Thursday, March 19, 2009

que saudades!

this phrase literally has no translation into english. which is why i love it, although hard to explain. it pretty much means 'so much longing' or 'what longings', except stronger. brazilians cannot understand how we only use one word - 'miss' - when we miss something. anyway, i have been 'longing for' or 'missing' brazil terribly. and i'm already planning to return later on in the year when uni finishes, although it is incredibly expensive! one place in particular that im missing is Trancoso, Bahia. there is so much culture, so many colours, amazing delectible foods and the people are so warm and friendly. everything about this place was amazing. this is what lonely planet has to say about it:
"Smaller in scale than Arraial, youthful Trancoso is also quite captivating. Sitting atop a grassy bluff overlooking fantastic beaches, this tiny rustic village has a relaxed air with a pretty assortment of guesthouses. It’s known for its wide, grassy and, most importantly, car-free quadrado (square). This central plaza has a grazing horse or two and football-playing lads and a small church at one end. Surrounding it are tropical foliage and colorful buildings, which house expensive boutiques and open-air bars and restaurants. The sight of the quadrado at night is magical. Rave culture still thrives in ‘Transe-coso, ’ and it’s famous for full-moon beach parties. The village fills nicely in summer, but in the low season you’ll find it in hibernation."