Living the Brazil!

Brazil has the largest cultural diversity in Latin America and maybe even, the world. There are over 300 million people living in harmony unlike other Latin American countries. Brazil has the richest natural resources  and opportunities in terms of business and quality of living but it is sometimes important to remain away from the main cities if security is important, as in any country. People come here from all corners of the globe and most of them, from Asia, Europe and other South American countries, stay, settle and start their own businesses or simply retire.
 
 There is a magic to Brazil that is inexplicable and I am not referring to just carnival! The music, the smiles, the movements and smells. One always feels protected here, warm and isolated from the outside world. Whenever we travel, the sight of Brazilian soil calms us and the fact that few people know of the wonders of this country, gives an even larger feeling of protection. Like a well kept secret. One of my daughters says this is the best country to live if you are a child, an elderly person or someone with any disability. For Brazilians, people in need are meant to be looked after and dealt with patience and kindness. Even the health and social services are much better than people believe, especially in smaller towns, and we are proof of that; even better than in the US or some parts of Europe.
 
 Brazil is divided into three remarkably different cultural influences.  In the North, there is the Amazon forest, the Indian and African with dark skin, sparkling smiles and welcoming voices; the most beautiful exotic beaches, towns, cities imaginable. An incredible, head-turning mix of races found nowhere else in the world. In the central (east) part of the country, you have the capital and political centre and city , Brasilia. The industrial, financial and business centre,  Sao Paulo; and one of the worlds most famous cities, Rio, a mixture of modern architecture with tropical forests and beaches, all side by side.

 Then in the South, a little Germany and Austria mixed with Italy and Portugal; the fishing towns and markets; the green hills sometimes topped with snow and a landscape that reminds us of those found in Europe. Once you visit Brazil and see all this for yourself, the diversity, the people, the climate and differences between cities and states where nothing is the same, no one looks the same, you find yourself in a magical atmosphere away from the riots, wars, political and economic problems of the modern world. Brazil is difficult to leave or forget.
 
 The town of Bebedouro and its people.
 
 The city of Bebedouro is ideally situated in that it is in the junction of various motorways leading to and from Sao Paulo (450 km), Ribeirão Preto (100 km, 500,000 inhabitants), Barretos (70 km) and at least 10 other towns and cities (Campinas, Araraquara). The motorway to Bebedouro is one of the best in Brazil in terms of security and quality of the road and services and goes from Sao Paulo to Brasilia, with access to Rio and other major cities.  From the motorway, the farm is only 50 metres away on an easy access road.  
 
 Bebedouro is a small quiet rural town with all necessary facilities (hospitals, shopping centre, supermarkets, schools, college, etc.). It is one of the only towns in this region that has access to so many other towns and cities because of its central location. From the motorway that passes beside our land, there are others (about 1 km away) the cross it and lead to all corners of the state and of Brazil. This may seem irrelevant but it is a big advantage considering the distances between one city and another, especially if you come from Europe where distances are short. To have the motorways nearby makes travelling a lot easier considering people travel everywhere by bus/coach. There is also an airport in Riberiao Preto with flights from Sao Paulo and from the bus station, one can go as far as any of the boarders. From Bebedouro, there are buses every 3 hours to Sao Paulo.

 
 
 The people are very friendly and curiously used to dealing with foreigners. There are people living here from Corea, Japan, Argentina, England, Peru, Chile and the USA. The "locals"  are all too willing to help and give advice and even practice their English or Spanish. It is a peaceful town and although near other cities,  the violence that characterizes them has not reached here. There is not even a prison here!
 
 Every year, there are some festivities that are typical of rural towns. In Barretos, for example, there is the Festa do Peao which is a rodeo event and visited by people of all countries.
 
 About the weather
 
 The climate is dry and hot all year round; 30-40 degrees C in the summer, spring and autumn and 10-20 degrees C in the winter. During the rain season (Nov-March) there is some rain but no flooding or problems that can cause isolation or even difficult access to the farm. Most of the time, the weather is pleasant sunny, with a mild breeze and cool at night.