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Thank You!
Posted by Elena B. , Thursday, December 23, 2010 10:57 PM
I just have to say a huge thank you to everyone who replied to my last post! I never was really sure why I started this blog in the first place until now. It was so I could be a part of this community of people that share similar interests and experiences in relation to Brazil and Brazilians. I wrote my last post searching for some advice and guidance, but I never expected to get so many responses and to feel so much love and support for everyone! There were a couple people especially who went above and beyond in giving me a ton of advice, even though are simply fellow bloggers that I have never met. I can't tell you all how touched I am and how much it really means to feel so much kindness from so many of you.
As for my plans, well, I'm still figuring it out. I am definitely going to Brazil, and I definitely want to settle in one place, I just have to figure out where. Although I LOVE to travel, and I've been fortunate enough to do a lot of it, I really want to get to know one place well. There are tons of places in Brazil that I'd still liketo visit, and I'm hoping to do a bit of that when I go, but it's not what I want to do for several months and I don't really have the budget for that anyway. At first I was really feeling set on going back to Salvador, but I've been really reconsidering that. I absolutely love the city, but I'm not sure it's worth it to endure all the pain and discomfort of going back there when I could just go somewhere new. At the same time, trying to figure out what other city I'd like to live in and be able to find a job too is daunting. I would love to go somewhere similar to Salvador (particularly on the coast and with similar culture and liveliness), so I'm thinking it would be good to stay in the Northeast.
I'm considering a few places but would love to hear more if anyone has personal experiences or any input on the following places. I'm thinking about Recife/Olinda, because I've heard there's great cultural stuff, lots to do, on the coast, and I think job prospects are good. But I've heard Recife is dangerous (is this more true than Salvador, because I heard that a lot about Salvador, and while it can be dangerous I felt ok most of the time). Plus, aren't the waters there shark infested? I also have heard Joao Pessoa is nice and safe and great beaches, but it seems that there are lots of foreigners there and finding work teaching english would be hard, plus I wonder if it would get boring because it's a smaller city. These three cities are within a couple hours of each other (Recife and Olinda are right next door) so I like the idea of spending my first couple weeks in Brazil visiting these places and at least having a few easy options. Then I'm also considering Natal, Fortaleza, and Maceio, but I don't know much about these places and they seem to get mixed reviews. These cities are further spread out though and I would have to just go to onevand then if I didn't like it I'd have to spend lots of money to go somewhere else.
So...if anyone knows anything about these cities or has any other suggestions of where to go, please let me know!
Thank you all so much from the bottom of my heart,
Elena
Oi Elena,
I've been in a relationship with a brasileiro, too, so I know how hard they are to get over! rsrs
About where to go in the NE, I don't know all the cities, but I can give my humble opinion on a few. I've been to Belem PA, Fortaleza CE, and Recife/Olinda PE. Fortaleza has nice beaches near by, but I didn't particularly like the city. Belem is great but a little out of the way. My pick would be Recife/Olinda. If you're nervous about crime, just stay in Olinda. There's a frequent bus line going back and forth and it's only 20 minutes away. Recifenses are some of the nicest, coolest Brazilians I've met (and that's saying something!). Pernambuco beaches are some of the best in the country, too. And the culture there is incredible. So different from anywhere else!
Hope that helps a bit.
Beijos,
Tracy