Holiday Inn Porto Alegre, Brasil

... for example, I went to check out a Gaucho guitarist called Marcello Caminha and was surprised to hear him play many tango songs. <br><br>It just so happens that the annual feria do livros (book festival) is taking place while I´m here so I went to check it out. There were all sorts of books as far as the eye can see (but mostly in Portuguese). I was very happy to find a used copy of Catch-22 by Joseph Heller ...

<br>Well, I've officially left Porto Alegre, and it's definitely my favourite Brazilian city. I wish I'd taken pictures, but my camera is toast. I loved how integrated, with the modern city life, the Gaucho culture was. I went to a Gaucho rodeo/festival one day, completely by accident, but it turned out to be one of the coolest experiences. Guacho families come from all over, and set up this village of homes and shops, and people are welcome to wander the streets. There's meat cooking ...

... chimarrao, but I don't feel bogged down, like I usually do when I'm surrounded by people everywhere. There's space to move, and to breath. The city has one of the highest standards of living in Brazil, and it shows. People are very stylish, but it doesn't seem vain, or extreme. There is tons of awesome shopping, and there are parks and trees everywhere. The city is well worn, but it doesn't seem dirty, or grungy, and it doesn't smell. It's a very ...

... next day wasn't a huge improvement, though it certainly peaked my interest, and had some excitement. The city was pretty much dead, as a lot of Brazilian cities are, on sunday(I would later learn that everyone was at a giant market 2 blocks in the opposite direction I had walked, from my Hotel). I explored Centro, and visited the many small parks, and plazas, the city has to offer. The city has some exceptional architecture ...

... stomach. Under the guidance of Bruna's godmother, the story and history of the dish was related to Jools and I. And just when we thought the food was done, an incredible selections of sweets appeared before us. After two hours of food-digesting and a church service in Portuguese we visited a flea market and then on to the highlight of the day: watching the Internacional soccer team play in the semi-finals at the local stadium. It was an impressive display and the home team came ...

... water purification system, and a meeting center. As we walked around the property, a string of children began following us, trailing us tentatively at first, but within minutes they were swinging on our arms and playing games with us. The children were so adorable and sweet, their families have next to nothing but they were filled with joy at the simplest pleasures, being surrounded by their friends and siblings and having some big kids to play with them. Their smiling faces ...

... slammed open and closed! So after not getting much sleep on the bus I arrived early am and took in Porto Alegre. I do not even think I have a picture for you. There is not much there unless you know someone to take you out at night. So I gathered some fruit and the market for my next night bus, shopped a little and waited for Mo to arrive from her bus trip. 6 hours later I was her ...

We got into Porto Alegre, Brazil about an hour early this morning. So I started wandering the streets at 6:30am with map in hand trying to figure out where the hell I was and where the hell I wanted to be going. Showing up in a new country is always a bit disorienting. Showing up in a new country with a new language that you don't know, is even crappier. I asked some kiosk guy in Spanish if he could point to me on the map ...

... Sweet pumpkin with grape and orange pudding. Dessert pizzas with bananas and cinnamon. I've been treated to the ultimate Brazil vacation and this is their everyday life. Its unbelievable. <br> <br>Always a bittersweet feeling coming home, but I feel as if time was well spent this winter break. Excited to show off the tan and share the pictures, edible souvenirs, and tons more stories for anyone interested.<br> <br>Talk to you soon State-side,<br>Lindsey

... back ponytails were the most popular hairstyle though, which I found unique. Our table tag said "Ico and friend," the only English tag in the entire room. I found that very thoughtful. After the meal, the graduate hands out tickets for the afterparty, which is a dance in the center of town for all the graduates and their families/friends to attend. Thousands of people made the building hot, smoky and chaotic, but great people watching opportunity. Public ...