Dear Belavista Readers,

Starting this month, Belavista-Rio will start a new series on Brazil 2014 FIFA World Cup. We will be describing most of the 2014 Brazil World Cup developments such as stadium renovations, investments in infra-structure and historical facts. Brazil hosted the 1950 FIFA World Cup which was historic, but sad for us Brazilians since we lost at the Final for Uruguay by 2 X 1 in a legendary game.

We believe most soccer fans all around the world are eager to know what goes on at the backstage of Brazil 2014 World Cup. At Belavista Brazil Carnival Blog, this is what we promiss to deliver so when the Cup finally arrives, you can have all data you need.

In the first article, we will write a full retrospective about all the Official FIFA World Cup Posters from 1930 to 2006. The post in under research and should be posted next week. For now, please read the about FIFA South Africa´s 2010 World Cup Official Poster Ceremony:



The official 2010 FIFA World Cup™ poster was unveiled on 23 November 2007 following a board meeting of the Local Organising Committee in Durban. The poster was designed by the South African creative agency Switch, who also created the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ emblem. The design beat three rivals in a public vote held throughout South Africa from 11 September to 30 September 2007. As the lucky winner in a lottery among all of the voters, South African Marilyn Rhoda was presented with a prize of two 2010 FIFA World Cup™ tickets provided by official sponsor MTN.

"Portraying a country in the shape of a man heading a ball is a new idea with potent symbolism. For me, football is all about emotion and passion, which is why I was particularly attracted to this poster. It invites the world to join in the celebration of the greatest football event on earth, while highlighting the pride and passion of the African continent and her people. It represents the African dream come true. The South Africans made a good selection for the poster, which will represent their country all the way up to 2010," said FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter.



For the first time in football history, the FIFA World Cup™ will be hosted on African soil from 11 June to 11 July 2010. The artwork depicts a celebration of the African continent as well as everyone who calls it home. The simple and yet iconic rendering is symbolic of the relationship between football and Africa and captures a sense of excitement, awe and aspiration. It also reflects the positive impact that the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ will have on Africa. Africa is the "hero" of the official event poster. The unique shape of the continent almost naturally lends itself to the shape of a man's profile, while the face represents every single African supporter from Morocco in the north, Gambia in the east, Somalia, Kenya and Ethiopia in the west to South Africa in the south.



"The official poster symbolises the important role of football in the history, tradition and culture of the African continent. It's also a recognition that football has always been an inspiration for a better future and a generator of hope in Africa. It recognises that Africa has a football face and a football heart," explained Danny Jordaan, CEO of the 2010 FIFA World Cup Organising Committee.

Bright, vibrant and celebratory, the colours of the poster are inspired by the South African flag, but also draw upon the African continent. The strong yellow background symbolises the sun as the source of warmth, energy and life.

From a total of 16 creative entries, all submitted by South African-based agencies, three proposals had been pre-selected for the public vote by South African residents. The jury was made up of FIFA General Secretary Jérôme Valcke, CEO of the 2010 South African Local Organising Committee Danny Jordaan, Minister in the South African Presidency Essop Pahad, Deputy Finance Minister Jabu Moleketi, South African playwright and author Wally Serote, and artist and director of the Vega School of Brand Communication Gordon Cook. Following on from the 2006 FIFA World Cup™ in Germany, this was the second time that residents of the host country have been actively involved in the selection of the official event poster.

Brazil is a continental country, full of cultural differences. But just like in the United States, where basketball, country-music, and fast-food seem to be omnipresent across all regions, we too have several national passions and identities.

In Brazil, the Carnival festivity, soccer championships and pageant contests (like in California) are definitely some of the top current popular expressions. But have you have ever imagined when any one of two of these country passions goes together? Lately, we have observed a number of beauty contests being promoted all around the country: Miss Brazil, Top Beach Girl, Goddess of Samba, Carnival Muses and most recently, the newest popular fever, the National Soccer Muse which happened in Rio-de-Janeiro. This is what we will talk about today.



Since 2007, a famous sports channel decided to take profit of this “new wave” and promote a new beauty contest involving the soccer enthusiasts and supporters all throughout the Internet. The objective was to select the most beautiful muse of each of the Brazil´s major league Top 20 teams. Needless to say it was a tremendous success, with huge media appearance and public involvement. Last estimates show more than 10.000 goddess of soccer enrolled themselves in the contest, which had three phases. During the first phase, the organizers selected through the Internet, three muses per each major soccer team in Brazil. At the second phase, one muse per team was selected, also through a disputed poll through the Internet and mobile phones messages. On the final phase, which happens in the end of December in Rio-de-Janeiro, out of the 20 TOP BRAZIL muses from teams like Fluminense, Gremio, and Flamengo, one final soccer muse is elected for one year.



We will post in Belavista Brazil Carnival Blog some pictures of the Brazil Muses elected by this disputed beauty contest, as well as information about their carrier. To start out this series, we will post the winner of 2008 – Ariane Gonzalez:



Full Name:
A: usually Ariane Garcia Gonzalez.

Nickname:
R: Nane.

Hometown:
A: Rio Claro.

Live with whom?
R: boyfriend.

Age:
A: 22 years.

Weight:
A: 51kg

Height:
A: 1.68 m

Hip:
A: 90cm

Bust:
A: 90cm


Workout?
A: Gym and walking outdoors.

Smoke?
A: No

Drink?
A: Socially

Has tattoo? How many? In which part of the body?
A: Yes. A star on each wrist.

It has piercing? How many? In which part of the body?
A: Yes, at the belly button.

Has some special ability (such as singing, dancing, shoes, playing football, other sports, do something quite different, etc.).

A: Interpretation, dance and singing.



Speaks more than one language other than Portuguese ?
A: Spanish.

Married? Single? Have a boyfriend?
A: Yes, dating.

What most attracts a man?
A: Smile.

Have pets? How many? What?
A: Yes, a cat.

Mania or addiction (eating, cleaning, etc.):
R: cleaning.

Defects:
A: perfectionist.

Hobby:
A singing and watch soccer games.

You know play football?
A: Yes

If you play - or play - what would your position and why?
R: Striker, since I am determined.

What is the most beautiful football player of his time?
A: The half Diego Souza.

What is your biggest idol in football and why?
A: Marcos, the Palmeiras goalkeeper.

Just like the rice and beans, the caipirinha-drink and the acarajé, another icon in Brazil´s gourmet culture is the churrasco. Originally brought by the Gauchos from the South of Brazil, the churrasco in its several serving formats, have been a social gathering point for many generations, across most of the country. Today, there are many churrascaria-chains like Fogo de Chão, Porcão,Vento Haragano, Barbacoa and Pampa established in São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and in now in many US cities like Dallas, Miami, New York and even Beverly Hill. Below, we will describe the “Rodizio” style churrasco, that helped popularize this authentic element of Brazil´s south gourmet culture.




Rodízio (pronounced [xu dʲizju] or [xo dʒizju] in Brazil, [ʁu dizju] in Portugal) is a style of restaurant service in Brazilian and Portuguese restaurants. One pays a fixed price and the waiters bring an offering of food to each customer at several times throughout the meal, until the customers signify that they have had enough. In churrascarias servers come to the table with knives and a skewer, on which are speared various kinds of meat, most commonly local cuts of beef, pork, or chicken whereas in a Pizza rodizio varied pizzas are brought on trays.



Foods served at a churrascaria often include:

* Filet mignon chunks wrapped in bacon
* Turkey chunks wrapped in bacon (these two are usually two-bite sized)
* Sirloin steak (cut semicircular and served in slices)
* Roast beef (served like sirloin steak)
* Rump Cover (called Picanha in Portuguese)
* Beef short ribs
* Pork ribs
* Chorizo or some other spicy Iberian pork sausage
* Chicken hearts
* Grilled dark-meat chicken
* Grilled pineapple or banana (meant as a palate cleanser between courses)
* Sushi

Most rodizio courses are served right off the cooking skewer, and are sliced or plated right at the table. Sometimes they are accompanied with Spanish fried potatoes, fried bananas, collard greens, black beans, and rice.

In many places where churrascarias have been opened, such as the United States (but much less common in Brazil), the diner is often provided with a colored card, red on one side and green on the other. According to the usual meaning of these colours, the servers will only bring more meat if the card is flipped to the green side.



In Brazil, one of the most traditional churrascaria chain is Fogo de Chão. An authentic “churrascaria,” known in Brazil as a restaurant where meat is the specialty, Fogo de Chão (fo-go dée shown) is a genuine steakhouse from Rio Grande de Sul in Southern Brazil, with “Gaucho” (Southern Brazilian cowboy) chefs preparing and serving delectably slow-roasted meats.

Fogo de Chão is the dream of two “Gaucho” brothers, Jair and Arri Coser, who, as young boys, learned the Gaucho way of roasting meats over open fire pits, and became the caretakers of a culinary tradition passed down from generation to generation for over three centuries.
The menu features 15 different cuts of slow roasted meats, carved tableside by authentic “Gaucho” chefs. Traditional Southern Brazilian side dishes and a sumptuous gourmet salad and vegetable buffet complement the meats. Today, Fogo Chao restaurant is present in more than 16 locations in the United States.

Fogo Chao
Dallas (Addison), TX
4300 Belt Line Rd.
(972) 503-7300

Chicago, IL
661 N. LaSalle St.
(312) 932-9330

Fogo Chao
Houston, TX
8250 Westheimer Rd.
(713) 978-6500

Beverly Hills, CA
133 N. La Cienega Blvd.
(310) 289-7755

Fogo Chao
Atlanta, GA
3101 Piedmont Rd.
(404) 266-9988

DC Washington, DC
1101 Pennsylvania Ave NW
(202) 347-4668


Fogo Chao
Philadelphia
1337 Chestnut St.
Philadelphia, PA 19107
215-636-9700


Minneapolis
645 Hennepin Ave.
Minneapolis, MN 55403
612-338-1344


Fogo Chao
Baltimore
600 E. Pratt St., Ste. 102
Baltimore, MD 21202
410-528-9292

Austin Austin, TX
309 E. 3rd St., Ste. 100
Austin, TX 78701
512-472-0220


Fogo Chao
Indianapolis
117 E. Washington St.
Indianapolis, IN 46204
317-638-4000

Miami
836 1st Street
Miami Beach, FL 33139
305-672-0011

Scottsdale
6300 N. Scottsdale Rd.
Scottsdale, AZ 85253
480-609-8866

Kansas City
222 W. 47th Street
Kansas City, MO 64112
816-931-7700

Opening Summer 2009!
Denver, CO
1513 Wynkoop St.
Denver, CO 80202


Fogo Chao
San Antonio, TX
849 E. Commerce St.
Suite 393
San Antonio, TX 78205

What are the best neighborhoods to enjoy Brazil Carnival in Rio?

If you are traveling to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to enjoy Carnival, there are a few districts and neighborhoods we recommend. Definitely try to stay at the “Zona Sul” or South Zone. We strongly advise visitors to stay at the following districts: Flamengo, Ipanema, Copacabana, Botafogo, Lagoa, Santa Teresa, Laranjeiras, Leblon, and Rio´s downtown Centro da Cidade (financial district). The main reason is that most of the carnival festivals activities are located only in these neighborhoods. Flamengo, Botafogo, Centro, and Santa Teresa are especially close to Rio´s Sambadrome, where the official Rio Carnival parade is held.

Below, a marvelous picture of Rio´s sunset in Flamengo District



Avoid staying at Barra or São Conrado. They are simply too far from the Parade and there are very few street carnival parties compared to these other Rio districts. In 2009, Rio´s 2009 Carnival will have more than 250 street groups or “blocos de rua” in Portuguese. They are really fun, authentic and free. The great majority of these amazing street groups are held in districts like Ipanema, (Banda de Ipanema), Laranjeiras (Volta Alice, Imprensa Que Eu Gamo), and Centro (Cordão do Bola Preta). For a full list of 2009 ´s Street Groups please check our Rio Carnival Street Parties cultural tab.

Below, the Hotel Monte Claro in at the Center of Rio - Lapa