlornly for an arm across the road. You help yeah? It’s the natural thing to do; help an old dear across the road. Forgives you for your sins yeah? If you are in Brazil, here’s a tip. IGNORE THEM!

A few hours ago, I was sitting at a small red-rooved Guanavita bar on Copacabana beach, just outside the Othon Hotel having a caipirinha, when I heard the screech of heavily breaking car tyres. Marju had been cheekily using the facilities in the Othon and was due back any second so

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May 26th, 2010 | Tags: , | Category: Brazil | Leave a comment

Would Obama party at the MAM, Rio?

The colour of clubbers skin is not something I often think about when I go out on a friday evening (i’m usually too wasted for such cerebrally challenging topics!) I once went to an RnB night at the Ministry of Sound in London, where my friend remarked he and I were like 2 grapes in a bowl of plums – a reference to how we were the only people with white skin on the dancefloor. I was moved to remember my friend’s throw-away comment this weekend when we went to a one-off club night/party at the Museum of Modern Art in Rio – only this time because I was a grape in a bowl of, well, grapes of an

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May 25th, 2010 | Tags: , , | Category: Brazil | One comment

Autumn in Rio

The time has finally come for me to write a typically ‘English’ post about the weather in Rio. Why now? Well because it’s May of course!

May is my favourite month in England. The nights are long and lengthening still. A long spell of dry sunny weather usually brings people outside, and the English assume that rare smile only the onset of summer can bring.

This May however, i’m in Rio, in the southern Hemisphere, meaning May is actually the end of summer rather than the beginning. Fortunately, Rio is within the tropics, with the tropic of Capricorn just a few miles south of Rio, and being situated within the tropics means winter as we know it in England

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May 21st, 2010 | Tags: , | Category: Brazil | Leave a comment

Extending my UK-Brazilian visa

This week I will have to renew my Brazilian tourist visa, as i’m approaching the 90 day limit but still have another month to go in Rio. We’re not sure how to do it – or even if it’s possible – as we’ve heard conflicting stories on the process and success. Some people in Marju’s volunteer house said that visas can be extended at the Federal Police office in the International airport by paying a little cash for an extention. One website says it can be done in Rio centro, again at a Policia Federal office, however we’ve not heard of anyone actually being successful with either method. Also, this website states that you may be able to

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May 17th, 2010 | Tags: , , | Category: Brazil, Living in Rio | One comment

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