"My father is from Bahia." Vivi tells me as we reach the entrance of her home in the suburbs of Belo Horizonte. "There's always pepper in our house!" She concludes. And as we make our was down to her house from the gate, I notice fruit trees growing wildly, and a cocoa tree. "Yes, it's... Continue Reading →
You are ‘who you meet!’… And what you eat!
I'm honestly so humbled to meet so many good people during my travels who have some positive influence on me. Brazil has been no exception. After a meeting up with a group at Parque Large, organised by Rio Walkers, we headed to Lapa by bus. I got talking to Alberto. It wasn't long before I... Continue Reading →
Christmas with Vivi… In Minas Gerais
I stuffed another pao de queijo into my mouth. This was the moment I had been waiting for after the 7 hour bus ride from Rio to Belo Horizonte yesterday. I was full but I couldn't resist yet another one. This is definitely my last I think to myself as I notice the number of cheese... Continue Reading →
It’s beginning to feel a lot like Christmas…
Even here in Brazil! I'm amused when I see christmas tress, decorations and even a Santa's grotto in a shopping centre! For some reason I've registered Christmas (the novelty of it) as being a western thing. I continue to look in amazement as the season draws closer. Christmas in Brazil is celebrated with family on... Continue Reading →
Central Street Success pt6
The streets of Central in Rio de Janeiro is the setting for a new project I've been working on while in Rio. To the left of Central station lies a bustling Afro-Brazilian community, amongst them live and work African immigrants. Many of whom have lived in Brazil for over 10 years and consider Brazil home.... Continue Reading →
I saw this and thought… wow
I recently booked my ticket to Salvador, Bahia! I'm so excited to get on with my Tabom Afro-Brazilian research and be in town for carnival! As I stood at the Avianca airport ticket desk waiting for my São Paulo- Salvador- Rio, tickets to be printed my eyes caught the front cover of their latest magazine.... Continue Reading →
Central Street Success pt5
The streets of Central in Rio de Janeiro is the setting for a new project I've been working on while in Rio. To the left of Central station lies a bustling Afro-Brazilian community, amongst them live and work African immigrants. Many of whom have lived in Brazil for over 10 years and consider Brazil home.... Continue Reading →
Ipanema’s girl…
If the world was to end at least I can say I was an Ipanema girl on the 21/12/2012 @Posto 9! Later watched the sunset from Arpoador (rock), while naming 10 things I'm most grateful for... Not one materialistic thing was mentioned... #priceless! I live to tell the tale! Where were you the day the... Continue Reading →
A lighter shade of Black… Observations of racial identity in Rio
This post is not an academic essay on Racial Identity. It's simply a personal account of what I've witnessed and experienced while in Rio/Brazil, and thoughts of locals and expats I have met. If you come to Brazil thinking racism doesn't exist (or you chose to label it 'classism' - another topic in itself, as... Continue Reading →
Central: Street Success pt1
The streets of Central in Rio de Janeiro is the setting for a new project I've been working on while in Rio. Behind the grande façade of Central station; Rio's most important railway station, lies a bustling Afro-Brazilian community. Amongst them live and work African migrants, many of whom have lived in Brazil for over 10 years... Continue Reading →