Brazil: South Region

Blond children with blue eyes and a strong regional accent make you wonder: Am I really in Brazil? This is the south. Since it was colonized mainly by German, Italian, and Polish immigrants, the facial features and cultural preferences of this region's inhabitants create a markedly European atmosphere.

In the state of Paraná, besides the city of Curitiba, a model in urban planning and lifestyle, you will be enamored by the Iguassu Falls, one of the largest waterfalls in the world.

In the state of Santa Catarina, you will witness the industrial progress and savor the regional delicacies of the Itajaí Valley's cuisine. In Florianópolis, on Santa Catarina Island and along the entire coastline, the beaches are themselves a feast for the eyes, with waters and sands to suit all tastes. The northern coast of the island, in Joaquina, hosts international surfing competitions. In October, the city of Blumenau attracts enthusiatic tourists from all over the country and even abroad for the Oktoberfest, a beer festival.

Pomerode in Santa Catarina, as well as Gramado and Canela, in Rio Grande do Sul, bear a striking resemblance to Bavaria, with their colonial cafés serving delicious German delicacies. The ruins of São Miguel, close to Santo Angelo, also in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, remind us of the 210 years of the Jesuit Missions presence in Brazil. The strong regional spirit in this state makes for a rich folklore of music and dance coupled with the traditional "churrasco", (barbecue) and the "chimarrão (mate tea).

posted by nscafuro @ 8:03 PM