Posted by Rachel
Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil’s southernmost state and one of the states most heavily populated by European descendants, has a number of traditional dances that come from several European traditions.
One of these dances is called chula. Of Portuguese origin, this dance is done in male pairs by stomping and tapping in a sort of dance off between each pair. Traditionally, one dancer challenges the other with difficult steps, and the other dancer responds by repeating those steps and adding his own on, so that the person who forgets the steps first “loses” the dance off.
Though the dance is now mostly confined to competitions and special events, the chula is a fascinating dance form that is somewhere between flamenco, Irish step dancing, and breakdance-style battles.
Have a look in the two videos below!
Posted by Rachel
While the rest of the country gears up for Carnival, the city of Pedro Osório in the southern Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul is having a different kind of celebration: a watermelon festival. 
In the eighth annual edition of the festival, watermelon producers sell fresh fruit to the public, as well as the many products that can be made from watermelon, including several types of candy, sauce, ice cream, and liquor. The fresh watermelons range from 10 to 12 kilos.
Rio Grande do Sul is the number one producer of watermelon in Brazil, but suffered this year due to a drought. As a result, there was a smaller crop, but the quality and taste of the crop was still excellent.
To watch a video about the festival, click here.
Posted by Rachel
Many foreigners that travel to Brazil come for the beaches or the Amazon, but not many know that Brazil’s southernmost state, Rio Grande do Sul, is more akin to Italy or Argentina than to Rio de Janeiro or Salvador. Originally settled by Italian and German immigrants, the area is famous for being the home of the traditional churrasco (barbecue) and for being the country’s main wine region.
One of the region’s prime resorts, the Villa Europa Hotel & Spa. The first of its kind in Brazil and only the fifth in the world, the hotel’s spa uses grapes and wine ingredients in its treatments. The hotel boasts antique furniture, a French-Italian restaurant, and a wine cellar containing over 550 types of wine.
The hotel is located near the region’s major vineyards, including Miolo, Casa Valduga, and Salton, which offer tours, restaurants, and wine tastings. The area is also famous for artisans, cheesemakers, and furniture makers.
For more information on the hotel and spa, click here. For more information on Rio Grande do Sul, click here.
Posted by Rachel
…for a day.
Douglas de Mello, age 21, is a college student in Rio Grande do Sul. In October, he made a deposit in his 
bank account and looked at the receipt to make sure it had gone through. Much to his surprise, his account balance appeared as R$432 billion, three times the wealth of the richest man in the world, Warren Buffet, and 35 times the value of one of Brazil’s largest banks. The following day, his balance appeared as R$532 billion.
He reported the incident to the bank manager and the local police, who passed the matter on to the Federal Police. His bank informed him that there had been an system error, and no billion real deposit had actually been made. Nevertheless, the bank froze his account, as well as his credit and ATM cards, until the original balance was restored, for a mere R$700.
But police are still investigating the case, and Douglas’ life has become “a living hell.” He claims that the police tapped his phone and that he is constantly being followed. Many people, he says, still believe he is a billionaire. He hired a lawyer to deal with the case, but became so stressed out that he barely eats or sleeps, and had to quit his job. His parents fear that someone will attempt to kidnap him.
Posted by Rachel
In the rural town of Santa Cruz do Sul, in the southernmost state of Brazil, Rio Grande do Sul, a surprised woman found that one of her hens had adopted seven abandoned puppies. 
Though the woman has begun feeding the puppies, the hen has made herself responsible for the puppies’ well being. She nestles them like she would her eggs, and the puppies fight to nap under her wing.
The puppies are only one month old and seem to have accepted the hen as their mother. She protects them fiercely, and when they’re all snuggled together in the coop, the rooster isn’t allowed near them.
Check out the amazing video!
"
