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Blue And La Paz ~ Making
It Through In Bolivia ~ By Mark McMahon - Mark McMahon has been traveling
around Latin America over the last few years and has brought back some
great tales. In this installment he talks about his prized car and what
it's like to explore the Bolivian capitial of La Paz. If you ever thought
about just getting in a car and heading south then you will want to read
about Mark's adventures. June/03
Bolivia - Destination Bolivia - Living in Bolivia - "My wife and I made ends meet by teaching in Bolivia. The natural assumption is ESL. I ,however am a university math professor and my Spanish is good enough to give classes in Spanish. My wife who is actually a nurse by profession, also gave elementary school classes in a small English speaking school. Together we could bring in about $ 1100 per month. It is very easy to live on this amount in Bolivia. As a comparison, my wife was offered a 48 hour a week nursing job at $ 120 a month. It is also possible to survive on this wage." Bolivia:
South America's Retirement Paradise - Bolivia
at the Top of the World - Nestled high in the Andes mountains of South
America, Bolivia is a little-known retreat exotically spiced with a unique
Latin and Native American flavor. Bolivia has a lot to offer…a very low
cost of living, unspoiled natural environment, friendly people and a range
of climates to suit virtually every taste. Property prices are among the
lowest in Latin America. Sept/02.
Bolivia
To Buenos Aires -On
The Road ~ by Mark McMahon - Mark is off, headed out of Boliva and
making a trail towards Argentina. Read all about it in the above article.
Remember to check out Mark's tours to Cuba and Ecuador. Oct./03
Bolivian Safari ~ Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia ~ by Mark McMahon - The far southwest corner of Bolivia is home to some of the most bizarre and extreme landscapes in the world. By far the world's largest salt flat and some other very interesting geology make it and unforgettable place to visit. The harsh and inhospitable environment also make the visit hard to forget. Bitter cold and blistering sun made comfort a sparse commodity on the four-day adventure. Oct./04 Finding
Our Place In Peru ~ Peru
And Bolivia 2004 ~ by Mark McInerney - My wife, Karen, and I decided
that it had been a couple of years since we traveled in South America and
a vacation down there was just the thing we needed. Clearly, it’s
no secret to our friends that we love South America. We find the
pace of the people in their every day lives to be enjoyable. The
focus on friends and family is to be admired. Sure, not every thing works
the way it does in the USA, but all you need is a little more patience.
Aug/04
Live Rent Free In The World's Highest Capital - La Paz, Bolivia - Live Rent Free In The World's Highest Capital - La Paz, Bolivia - A strategy to live rent free in Bolivia by Martin Li. In addition, writes Martin, "You can buy a three-bedroom chalet in Santa Cruz, centrally located in the 2nd/3rd anillos (ring roads), with two bathrooms, garden and garage for two cars, for US$47,500. If you are prepared to move out slightly further, to the 4th/5th anillos, a similar investment will get you a four-bedroom, three-bathroom house with patio and garage. And if location close to the city center is not that important to you, a three-bedroom chalet in one of the outer anillos can cost as little as US$13,000. - This article first appeared in the January 2001 issue of Escape From America Magazine Protecting Forests & Fauna In The Amazon By Private Ownership - Protecting Forests & Fauna In The Amazon By Private Ownership - We own 18,806.9 hectares (= 46,471.8 acres; 188 sq. kilometers; 72.6 sq. miles) in the tropical lowlands of NE Bolivia in the Canton of San Joaquin, Provincia de Mamore’, Departemento of the Beni. Our land includes both virgin forests and open savannah that was always grassland and never de-forested. On part of the grassland we raise cattle without using any feed, pesticides or fertilizers. There is no hunting or logging. Our relations with the local population are excellent, so that we live in a crime-free, stress-free cooperative environment. Interested parties are invited to visit. By Edward N. Luttwak Through Bolivia ~ Riding My Bike On The World's Most Dangerous Road ~ By Mark McMahon - There are some great photos in this article. They show you what it might feel like to bike down a dangerous road in the mountains of Bolivia. There is also a lot of information about where to stay and how to join the kind of bike tour described in the article. Bolivia is a country that has great extremes: the browns of the altiplano and the green jungle on the Brazilian and Paraguayan borders. The people have always been friendly to me and that's important in a country where, depending on which city you're in, your body may be acclimating itself to the pressures of altitude sickness. Enjoy your time in Bolivia and stay away from the drop. May/03 What
Doesn't Kill You... ~ Noel
Kempff National Park, Bolivia ~
By Mark McMahon - Mark is off again on one of his adventures in the depths
of South America. This time he heads off into the Noel Kempff National
Park and finds himself and his little sister trapped on a dirt road in
the deep, remote interior of Bolivia. As always with Mark, high adventure
and near escapes. Aug/03
Splendid Sarajevo - Europe's Best Kept Secret ~ by Maryam Manteghi - You don’t have to be an adventurer to appreciate the unique beauties of Bosnia and Herzegovina. While the name evokes memories of a war-torn past, today’s BiH is the country all the ex-humanitarian workers come back to visit again and again. Bosnia’s natural beauties and wonders are unparalleled. A country of rugged hills, mountains, rivers and lakes, eco-tourism has become all the rage here with opportunities for river rafting, mountain climbing, skiing and paragliding in an untouched, pristine natural wonderland. Mar/05
Living
In Botswana ~ The
Real Crocodile Hunters ~ by Ashley Hammond - Interesting article: mixes
soccer, Africa and conservation. Ashley has been coaching soccer in New
Jersey and as part of his coaching program, he has included some ideas
about wildlife conservation - taking one interest and using it to develop
another. Like the idea. Nov./03
Memories
Of Africa ~ Namibia,
Botswana and Zimbabwe ~ by Jurgen Klemann - Always wanted to wander
in Africa with its wide open spaces and wildlife; the above article gives
you an idea of what it's like to travel through Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe.
The people and the beauty of the land is what you feel after reading Jurgen's
memories of Africa. Nov./03
A
Breathtaking Brazilian Inland Alternative ~ Carnival
In Brazil ~ By
Ashley Riley Lopes - Heading off into the interior of Brazil rather than
the worn out, overcrowded Brazilian Coast, could make your Carnival experience
much more exciting. Ashley heads into Minas Gerias province and finds a
world of waterfalls, wide-open grasslands and friendly people as well as
some adventure and vivid memories. And if you know what you're doing during
Carnival then that's how it all should feel when you see the sun come up
on Ash Wednesday. Aug/03
A First World City At Third World Prices ~ Curitiba, Brazil ~ by Kori Crow - On the first day of December, my husband and I packed our bags and took off on a year-long journey through South America. This is not our first such expedition, but it is definitely the longest. The goal of our trip is simply to continue traveling and exploring the world outside of the United States. This time around, however, we have a secondary objective of finding a pleasant place to relocate in a few years. The high cost of living in the U.S. coupled with the never-ending homogenization of our culture have been the main factors contributing to our wandering eyes. April/05 A Hidden Wonderland ~ Búzios, Brazil ~ by Elienne M. W. Lawson - One hundred and five miles east of Rio de Janeiro, there is a small peninsula home to roughly twenty-five beaches, each with its own particular flavor of paradise. For a thousand years, these beaches were the home of the Tamoio and Goitacás tribes, who competed to outdo each other at blissful frolicking in their idyllic surroundings. They drank the sweet milk of the tucum fruit, which is similar to a coconut, and flirted with members of the opposite sex while swimming in the surf. In the sixteenth century, as the European powers cast their greedy glances on the vast wilderness of Brazil, Búzios remained relatively untouched by the legitimate forces of military might. Dec./05 A
Hint Of Indian Adds All The More Flavor To The Tangaráense Mix -
Mato
Grosso, Brazil ~ by Ashley Riley Lopes - Tangará da Serra, Mato
Grosso, has become quite “chic” as of late. The city’s 60,000 or so inhabitants
have become the envy of many of their fellow Mato Grossenses, promising
residents of the small, peaceful town the advantages of shopping malls,
boutiques and high-speed agribusiness without the scorching heat of its
neighbor Cuiaba or the rough, unbearable roads of Sapezal. Dec/03
A
Marriage Map For Brazil ~ Getting
Hitched In Brazil ~ by Shane Jackson - I continue to get questions
about living in Brazil after my article about life in Belo Horizonte (BH),
mostly from those looking to marry or retire there. Here’s how we
got married in Minas Gerias: June/04
Back From Being Back In Brazil ~ More From Brazil ~ by Robin Sparks - My plans for being the blazing road blogger in Brazil went the way of the four-wheel in which I surfed the dunes of Ceara. They sunk. I did however, write like a maniac. Even while bouncing up and over shifting moonscapes through lost-in-time-towns, I was seen making chicken scratches in notepad after notepad. Nov./05 Biking In Brazil ~ Up Into The Mountains ~ by Shane Jackson - Morning rolled around and soon my brother-in-law showed up for our Saturday ride. Anderson, having no fat, weighing 18 lbs less and being 16 years younger meant I had a good guide and trainer for the days ride. I knew roughly how to make it back to the peak seen from our veranda. He could ask questions if need be. I carried only a cell phone and a leatherman. He carried a small day pack with tools, water, and my digital camera. Our goal was around 15 miles away and at least 2000’ higher. It was a hot, dry dusty day. I rode facing traffic on a small dirt trail that followed the main highway. My first ride on the highway to Ibirité made it pretty clear one would not live long on the asphalt without a motor. Stopped at a couple horticultural shops on the outskirts of Ibirité to marvel at the variety of plants offered and to plan the landscape project for our place in the bairro. Dec./04 Brazil - Almost Paradise - "Norman Morrison at OceanView Tours explains that because of the current exchange rate, there has never been a better time to consider investing in property in the state of Ceara, [Brazil] where oceanfront properties are available at a third to a sixth of the cost in prime areas of the U.S.. Ceara has some 300 miles of great beaches." ~ Ruth Halcomb from the Network for Living Abroad Newsletter writes about Brazil Brazil or Bust: Catching Up - Brazil or Bust: Catching Up - The upshot of the whole saga was that I bought a car on my own and was left several thousand Reals short by the crook! I didn’t realize just how big a crook until my lawyer ran his name on the police computer and found eight criminal charges and an almost equal number of civil cases against him. Two lessons can be learned from my experience...Don’t pay for any services up front, and make sure you get receipts. Aug./06 Brazil Or Bust ~ Making A Change ~ by Andy Neill - The story really starts back in 1999, when I moved to San Diego, California to marry a lady I had met who lived there. We both thought it would be forever. It wasn’t. Having already moved 2000 miles, at least, from family and friends, when the separation occurred it was not too much of a stretch to think “outside the box”. Jan/05 Brazil Or Bust Two ~ More On Moving To Fortaleza, Brazil ~ by Andy Neill - As I start to write about the second journey to what I hoped would be my new home Brazil, it’s exactly one year to the day since I first landed in Fortaleza. To say I had no idea what was in store for me over the next few months would be a vast understatement. Let me go back to where Part Two really begins, February 17th 2004, the day I flew back to the US after my first ever trip to Brazil and Fortaleza. My month with Anne in Fortaleza was etched in my mind and the memories created and friendships formed are permanent reminders of that wonderful time. April/05 Brazil Or Bust ~ Part III ~ by Andy Neill - To quickly recap previous installments of my continuing saga, I came to Fortaleza, Brazil in January 2004, following much research and after a rather tough divorce, determined to discover another life…a better life! My first stay was a month back in January of 2004. After a couple of months back in North America, I was ready for chapter two. I came back to Fortaleza in May and, except for August, have been here since. I pick up the story, as I’m about to leave for Canada and the US on the 1st of August. Oct./05 Brazilian Art - The Culture And Art Of Brazil's Indigenous Community ~ by Ashley Riley Lopes - It is here in Mato Grosso, Brazil, nestled in the heart of agri-business country, surrounded by deafening waterfalls, clear-water rivers, fields of soy as long as the eye can see, we live. Though we choose to live in a modest house, surrounded by a pleasant garden and small businesses, not all of our neighbors are what one would call middle-class."Nor are they modern" they are Indians, descendents of the original peoples who populated vast Brazil. Not far from our home live tribes like the Paresi, the Bororo, and the Umutina. March/04 Buying A House In Rio ~Part 2 ~ by Romel Fajardo - I joined the Smiles Program offered by Varig Airlines since I was becoming a regular on the flight to Rio and they now offer an unbelievably low price for the flight from Miami (MIA) to Rio (GIG) $420 + taxes roundtrip and nonstop, except for the stop in Sao Paulo, which I still don’t understand what the nonstop thing was all about since we always stopped in Sao Paulo. Feb./05 Buying Property in Brazil - Teresópolis In The Serra dos Órgãos -Buying Property in Brazil - Brazil is a vast country and real-estate bargains can be found anywhere, from the beaches worth fifteen Floridas in the Northeast to the high-rise condominiums of São Paulo. I chose Teresópolis because I had friends there and had come upon a bargain in a town of spectacular climate and views, situated close to the world-class city of Rio de Janeiro. I had cash in-hand by virtue of having just sold an over-appraised 1060 sq. ft. home in Austin, Taxes. Nov./02 Devil's Island - Sailing From Brazil to French Guyana ~ By James Baldwin - Devil's Island conjurs up all kinds of hellish thoughts. The French prison camp was opened at the end of the 19th century and closed by the middle of the 20th. During the years that it operated it was source of some of the most grusome survival stories ever. Wonder what it looks like today? Check out the above article. March/03 Exciting Real Estate Opportunities In Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - Real Estate in Rio de Janeiro - We took a trip to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil to research the real estate market for this issue of the Offshore Real Estate Quarterly. We discovered some startling bargains. The differences between the currency of Brazil and the US dollar allows us to purchase a $100,000 apartment in Rio de Janeiro for $US40,000. If you've ever wanted to live in the world's most exciting city this is the article to read. Great food, warm people, opera, ballet, art galleries, modern infrastructure and wall to wall excitement in what is without question the world's most beautiful city. If you want to live there, or simply want to make a once in a life time investment we've got the facts to get you started. We talk about real estate values, location, crime, lifestyle, and Rio's ambiance. Explorations In The Amazon Basin ~ Into The Unknown ~ by John Spampinato - So I show up for work one morning - one which began pretty much like every other day I had faithfully dedicated to the company for the previous sixteen years - only to be told that tomorrow was to be my last. I suppose at some subconscious level I had seen it coming. A seed had been planted weeks earlier when the new president called together his bloated staff to announce - in a masterful example of the subtle hint - that “…we have way too many managers”. But being laid off caused no major anxiety on my part. I saw a rare opportunity. Oct./04 Fear And Loathing In Fortaleza ~ Robin In Brazil's Northeast ~ by Robin Sparks - Maybe I’m just tired from having arrived at 2 AM only to be told that my hotel was full. Or maybe it’s the wind or the high-rise buildings, which appear to have been planted without any kind of architectural forethought. Dec./05 Fear And Loathing In Fortaleza ~ Robin In Brazil's Northeast - Part Two ~ by Robin Sparks - It’s true that Fortaleza has one of the sunniest climates in the world with year-round temperatures hovering in the low to mid 80's. If you don’t mind relentless wind, it may be perfect for you. But I happen to dislike wind (a lot), and the sight of so many aging white men in bermuda shorts on the arms of young brown women in tight short skirts and stacked heels, just intensified the ick factor for me. Jan/06 Fishing The Pantanal - Fishing The Pantanal - If you're the type that likes fishing, the wild life and adventure try the Pantanal. What is the Pantanal? The Pantanal is 3000 amazing square miles of Brazilian wet lands. Hotel owner, adventurer, raconteur and bon vivant Dion Ross is an American who has lived in Brazil for 27 years. He tells us all about it. He ought to know, after 27 years he still lives there ~ more ..
How To Make Enormous Returns In Overseas Youth Development ~ Brazil And Belize ~ by Dr. Rich Tarbox - People decide to start youth centers and outreach programs for a variety of reasons. The reasons for attempting to operate one overseas can be even more diverse. Generally, when someone is interested in starting a youth program overseas it requires a substantial commitment of forethought since they will be faced with both the normal challenges of youth center operation, and then some. Sept./04 In
Brasilia - Surely
You Must Be Joking, Mr Niemeyer ~ by Philip Blazdell - Coming in to
land at Brasilia was meant to be the highlight of my latest swing through
the country I had arrived at Sao Paulo airport early and flirted outrageously
with the frumpy check-in girl to ensure that I got a window seat that wasn't
over the wing. I was looking forward to seeing the city slowly take form
through the early morning clouds and to be able to brag, for months to
come, that indeed I had been to the governmental centre of Brasil and that
indeed it did look like an aeroplane from the sky. July/04
In Brazil ~ Life Is A Beach ~ by Robin Sparks - I am at Tartaruga Beach, one of twenty beaches on the Buzios peninsula. In Brazil, going to the beach is the raison d' etre - everything is planned around it - and so when in Rome... The long curved sliver of sand is lined with chaises, umbrellas, and vendors who stand with their wares waiting for today's tourists to be unloaded from the boats pulling into the cove. Nov./04 Lessons Of The High Caparaó ~ In Brazil ~ by Shane Jackson - My wife wanted to go visit with her mother and show off the latest baby. Needed to inspect the apartment, global warming has bought giant sized hail stones to Belo Horizonte. We had sustained some damage, golf ball sized hail, heretofore unheard of in this part of the tropics. It had tore down some awnings on the veranda. We thought we might have a family reunion at the Parque Nacional Serra do Cipó but few could make it. Dec./05 Life In Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil - “A Jewel In The Rough” ~ by Shane Jackson - For those that don’t know (I didn’t), Minas Gerais is a state in Brazil that is rich in history and natural resources. Many may have heard of the historically preserved cities Ouro Preto or Diamantina famed for gold, silver, diamonds and other jewels found only here. Many have not heard of the national parks and beautiful mountain ranges of Minas Gerais. It’s primary population center is Belo Horizonte, a major center of commerce, agriculture, and industry. I think it is the third largest city in Brazil. Jan/04 Making A Move To Fortaleza, Brazil ~ Some Advice ~ by John Mueller - Living somewhere is much different than visiting. You have to learn how to survive day to day living; shopping, cooking, dealing with the electric and phone companies, the bank, restaurants and all the other things that come with life. Realizing this, I made a decision to try it temporarily before actually taking the final steps. I've now been here two months. While I won’t go into the actual differences, I have learned many things which I will pass on. Jul/05 More On Living In Joao Pessoa ~ Brazil's Best Kept Secret ~ by Richard Conti - We were so lucky last year while vacationing in Natal, Brazil. However, Natal had little to do with our luck as we were not all that impressed with the goings on there or the general area for that matter. After hearing so much about beautiful Northeast Brazil we had actually became a bit discouraged about what we had heard and read as none of it seemed to be true. Jan/06 My Brazilian Experience ~ And Brazil's Best Kept Secret ~ by Richard Conti - My name is Richard Conti. I am originally from New York City. Being raised in the shadows of the once towering World Trade Center little or nothing surprises me or shocks me these days. I now live and have lived in Beautiful Boca Raton Florida on the southeast coast of Florida for about eight years. No other city has impressed me as much as Boca Raton until I discovered a Most Wonderful Place in Brazil !! Nov./05 Non Stop Erotic Bingo - Out And About In Sao Paulo ~ By Philip Blazdell - Sao Paulo is an enormous city and you can do just about anything at anytime in Sao Paulo. But the problem in Sao Paulo is always whether or not you will be able to arrive to the place you want to be: the traffic jams are truly nightmarish. And if you are in the middle of a nightmarish traffic jam, then you might take a quick turn and end up anywhere. But that's the fun of Brazil. Jan/03 Paraiba ~ In Northern Brazil ~ by Guy Hamilton - The state of PARAIBA (para-eeee-buh) in the north of Brasil is little known and rarely visited by foreign tourists but many Brasilians know it well. This state attracts many Brasilians from all over the country during holidays (seems like there is a holiday one day a week here!) and in the summer months. Due to it’s location at 7 degrees south of the equator, PARAIBA has summer like weather all year round. The rainy months are June through August, when the dry breezes blow which make it very comforatable here – 70-85 F. Aug./05 Paraty, Brazil ~ Paradise On The Far Side Of The World ~ by Elienne M. W. Lawson - t has been five hundred years since French, Dutch, English, Portuguese and Spanish pirates began to traverse the Brazilian coast, looking for Indians hot to trade and the odd white man’s stash to loot. Not much has changed in the intervening years in that respect. North Americans and Europeans, gringos if you will, still hit the beaches of Brazil, looking to trade coins for trinkets and experience their own economic power by finding prices that are a “steal”. But after so many years of travelers searching for an undiscovered treasure, one may find themselves grumbling as they share the “paradise on the far side of the world,” as Brazil was once known, not with pirates but with spring breakers from Chicago and London. Jul/05 Real Estate In Brazil - Real Estate In Brazil - See our new page dedicated to resources and information on Real Estate In Brazil - Articles, links and resources on Real Estate In Brazil - Imobiliária Em Brasil - Note, this is not an article page, but a new EscapeArtist.com resource for international real estate. By EscapeArtist.com.
Real Estate in Florianópolis, Brazil - The Island of Santa Catarina
- Real Estate
in Florianópolis, Brazil - The
real estate is a bargain, the beaches uncrowded, and the small towns that
dot the island are colonial and picturesque. It's Ilha Santa Catarina,
otherwise known as Santa Catarina Island and simply called Floripa by the
locals; a 200 square mile island located just off the coast of southern
Brazil and it's as good a spot as one could ask for. Imagine a very large
and very lovely Brazilian island with numerous perfect beaches, (there
are 49 major beaches, countless small ones) dozens of lovely towns, and
then throw in the city of Florianópolis, which is a city large enough
(pop 260,000) to provide all of the modern necessities of life without
it being an oppressive metropolis. EscapeArtist.com Staff Article
Real Estate In Salvador de Bahia - The Soul Of Brazil - Real Estate In Salvador de Bahia - The Soul Of Brazil - Great photographs and insights into what it takes to find real estate in Salvador de Bahia, Brazil - "Brazilian property owners and agents pray nightly that Americans and Europeans will arrive, because they know that buyers from these countries are most likely to jump on an “excellent deal!” in fear that someone else will come along and snatch it up before they do. The real estate bubble hasn’t drifted all that far south from North America yet. - - The beaches, the music, the culture and most importantly the people are the main reasons that some expats have moved here. Life is also more relaxed. One expat with a family says that living here as a family has many positives. Cost of medical and dental care is much lower and very good. Food and staple commodities are lower, everything in fact, except for gasoline. Help is much more affordable. And there is a very good Pan-American school for kids." - By Robin Sparks Red Or Blue ~ A Folk Festival In The Amazon ~ by Rita Shannon Koeser - It was a rainy, humid April night in the Brazilian Amazon when I stepped off my ship in Parintins and entered the world of Caprichoso and Garantido, a world of red and blue. A world where red and blue are competing against each other in a fantastic performance of music, dance, chanting, fireworks, singing, beautiful young people in dazzling costumes, and beating of drums. Sept./04 Rio In The Rain ~ In Brazil ~ by Elienne M. W. Lawson - Rio de Janeiro, long before it was Rio de Janeiro, first saw a tourist in the form of Amerigo Vespucci in 1502. After much letter writing between Vespucci and his patrons, the great Medici family of Florence, Rio was already a legend in European literature and folklore. It certainly did not take any considerable time for it to gain a reputation that has lasted to this day: a tropical oasis with beautiful beaches, gorgeous women and hedonistic fashion. Feb./05 Shark Attack ~ Swimming In Brazil ~ by Robin Sparks - Stefano, who once tooled around Miami in a long yellow Cadillac, played professional tennis in France, frequented the international party circuit between Uruguay, Marabella, and Paris, and now hides out in Buzios from who knows who, is a victim of Argentina's recent economic crisis. But he is also my angelfish. Stefano shows me where the ATM machine is, he drops me off at the Casa de Paz Meditation Center (and tells me I'll find him meditating on a bar stool), he introduces me to his Argentine friends at a private party, and he changes my flat tire three times! Jan/05 Study
Abroad In Brazil - For
Free? ~ by Richard Abel - Yes it’s possible, though you’re probably
wondering – what’s the catch? With a little research and investigation
you can uncover more international options. July/04
.
The
Coconut Coast - A
Brazilian Version Of Paradise ~ by Stan F. Gwinner - The “Coconut Coast”
or Costa dos Coqueiros as it is called in Portuguese, lies on the northeastern
coast of Brazil, a few miles north of the city of Salvador, capital of
the state of Bahia. The Coconut Coast is a 125 mile stretch of sandy beaches
lined with coconut trees, sand dunes, rivers, lakes and mangrove marshes.
Its golden-sand beaches protected by reefs, and warm, emerald color ocean
waters offer an escape to paradise. Jan/04
The Dollar Does The Samba - The Brazilian Real And U.S. Dollar ~ by Richard Abel - The commercial rate for the dollar vs. the Brazilian Real just hit the lowest level in almost 3 years. In other words, the Real has been steadily appreciating and the Dollar has been falling. What does this mean? To understand this question, we have to look back at history. The first time I traveled to Brazil in 1998, I found the country to be more expensive than I had expected. The exchange rate then was about R$1.20 for every dollar. The following year, there was a devaluation after the presidential election, and the Real quickly fell to 2.00 to the dollar and kept on falling. In 2002, there was another presidential election and it fell to 4.00 to the dollar. Mar/05 The Edge Of Town Brazil ~ A Fronteira da Cidade ~ by Shane Jackson - Now on line here at Montreal...we are probably the only people with internet in the bairro. I think I have found highway free access to the local big ridge, I'm guessing it's at least 4000’ with knobs higher. The new bike cost $80 but is a piece of junk, the inner tubes are lumpy and that causes a rub in the rear, maybe a new tube will fix it...wish I had the bike I bought in China. The bags finally caught up with me after the TSA gave them the once over, strange times up there. Jan/05 The Telecommunications Revolution - The Telecommunications Revolution - Perhaps there is no easier or better way to make money from anywhere we choose to live than to take advantage of the advances in global communications. In any event each of us can certainly save money by taking advantage of the advances even if we only choose to use the new technology to call home. Tiradentes: A Colonial Gem - Tiradentes: A Colonial Gem - Don't think Brazil is only good for beaches and the Amazon. Nestled in the rural foothills of the Serra do São José is Tiradentes; a sophisticated, rustic, original gold rush town in the countryside of Minas Gerais. Jul/06 To The End Of The World - Part 3: Near Disaster in Amazonas ~ by Charles Ragsdale - Last year, during a seven-month period, the author drove nearly 25,000 miles in a 1988 Toyota 4Runner from Connecticut all the way to the southernmost city in the world – Usuhaia, Argentina, passing through some of the world’s most beautiful scenery on some of the world’s worst maintained and most dangerous roads. He ended his twelve country odyssey in Paraguay, where he sold his car and flew home to the USA, forever changed by his life on the road during what was a truly remarkable undertaking. While a full recounting of his journey would require many volumes, the author has agreed to provide us with glimpses and insight into what he experienced. This is the third in a series of five articles. March/04 To
The End Of The World - Part
4: From Small Town Brazil To Patagonia ~ by Charles Ragsdale - Two
months into what was to have been an extended stay volunteering in
a remote part of Brazil’s Espiritu Santo province, the pull of wanderlust
came over me once again and I decided to return to the road. For the past
month I had lived in a cabin on the plantation of a local coffee farmer
I befriended, far outside the rural town of Pancas where I had been going
during the day to teach English. April/04
Traveling
Through Fortaleza Ceara ~ Adventure
In Brazil ~ by John Mueller - The beauty of northwest Brazil is stunning:
from desert, to palms, to lakes and finally the blue sea. Fortaleza, Brazil
is the place to go if you want to sit back and enjoy the beach and friendly
people. Find out what to look for in Fortaleza in the above article. Sept./03
Valença, Brazil ~ Coffee Cathedrals And Slave Spirits ~ by Elienne M. W. Lawson - Sulking through Rio de Janeiro under an umbrella, it is fair to say that my beach dreams are most decidedly rained out. Clouds edge bikinis back into suitcases and sweaters come out in their place. I am nursing a bruised and broken vision of being the Girl from Ipanema, when a Brazilian friend drops me an invitation to a celebration in the mountains north of Rio. There is the hint of a festival that will last for days, and I can see Brazilian life away from the jumble of Rio de Janeiro and the glitter of Buzios. Excited by the promise of authentic Braziliana, I hop in the car, grab mangos and coconut water from a street vendor for sustenance and leave the soggy coast behind. I do not expect the trip inland to be a tour of Brazilian spiritual life, but serendipity plays a larger part of life in Brazil, where flexibility mixed with chaos reigns supreme. April/05 Visit To Brazil - Learning English In Brazil - The Michigan School ~ by Rita Shannon Koeser - Everybody knows Susi. And they all want to study with her at Michigan School. Some have already studied with her. Here in the small town of Capivari, also known as “Land of Poets”, everybody wants to learn English. Senhor Cabral, whose wife owns the gift shop, Loja da Leninha on the corner, two blocks off the square, says he was in Susi’s first adult class. In the Livraria e Papelaria shop, a bookshop and stationery store across from the square, everyone stops to listen when my Brazilian friend and I start speaking English. May/05 Walk Like A Brazilian - Robin In Brazil ~ by Robin Sparks - I'd been to every country on my list except for one, Brazil. The Brazil in my head was passion, romance, the samba, fresh fruit, tropical beaches, and the bossanova. When I heard that in Brazil it's rude to show up on time for social engagements, I thought that this just might be the place for me. How could I not love a country where I'd always be on time? There was also the hope that in Brazil, I could blend in more easily than in Bali, my other favorite place on the planet. There¹s no way I'll ever be Balinese, but maybe I could be Brazilian. May/04 Your Beach Business Under the Sun - Body Painting In Bahia ~ By Richard Abel - Bahia, Brazil means beaches during the day, parties at night and surfing in the morning. Some people come and never leave. One of the ways that people have stayed on the beach is with a new tanning oil product from Brazil that can be sprayed directly onto the body. Spraying bodies on the beach with tanning oil could lead to something interesting. Check this out. Jan/03 .
Adventure
Vacation In Bulgaria - The
Natural Beauty Of Bulgaria ~ by Petya Milkova - Bulgaria is a popular
destination for sea and ski holidays. But the country has also other charming
places yet to be discovered. These are the numerous mountains, plains,
rivers, villages and many more. Here you can practice many outdoor activities.
Among the well developed are trekking and hiking, horse back riding, bird
watching, etc. Other practiced activities are: caving, paragliding, mountain-biking,
rafting and kayaking, photography tours, botany, etc. Dec./03
Investing In Bulgaria ~ An Introduction ~ by Andrea Marie Portugal - Interest in Bulgaria has been growing rapidly as investors look for the next ‘big thing’. The country is on course to enter the EU in 2007 and as a result money to develop its banks, telecommunications and transport is being splashed around. New Embassies, offices, conference centres, hotels and motorways are being built and international firms are moving to the capital Sofia. In short Bulgaria offers an almost unrivalled quality of life and investment opportunity. April/05 .
Living In Bulgaria ~ What You Should Look Out For ~ By Simeon Mitropolitski - There are many things to see and do in Bulgaria: the Valley of the Roses, skiing in the mountains, and relaxing on the beaches. As a place to move to it is not an obvious choice, but the country is slowly integrating itself into the European Union and this should lead to greater stability and wealth. If you want to know about what you need to do in order to survive in Bulgaria the above article will be your guide. April/03 On the Road: From Turkey to Bulgaria ~ Dark Passage - Jay Winfrey lives and works in North Carolina. He has an unnatural addiction to other cultures and people. Sometimes it puts him in grave danger. He continues to try and escape the country; via cargo ship, hitchhiking or any other semi-viable method of relocation. Recently, Jay made the east-to-west trek to Bulgaria. He encountered a dark passage filled with scotch, timeless border crossings, prostitutes, remnants of communism, and Sofia's Salvation. Jay writes, " I became intimately familiar with the Bulgarian way of life: the dirt on the ground and the unattainable hope of Mt. Vitosha towering above, a focal point that nobody seemed to look to anymore. Old habits are like favorite clothes, and communism sinks its teeth in far too deep." Property in Bulgaria: The EU’s Newest Member State - Property in Bulgaria: The EU’s Newest Member State - One of the Bulgaria’s main attractions in the global real estate market is that despite its European location, its property prices are not European. At least not yet. They have been rising continuously in recent years thus rewarding early buyers. Bulgaria is a country rich in history. During its 1300 year existence, it has been subjected to many different cultural influences. The old parts of the Bulgarian towns still retain awesome specimens of architectural styles typical for the 1920s, 30s. And it is not impossible to buy a very old house (for example more than 100 years old) at a quite reasonable price. Apr./07 Real Estate Boom in Bulgaria’s Ski Resorts - Real Estate Boom in Bulgaria’s Ski Resorts - Since the return of democracy to Bulgaria in 1989, one of the most significant developments has been in the sphere of tourism and, parallel to it, a rapidly growing interest in realising hitherto unsuspected possibilities for foreign investments in real estate. Jun/06 .
Volunteer Vacations - Volunteer Work - It's 6 a.m. in Bansko, a farm village at the foot of Bulgaria's Rila mountains. Joulia, the 20-year-old Bulgarian leading this workcamp, wakes her twelve volunteers for a breakfast comprised of banitza, homemade cheese pastries, and milk so fresh it's still warm. The dirty dozen is bleary from a late night of plum brandy and dancing in Bansko's disco. Every summer, 33,000 people leave their countries for parts unknown. Their destinations are any one or several of over 2,200 workcamps scattered over 90 countries, from Argentina to Zimbabwe. Some will work with farmers in the fields, others with children in the inner cities. By volunteering their time and money to help distant neighbors, all share the common goal of global peace and responsibility.
Karen Refugee Camp Mae Ra~ Volunteer Work on the Thai/Myanmar Border - Volunteering for Refugees - Steve Grove is a recent college graduate who set off for Asia in search of volunteer work. He came to rest on the border of Thailand and Myramar (Burma). Steve offers his experiences and perspectives. "Her small palm fit perfectly around my pointer finger. She walked with tiny, quick strides, striving to keep up as I wandered through the camp. Every once in awhile I’d look down at the top of her little bald head, dirty from playing in the dust, and she’d look back up at me and smile. Her smile was the kind of thing that makes smiling back the only thing you want to do in the whole world." July/02. Travel In Burma ~ Asia's Most Obscure Travel Destination ~ by John Spampinato - A half cup of coffee and an exit form sat on the table before me, and I was loath to finish either. I wanted that coffee to last forever, its contents to magically refill with each sip. And I wanted that form to just disappear. The experiences of the past several weeks had been somewhere between an opium dream and a National Geographic cover story. Jan/06 .
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