Churrascaria, Caipirinha and Corcavado

Host to one of the new seven wonders to the world, where everyone speaks Portuguese. Soccer is their passion and Samba gets them moving. Yes !!!Brazil, is all this and called a third world country, but certainly doesn't look like one.

I went to Sao Paulo for a month. . A huge city and statistically the 19th richest city in the world. First thing I noticed is that it is difficult to get by if you do not know Portuguese. Needed a lot of help from my colleagues to get around, but in the end I have to say it all worked out. Agua sem gas means water without gas, Obrigado means thank you, Frango means chicken, Picanha is the best past of beef you can ever have, Bom dia is good morning, camarao is shrimp, cafe com leite means coffee with milk, haceebo means receipt (need to know this on a business trip), eu nao se Portuguese means I don't know Portuguese. These were enough to get me around the city and to know what I am eating.

Food is the best part. Brazilian steak houses are called Churrascaria. I have to admit that in Brazil I have had some of the best food ever. Picanha is certainly a hit in Brazil. Wednesdays is feijoada day in most retaurants in Sao Paulo. This dish is traditionally served with rice and it's awesome. Strogonoff is another beef gravy I liked a lot. I also had shrimp risotto many times and it mysteriously kept getting better and better. Even the Morrocan and Mexican cuisines I had were so much better. Part of the reason might be that no food there is bland. They do not care about calories and healthy food. They care about TASTY food and you can get that everywhere in Brazil. For vegetarians this country is a big NO NO. Caipirinha is a very popular drink made of either cachac'a or vodka. Brahmas and Bohemias are the best beer brands.

Ofcourse if you go to Brazil and you do not go to Rio you have wasted your time. It is one of the most beautiful cities I have visited. Corcavado (Christ the Redeemer) and Sugarloaf (forgot the Portuguese name) both give a terrific view of the city. And no wonder Ipanema and Copacabana are the best beaches in the world. Me and my boss stayed in Sheraton with a nice beach view. I also had my most expensive dinner ever - 280 reals which makes your pocket lighter by 90$. Well I wouldn't say it was worth it, but heck its Rio. Who cares!!