- Giuseppe Garibaldi aprì una macelleria a Rio de Janeiro.
- Nella città di San Paolo, attualmente oltre il 50% degli abitanti e' di origini italiane.
- Italobrasiliani famosi: il cantante chitarrista Toquinho e il pilota Ayrton Senna (ce ne sono altri ma questi mi piaccino in assoluto).
- Gli edicolanti di Rio de Janeiro sono quasi tutti italiani (in particolare di origine calabrese), tanto che l’edicola è diventata in Brasile l’emblema dell’italianità.
- La maniglia all'interno della macchina alla quale ci si aggrappa, la chiamano colloquialmente 'puta que te pario'' (figlio di p@#$%), nel senso che e' l'esclamazione del passeggero che si aggrappa a questa, quando chi sta al volante guida da cani.
Brazil – Sao Paulo While Pietro was flying to Texas for some bureaucracy, I gave myself a small parenthesis Brazilian: the goal was to visit Daniela and Rodrigo and to meet little Teodoro. I arrived in Sao Paulo on Sunday the 15th, while there was a massive demonstration against Dilma, the Brazilian Presidenta, who apparently is involved in a story of corruption with other members of the government - nothing new for an Italian. However it was interesting to be in the country in those days of political turmoil and to watch the hot reactions from the opposition and people and the deafening silence of the government; living with the guys, I received extra information, comments and translations of what went on Tellie. Brazil was a vacation within a vacation for me: first of all, we wanted a break from living together non-stop with my better half after so much travelling; then visiting a couple of friends met in Sydney sincerely was wonderful; and I finally crowned the dream to see the super crowded Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. Dani and Ro were perfect, cuddling throughout my staying, welcoming me into their home, being my tour guides and taking the time to stay with me. I also received the Sunday lunch prepared by mum Sonia. I felt really at home. During the day, matching their commitments with Teo and work, they took me around the city making me visit the essentials of SP, which is a giant city of about 12 million people. I was pleased to participate, even if briefly, to their new working adventure: they have a food truck that sells kebabs on the street; they move contacted by shops or events bringing their fresh, tasty sandwiches around. I can really say that, they are really good. Pills of Sao Paulo: MASP - Museum of Art of Sao Paulo A tower block that houses large and particular 5-story museum used for exhibitions, receptions and offices. It is a curious building as it has a rectangular shape that rests on two external red pylons. I did enjoy to find three exhibitions of authors mainly Europeans like Modigliani, Cezanne, Degas - after so much travelling in South America I did not mind some air of home! I entered the museum hoping for a bit of peace running away from the chaotic traffic of Avenida Paulista, and as soon as I opened the door of the museum have been assaulted by a noisy clamour of a school group of teenagers on a visit to the museum. Forgetting about the peace, I realised the road was quieter (even the Degas's ballerina on display was bewildered!). Banespa A 35-story building that houses the headquarters of the Spanish bank Santander, but that opened its doors as a cultural center. From the height of its 160 meters you can see the city in its entirety. We were lucky with the weather when we went, it was all clear and I was able to realize the vastness of SP. In fact we were able to climb on the second attempt, the first time we went the lifts were out of order and no one knew when it would be repaired. The comment by Ro was exhaustive: "Welcome to SP!". Palazzo Martinelli This is a building commissioned by Giuseppe Martinelli, Italian of course, who wanted to build in 1922 the highest building of SP and for many years of all Latin America. We hopped on the terrace on the 26th floor and found a guide that told the troubled history of this building and the family who commissioned it. Central Market Actually a tourist place where it can find all kinds of Brazilian fruit, meat and fish. Upstairs there are also restaurants famous for preparing the mortadella sandwiches that are 5-6 cm high. A shot of cholesterol. Here we bought the best kakhi in the world, a real delight that costed to the poor Rodrigo $$. The seller drew us in, letting us sample different types of fruit, and he was a real professional at duping us inviting to try a bit of each fruit: the purple and white pitaya, the carambola and kiwi amongst all. One expensive but delicious trick. Plaza de Se and the Cathedral They say it is the zero point of the city where it all starts. The square has a center marked by a concrete pylon surrounded by trees, placed symmetrically. The cathedral that dominates the square is in Gothic style, designed by a German architect. Inside there are mosaics, sculptures, columns and marble brought from Italy. I liked it. Ibirapuera Park A giant park in the city center, within it there are the planetarium, the Afro-Brazilian Museum, Museum of Contemporary Art and a pond. A space full of graffiti made by Kobra (well-known Brazilian artist) and others. Apparently it is very active between public events and concerts. Random thoughts: Sao Paulo has 15 metro lines, all clean and functioning; obviously there 's always a lot of people, but this is SP. It was very pleasant to live, even for a short time, in a city so chaotic in the quiet nest of friends' family; as soon as one moves away it can be noticed the difference. I have not noticed anything and luckily nothing happened to me, but it made me think when the taxi driver that took me to the airport closed the windows and put the safe on doors, when passing through some areas of the city. I did not expect so many beggars and people living on the streets. The train station to the guys home was close enough, but they always came to pick me up... you never know. I tasted the Sagu, a eat-and-drink beverage made of tapioca and jelly; I tried the balls of tapioca bathed in red wine jelly. I thought it was a freaking dirty thing, instead I liked it. The food in Brazil is a lot and good, including pizza. Curiosity:
- Giuseppe Garibaldi opened a butcher shop in Rio de Janeiro.
- In the city of São Paulo, currently over 50% of the inhabitants has Italian origin.
- Famous Italo-brasilian people: the singer and guitarist Toquinho and the pilot Ayrton Senna (there are others but I like these the most).
- The newsagents in Rio de Janeiro are run almost all by Italians (especially Italians from Calabria), so that this business has become the emblem of Italian-ness in Brazil.
- The inside handle on the car to which you grab, colloquially it is called the 'puta que te pario' (literally 'son of a b!@#): in the sense of the exclamation of the passenger who clings to this, when the driver drives like a dog.