Category: Culture

Image source The other day, I was walking home from the bakery when one of Christian’s longtime friends waved at me from the door of her house. “Come over …

In each of my seven trips to Brazil, I’ve noticed I always slim down a few pounds without even trying. (Obviously, I gain this weight back when I’m in …

I’ve ranted before about the lack of silence in my neighborhood – it’s especially bad on Sundays, and even worse during Carnaval season. But today it turned into a …

In addition to the Brazil Mystery series, I’m starting a new one called Daily Differences, inspired by something Lindsey said in her post: Everything is different and new every …

One of the first things that most visitors to Brazil notice is that Brazilians greet each other with a kiss on the cheek (one or two, depending on the …

When you live in the historical center of Salvador, sometimes you look out the window and see this: The rhythm they are playing is called maracatu – it’s a …

Photo by Paul Hart The absence of doorbells on Brazilian houses is more common than you’d expect. When you come to a house without a doorbell, you have three …

Before coming to Brazil, I thought Halls were cough drops – you know, something you only use when you’re sick, because the menthol and eucalyptus soothe your throat. A …

The Lavagem do Bonfim,  Salvador’s second-biggest street party after Carnaval, consists of an 8-kilometer procession through the lower city, up to Bonfim Church. Bahian women bring flowers and wash …

 Image source On Sunday, Christian and I treated ourselves to lunch at a churrascaria (Brazilian steakhouse). A churrascaria can be intimidating to the uninitiated, so here’s a primer: Churrascaria 101 …