Posted by Rachel
Though the state of Rio de Janeiro is best known for its capital and beaches, the state also has several interesting cities in rural areas, including Penedo.
Penedo, known as the Brazilian Finland, was founded by Finnish immigrants in 1929. The settlers built their homes and buildings in the Finnish style, which can still be seen today. (Incidentally, the settlers were the first to build a sauna in Brazil.) The city is located in the southern part of Rio state, which has a cooler climate than the capital.
There are plenty of fun things to explore in Penedo, besides the architecture. There are a series of beautiful waterfalls you can hike to and swim in. There are a number of trails that run through the mountains to hike as well, and nature lovers can visit the Parque Nacional de Itatiaia, with gorgeous views of the hilly landscape. Every Saturday, the FInland Club hosts Finnish-style parties with traditional Finnish dances. There are a variety of charming pousadas (B & Bs) where visitors can unwind.
For more information, click here.
Posted by Rachel
Today we return to the video learning series to practice listening comprehension (in this case, understanding the paulistano accent). We’re going to learn about the urban and social development of São Paulo from a History Channel series called “Mapas Urbanas.” The show is split up into three videos. Have a look and happy listening!
Posted by Rachel
Until June, you can access one of the most spectacular collections of Brazilian photography with works dating from the late 
1800s to the 1980s, taken by professionals and amateurs alike. The majority of the collection was taken in Rio de Janeiro but there are sections in other states, like São Paulo. The collection is organized by the Instituto Moreira Salles, which has excellent museums and cultural centers in four Brazilian cities. The photography collection, organized by the Rio museum, includes around 10,000 photographs, which are now available online.
Some of the photographers include Marc Ferrez, Marcel Gautherot, Carlos Moskovics, José Medeiros, Madalena Schwartz, Vincenzo Pastore, and Claude Levi-Strauss.
Click here to access the photography index, and click on the names on the right for each collection.
Posted by Rachel
Today, we begin a new series using Youtube videos in Portuguese to practice listening skills, as well as a way to learn about Brazilian culture and history.
This excellent series, called O Povo Brasileiro, is broken down into thirty videos on Youtube, which describes Brazilian history from its indigenous origins to modernity. After watching the full series, you’ll be an expert on Brazil! Below are the first, fifteenth and thirtieth videos. You can find the rest of the videos here.
Posted by Rachel
Today we’re going to look at the many changes Brazilian currency has undergone throughout history. To understand the difference in value of each currency, see here. Until recently, the Brazilian economy was quite unstable and inflation was often quite high, and as a result the currency changed many times. You’ll note that some of the currencies were used for less than a year!
- Réis: used during the Portuguese empire and the new Republic, until 1942
- Cruzeiro: used from 1942-1967
- Cruzeiro novo: used from 1967-1970
- Cruzeiro: used again from 1970-1986
- Cruzado: used from 1986-1989
- Cruzado novo: used from 1989-1990
- Cruzeiro: used yet again from 1990-1993
- Cruzeiro real: used from 1993-1994
- Real: began use in 1994, still used today
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