Brazil Blog
About this blog
Thrill of Brazil is a travel blog all about Brazil written by Moon Brazil author Michael Sommers. Michael blogs about Brazil travel, culture, and more. He welcomes questions, comments, and story ideas.
Recent Posts
- Care for a Drink with your Film? (or a Film with your Drink?)
- Brazil’s Homegrown Tourism Boom
- Brazil's Best and Write-est
- Making House Calls in Rio (Part II)
- Making House Calls in Rio (Part I)
- The Dawning of Brazil's B&B Age
- Rio's Alternative Points of View
- Taxi Trouble in Santa Teresa
- Obamas Take to the Campaign Trail in Brazil
- Plans and Punctuality
- Reliving Tropicalismo - On and Off Screen
- Food and Lodging that Make the Grade
- The Making of Moon Living Abroad in Brazil
- U.S. is Number One Source of Immigrants to Brazil
- Best English-Language Blogs about Brazil
Foodies-on-a-Budget Guide to São Paulo
São Paulo is famed for its restaurant scene, but prices to taste dishes dreamed up by some of the city’s top chefs can tend toward hefty, particularly with the current exchange rate. Happily, in recent years, many super-starred restaurants have begun offering prix fixe menus executivos during weekday lunch (Mon.-Fri. except where noted below).
While the offerings are pared down (usually limited to 1-2 entrees) and the ingredients aren’t too rarefied (don’t expect foie gras), such menus offer foodies on a budget the opportunity to savor some of the city’s (and country’s) best cuisine at bargain basement prices – with the added bonus that there won’t be anything basement-like about the ambiance. more >>
Da Boca do Brasileiro
Da Boca do Brasileiro means “Out of the Mouth of a Brazilian” and it's the title I’ve chosen for a regular monthly feature of this blog. The idea is to let Brazilians do the talking by recommending their favorite things to see, eat, and do while also providing some insider dicas (tips) they think might be useful for gringos. more >>
Friday Night Samba Special
“Matando as saudades” – a quintessentially Brazilian Portuguese expression that translates both roughly, and unsatisfyingly, into “killing your longings” – is something Brazilians do whenever they’ve been away from the places and people they love for a long (or often even short) time. Usually, this ritualistic nipping of nostalgic yearnings in the bud involves a great deal of hugging, kissing, eating, drinking, merrymaking and music. more >>
High Flying in Brazil
Last week, I returned home to Brazil, and was struck once again by how pleasant it is to fly in this country. My Continental flight from Newark actually managed to arrive around 45 minutes early at Guarulhos International Airport in São Paulo. As I was breezing through customs, immigration, and baggage claim – all smooth sailing, as is usually the case – a gaping 5-hour wait at the airport for my connecting flight to Salvador loomed before me. more >>
Buy Moon Travel Guides
Search
Moon Travel Guides make independent travel and outdoor exploration fun and accessible. With expert and adventurous travel writers delivering a mix of honest insight, first-rate strategic travel advice, insider travel tips and an essential dose of humor, Moon Travel Guides ensure that travelers have an uncommon and entirely satisfying experience. Each travel book is filled with unique trip ideas, easy-to-use maps, and detailed information on sights, restaurants, and accommodations. Moon Travel Guides not only point you in the right direction, they inspire new ideas and adventure. Whether you are seeking a relaxing beach trip to Hawaii, or an adventure travel trip to the rainforests of Costa Rica, Moon guidebooks—and Moon.com—are with you every step of the way. Founded in 1973, the Moon Travel Guides series includes Moon Handbooks, Moon Outdoors, Moon Metro, Moon Living Abroad and Moon Spotlight travel books. Moon is based in Berkeley, California and is a proud member of the Perseus Books Group.