The beauty of colors and words

One thing that is unforgettable for those that had the opportunity to visit Brazil is the beauty of its colors. They are everywhere: flowers, fruits, birds, butterflies, mountains, sky, sea, people.

For those that have never been there, I have a question for you: what are you waiting for? If you are afraid because of the violence you see sometimes in the media, I need to tell you something: Brazil is much more than violence. And if we think a little bit, violence is everywhere today. Unfortunately there is no more safe place in our planet. So, plan your trip, be cautious as you would be in any big city and have one of the most fantastic experiences of your life. I am sure you will make some Brazilian friends since you will be surrounded by very fun and friendly people.

If you happen to be in São Paulo, don't miss the "Mercado Municipal de São Paulo". It is a market located downtown, founded in 1933. The building is majestic, with 72 colored glass panels showing peasants working on the farms. Your eyes will be constantly stimulated with beauty. The "Mercado Municipal de São Paulo" is well known for exciting not only the eyes but also the tongue of visitors. There you will find fruits from all over the country (and Brazil has lots of different fruits) and from other countries too. You will also find spices, all kinds of meats, seafood, ground coffee, dairy products, breads, tobacco and ice cream. Plan to visit around lunch time, so you can try some specialties. In this huge market, you will find stands that serve bacalao cakes, bologna sandwiches, fresh fruit juices and more. You definitely need to visit if you're in the most cosmopolitan and busiest city of Brazil.

Now, if you happen to be in a more tranquil place, enjoy the colors of nature, get your mp3 player and listen to one of my favorite songs of Caetano Veloso, called "Trem das Cores" and found in his album "Cores, Nomes". I practically see the colors when I listen to it. For those who enjoy Brazilian music, the sound of Brazilian Portuguese and poems, I strongly recommend it. Every time I listen to it, I feel like I am inside Caetano's silver train, taking a trip through the green mountains of Brazil, watching the colorful houses passing by my eyes. I love the way Caetano describes the color of children boarding the train: pomegranate. Isn't it beautiful?

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Images
Toucan - Picture taken by Paulo Albuquerque Filho (Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/pantaneiro/424437267/)
Colored glass panel at "Mercado Municipal de São Paulo - Picture taken by Massao (Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/massao/97107410/)