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Brazil is home to Carnival, samba and soccer, not to mention the biggest rainforest in the world and some of the most impressive beaches. But Brazil is a lot more sophisticated that it’s common stereotype. It boasts a diverse culture with modern metropolises and great weather all year around. The country can be divided into five distinct regions. The most significant in terms of economic activity and population is the Sudeste region in the southeast, comprising four states: Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais and Espirito Santo. This area is home to the country’s biggest cities such as Sao Paulo – the largest city in South America, and Rio de Janeiro – famous for its white sand beaches and party atmosphere. There are also many colonial cities such as Paraty in Rio de Janeiro state with unique Portuguese architecture, and lots of historical sites in Minas Gerais from old time gold mining days. The northeast region of Brazil is regarded as the cultural center of Brazil with much of its historical character stemming from its African/Brazilian population. Cities such as Salvador and Recife are oozing with African culture, especially capoeira which is a martial art style dance created by African slaves during their oppression. Nowadays it can be seen in virtually all cities of the northeast. The northeast is also home to some of the most spectacular beaches in Brazil with resorts all along the coast to accommodate the hordes of tourists looking to soak up the sun and enjoy the surf.
The northern region is the most sparsely populated part of the country despite being the largest - it is approximately 12 times the size of Germany! This region is home to the lush Amazon rain forest with some of the most diverse flora and fauna on the planet. While travel is a little more difficult through this region tour companies which specialise in jungle excursions can be found in Manaus, the largest city in the area. Through these tour companies it is also possible to get up close with the indigenous population and experience their traditional way of life. The centro-oeste (middle west) region of Brazil is home to the largest wetlands in the world – the Pantanal. Situated between the states of Mato Grosso and Mato Grosso do Sul the Pantenal spans over about 195,000 square kilometers. The region boasts an impressive range of wildlife with over 400 species of fish, about 1,000 species of bird and about 300 types of mammals, including jaguars, ant eaters and the native capybara. The centro-oeste is also home to Brazil's capital city Brasilia – a modern, planned city with many industries and serving as the political hub of the country. The South region of Brazil is the culmination of over a 100 years of European immigration, with immigrants coming from Italy, Germany, Switzerland, and the Slavic nations. The region is home to Foz do Iguacu, one of the most impressive waterfalls in the world. Foz do Iguacu shares a tri-border with Argentina and Paraguay so it is also possible to pop over for a quick visit. The region holds some of the most modern cities in Brazil such as Curitiba and Porto Alegre. Florianopolis is a very popular destination with tourists due to its lush beaches, excellent facilities and stunning nightlife Whatever it is that your are looking for in a holiday destination, Brazil is sure to please!
Portugal is a small country on the Iberian Peninsula of Europe. What it lacks in size it certainly makes up for with its rich and interesting culture. The country is a real mix of old and new. Cities such as Lisbon and Porto boast contemporary architecture and vibrant nightlife while Coimbra is rich in history and is the home to Portugal’s oldest University. The city of Sintra is blessed with Moorish castles and there are many old time fishing communities along the coast. Portugal has one of the best climates in Europe with temperatures around 30 degrees celcius during much of the summer. For anyone seeking to soak up the sun, Portugal’s Algarve coast in the south provides some really spectacular beaches. Portugal is very much a 'foodie’s paradise'. The local culinary includes a diverse range of seafood thanks to the country's long coast line. Baculhau (dried codfish) is one of the most popular dishes on offer, as is Portuguese grilled chicken coated with a range of spices. Portugal is home to some of the best wines in the world with many of its vineyards producing award winning product. While red wine is the most popular, it is also possible to savor a variety of excellent traditional white wines, often referred to as Vinho Verde, meaning 'green wine'. Local currency is the Euro, however Portugal is one of the more inexpensive holiday destinations in Western Europe. Accommodation ranges from simple Backpackers to upper class ‘Pousadas’, so there is plenty available for all price ranges.
Linguistic Differences between Brazil and Portugal While Portuguese is the main language spoken in both Brazil and Portugal there have long been linguistic differences between these countries. However in modern times the linguistic gap is closing thanks to international agreements between the two. These agreements have unified many aspects of the language in terms of spelling, vocabulary and grammar. Also, Brazil and Portugal are increasingly sharing media products such as television shows and films and this has assisted people in each country to become familiar with the way the language is used in the other. Despite this gradual coming together there presently remains a reasonable linguistic difference between the two countries. Brazil was colonized by Portugal in 1500 AD and since then the Portuguese spoken in Brazil evolved somewhat in its own way, particularly as Portugal's influence over Brazil diminished. Languages such as Tupi Guaraní from the indigenous Brazilian Indian population have contributed many words to the modern day dialect. Brazilian style Portuguese has also been sculpted by the influence of African languages imported to the country via what was once its slave population. Similarly, the Portuguese spoken in Portugal underwent a degree of change during the 19th century when the country came under French occupation. It is fair to say that Brazilian Portuguese contains a lot more colloquial language than European Portuguese, largely due to Brazil's greater diversity generally. Here are some examples of how differences in words between the Portuguese spoken in Brazil and Portugal can cause confusion!
At tudobem™ translations we run small group lessons for people who wish to learn the Portuguese language. Our lessons are in 8 week blocks and cater for people with little or no background in Portuguese, through to those who are at a more advanced level.
Lessons are available in Hamilton and each class runs for an hour and a half in the evening once a week. Costs are NZ $180 per 8 week block of lessons.
If you are interested in enrolling in any of our courses then please contact us.
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