"WHEN YOU HEAR ABOUT BRAZIL...WHERE DO YOU GO???" marcbrazil's Profile

I am an English Teacher and I am very proud of my land, I have some friends abroad and then I decide to make people notice more about a different part of Brazil that is not so common in any travelogs among World travellers! I am sure in this space I will be able to make friends and help people to find out a new destination and also I will give more suggestions to increase tourism in my State as our Goverment does not make any effort to change our situation.

Maranhão can surprise the visitor with its culture and endless beauties.

Let me introduce myself, my name is Marcone Lima!!! I am 20 years old! And I was born here at this wonderful place called Maranhão!Here we have many things to do and many beautiful and fantastic places to visit such as long beaches, an endless chains of wetlands mxing fresh and salt water...Maranhão has sand dunes in the mysts of Lençois Dunes...And unknown places such as Morros, Maracanã, Rosario, Raposa and even in our capital with so many incredible tropical beaches!

I like visiting every single place here, because they make you understand our history, where did we come from and how we came to be just like we are nowadays...We are very rich in History, Maranhao was site of glorious battles, great conquests and nice indian stories. It was also the starting point of the previous Amazon Expeditions and thanks to that cities like Belem and Manaus were found!

I like very much our reputation of "love island" or even "the city of the tiles".
It's important to everyone know about this amazing state, because I could say that it's a mix of many cultures at the same time...So you have to come and try to discover by yourself the misteries and the legends that this place can offer you!

Music and swing are waiting for you in the ancient streets of São Luis!

I can even say that I'm really proud to be a MARANHENSE!!!! This is how we call ourselves. Living the routine of this state, made me understand about the culture, the rhythms, the people and their customs, the history and many other things that you can discover just enjoying this fabulous place!Come and see it by yourself!

Come with me and get informed about a new way to see more about Brazil. Maranhão plays a very important rule in our National Culture!

Praia Grande - the beginning of our History

São Luis is the city where I was born and raised..In a way this is my personal World, but I have an independent spirit which leads my curiosity to other places, and thanks to that I could understand Brazil as a country, and of course I realized that my State, Maranhão, is a very important part of it.

In this city I spend my childhood, in this city I met wonderful people, and in this city I could learn how rich my land is in culture, in traditions and endless landscapes that all people in this Earth should visit. Maybe this is why I decided to write about a place that people hardly hear about.

São Luis is a city full of history, it is one of the most important town in the brazilian past, founded in 1612 by the portuguese, and it played an important rule in the Amazon Conquest. This capital was really important at that time, because it served like a base to explorers. Many other people tried to conquer this amazing unexplored island. French and Dutch figured like the people that tried to invade, but they weren't successful. But, because of those invasions, our culture just got many points of those people. Even nowadays, we could see clearly that our people were influenced by those explorers.

And this, just added many good things to our culture in general! I could say that we have a rich and great culture! And you can see this in the old buildings with their tiles, some of them with a portuguese influence and other ones with french influence (We can see that difference in fact!) and even some places and costums with an indian influence.

SAO LUIS IS INDEED A FASCINATING MELTING POT!!!

If you come here, SOMETHING THAT I AM SURE YOU WILL DO, you will visit a very good place and you will notice that all I wrote here is true! We call it: REVIVER. And just like this word in portuguese expression we can MAKE A REVIVAL of the place's daily life in the past, with the buildings that is showed to everyone just like they were more than two hundred years ago! And it's fascinating to observe the beginning of our History! You should come and see it by yourself! You will feel like you could be in old Portugal or even in Old France, because of their influence here.

Another thing that you will notice at the time you come here: The "tambor de crioula". It's a typical dance with african influence (It's important to say that we had many africans like slaves at the time of foundation), made in honour of São Benedito, the patron saint of those people. You will see and will fall in love because it has a strong rhythm that invites you to enter in this dance!

But if you think it's over, you are wrong! We have many beautiful beaches here!You can go, and relax with hot sun and fresh water. And to complete this, you can try some typical food. It's really delicious!Cuxá, shrimp, crab, typical fruits (bacuri, cupuaçu, sapoti, buriti), typical drinks that will make you just adore this place!

If you are thinking in a place to relax and be in contact with regional culture, I invite you to come to São Luís and understand the reason that make me so proud of the place I was born! Be my guest!

São Luis is meant to be your HOME in the brazilian north east!

The Alcantara Inlet bay and the MANGROVE

Maranhão is a land of surprises, even for us, LUDOVICENSES, yes that is how we can natives from São Luis, there are places that we still don't know about their existence. Many people spend most of their lives in the busy routine of a big city, though São Luis is not one of the biggest in the North East of the country, but sometiems we forget that right close to us we can reach PARADISES OF PEACE AND CALM, we do not know that close to us there are wilderness, places with lots of istory, places with incredible countryside people that we simply ignore!

As a person who are really in love with my land, as a person who will not rest until getting to know everylittle place of Maranhão. I will always find out one new place to visit and if possible I will let you know about new places to discover. AND I MUST SAY THAT ALCANTARA ISLAND WILL BE YOUR SECOND DESTINATION if by chance you stop in the capital of my state.

This precious island is held on the other side of São marcos Bay right in front of our São Luis, at the beginning of our history, the island was home of the TUPINAMBÁS Indians, after that in 1648 it was setttled by the french, but they were quickly defeated by the portuguese, during the years Alcantara was home of many rich farmers which made the SUGAR CANE one of the wealthiest period of our history. Since them, alcantara has kept its beauty wilderness with incredible ebaches and some old ruins of many many old churches! Going to Alcantara can be really a journey to the past and a challenge for your wild spirit!

Islands of thousand parties, in Alcantara, the Festa de Sao Benedito, an event predominantly of African descent origin, is celebrated on the second Sunday in August with hundreds of people line up on a procession throughout the streets of the historic City, symbolizing the renewal of their faith. the island is also famous for the great dance and culture traditions specially TAMBOR DA CRIOULA, famous all ove the state but mainly performed in the island.

Also in Alcantara, the Festa do Divino, another religious celebration, takes place in May, with lots of people, music, food and typical costumes representative of the local history. The Festa do Divino is celebrated throughout the State but it is in Alcantara that it is presented in all its glamour attracting hundreds of tourists every year.

Also a place where the great attraction are the people itself, once in Alcantara, do not miss BATISÁ HOUSE, it is in the main street in the island right beside the main pier. BATISÁ owns a restaurant which is HER HOUSE, and I am very proud to say that she is my friend! I met her with my great friend from Rio de Janeiro, Rafael, a famous guide in Brazil. He was there to write about my State and I am more than happier to help him. In her house you will really find out more about the delicious taste of our cuisine! ASK HER TO PREPARE A GREAT OMELETE DE CAMARÃO!!! You will never regret!

You will find many beaches, specially a beach called Baronesa, I had incredible moments there, but to reach such a lovely beach you ahve to be brave and face the MANGROVE crossing stepping your feet to the knees in pure mud, but your sacrifice will be really worthy, you will see one of our most beautiful beaches in the surroundings of São Luis!

You can reach the island from the port of Praia Grande close to the Historic Centre, and take a boat to the island, pay attention in at the time when it goes back...otherwise you will have to stay in the island or worse, YOU WILL HAVE NO OPTION BUT THE CATAMARANS TO GO BACK TO THE CONTINENT...

And take my friendly advise...forget about Catamaran!!!

Me, Grandma and Mum

The Family structure in Maranhão is for sure the strongest support a person can have. Here since the first generation until today..the children are taught to say BENÇA MÃE (Godbless you, Mum) and the Mothers say DEUS TE ABENCOE MEU FILHO (GOD BLESS YOU MY SON).

I am a happy person because I was brought up with lots of love, my Mother with lots of strengh did her best to give me the ebst education, she was alone and she succeed, and today i thank her to be everything I am. And i know that behind her there was a person with so much passion for life that made her a wonderful person, and that same person also gave me her ehart and her soul to make me a better person, My Grandma. I am lucky to live at the same house with my Mother Francisca who is a great friend and know I can count on ehr for everything in life, and I am lucky to share my home life with such a strong and sweet person who is Grandma Maria.

They gave me enough knowledge to have a big enthusiasm for life, they thought me that we can reach everywhere in life if we use respect and justice. ove was taught in my house, and thanks to that i am able to love life and people, specially one person that gives me lots of joy to my existence.

Three generations, three different minds and three different hearts but only one soul.

They gave me dignity and I am proud to have in my blood all the goodness, all the love and all the braveness. If today I am the happiest Marcone, full of life, full of plans and full of friends. I do have to thank for these two great women!

THE WOMEN OF MY LIFE!!!!

Me and Rafael at Tutoia: good friend,perfect place

This is a person that I can consider my best friend!It's really incredible that in just 3 months a person just passed to this category....But it's true, Rafa is person that you don't find nowadays...The way he talks to you, the way he loves the things he does, his ideas and everything he wants comes true because he does with love and good mood!

The most incredible thing is that this guy is just from the place that I love and the place that I really feel at home:RIO DE JANEIRO!

He works in Rio de Janeiro and he is one of the best in his area!He knows everything related to tourism in Rio!If you're thinking to come to Brazil and start your trip in Rio, be his guest!He would love show you the places that he is proud to be born!He just loves Rio!And even to visit another places in Brazil!Rafa is just in love with Brazil at all, and his really proud to be brazilian!

Rafael is a a kind of person that you will never see him in a bad mood!He is always in a good temper and he "infects" everybody with his happiness and way of look to the problems and solve them in a diplomatic way!You will like Rafael in the first sight!

And he is the big guilty. He made me discover that I have a Marcone that I haven't known yet!Marcone that likes to know new places. Marcone that likes to explore and see the different. Marcone that adores to pass to big problems and just solve them. Marcone that is really strong and happy!Thank you, friend!

Rafael is just a company to anyplace, anytime!Keep doing like this, friend!You will always get what you want!Be happy is what I wish you!

Rafael, Dona Stella and I - My carioca family

Nowadays, I can say that I'm "cariocando" myself! I just need one visit at this fabulous city!I just loved it!And then, almost everymonth, I was going there. So, I decided to move to Rio.
In Rio, they have a particular way of living that fascinates me!A stripped way to ive the life...Go to the beach, walk on the pedestrian precinct, visit the Sugar Loaf, the Corcovado with our Christ, go on the weekends to Lapa, Santa Tereza...Live the carnival time in the "sambodromo" or relax with the popular carnival on the streets...This is the carioca way of life!
I have to say that Rafael made me see this new way of life and put me in love of this city!I want live here forever!(Of course, I did not forget my roots, I LOVE Maranhão).
Come to Rio and you will enjoy a city that never sleeps and make you believe in an ideia that everything can happen here!And be my guest on that trip!;)