I Had a Feeling…

Over this past weekend we finally tried out the newest place in town – Flor Café. It had been described to me as being “chic” and unlike anything else in Maringá. The outside certainly had us intrigued. It is in a two story building on a corner with large windows around the front and side.

True to its name, Flor Café does have flowers. In fact, it is like a coffee shop slash home décor shop. Half of it has couches that I can only assume are for sitting, but they look a bit more like an upscale furniture store display. Surrounding this area is all kind of home décor gift items for sale as well as candy and flowers.

Although the service counter is filled with the typical pastel, empanada, fried snack selection that every single café I’ve ever been to in Brazil has, the rest of the menu is kind of nice. Lots of desserts and specialty coffees/hot chocolates. And get this! The sandwiches actually come with chips or a small salad!

This issue has been an ongoing point of discussion among my husband and I and we were surprised when the lack of a “side” was also mentioned by a visitor not long ago. When you order a sandwich here you just get the sandwich. Not that I enjoy eating lots of chips, but sometimes you just crave a little something else. We are so used to the whole ½ and ½ soup, salad, sandwich combos in the US it feels like something is missing when you just get a sandwich. Anyway, apparently you can get that something at Flor Café.

We did have dinner while there. We shared the mushroom bruschetta. My husband had the croque monsieur on which they went a bit crazy with the cheese. Is there even a sandwich under there?

Oh, that little swirl of orange with black specs in it, that’s maracujá. It tasted like they cooked it down into a reduction and crushed the seeds. That stuff is so amazing. I wished they had drizzled the whole plate!

I had the individual escondidinho de carne seca which is one of my favorite Brazilian dishes. It has been described as a Brazilian Shepherd’s pie with the top made of mandioca (yucca, manioc) instead of potato. This one came out wrapped like a gift. I have no idea why. Too keep warm? To make it fancy? I’m not quite sure.

So this is where it started.

I had a feeling with this being such a chic, modern establishment in the city that there would likely be English somewhere. The place does have a bit of international flair. When it came time for dessert, I got up to look at the cakes and pies at the counter. A waiter asked me (in Portuguese) if I had questions. I asked him about one of the cakes and he proceeded to describe each one to me.

He was about halfway through and he said, “Where are you from?”

And there it was.

Turns out he lived in Tampa for five years. Later he started a conversation with my husband, and, of course, apologized that his English wasn’t very good. Yeah right. I didn’t even noticed an accent and his use of the word “cool” gave away that he had been in the U.S. a while.

Always a small world around here. It's nice that we are continually meeting new, friendly people.
So as for Flor Café, a cool place for sure. I probably wouldn’t go back for dinner because it wasn’t exceptionally exciting and a bit overpriced, however, if I’m in the mood for a fancy coffee or hot chocolate I’ll be swinging back by.

I guess I should clarify that the dinner wasn’t overly exciting except for one item offered. I got a picture off the menu.

This is brie cheese baked in a pastry and served with honeycomb. How tasty is that? However, at R$52 on a menu of things costing R$20 or less it is quite a splurge.

Learning About My Coffee

On our last visit to Curitiba I decided to finally take the plunge and buy some coffee from Lucca Café. I’ve mentioned this coffee shop before. It is my favorite in the city thus far. There is something about the atmosphere that brings about the true café culture similar to what we have in the States, which is sometimes hard to find in Brazil.


They roast the coffee beans right in the coffee shop and the smell is amazing. There is a variety to choose from and they will grind the beans for you while you wait. I decided to go with the Cerrado Single Origin.

I know I’ve talked about great coffee here before, but this part of my experience in Brazil just keeps getting better and better. The Cerrado is now the new favorite for me. I’m not sure if it is the freshness, or the quality of the bean, but my morning cup of joe is now darn near perfect.

When I got my packages of coffee that day in Curitiba I noticed a stamp on the top from the Brazil Specialty Coffee Association along with an invitation to trace my coffee. I’ve just gotten around to doing this and what I have found is so incredibly cool.


Once you make it to the association’s web-site you put in the stamp number provided on the bag. Then the info pops up of exactly where you coffee came from. Mine is from Alto Cafezal which looks to own several different farms.

I was then able to explore their web-site. (An added bonus is that they have it translated to English). I have been able to read about the origin and location of the plantations including some information about the family who started it. There is also information on sustainability efforts. Many details are available for my perusal such as the fact that 30% of the coffee is harvested manually and 70% mechanically.

Such a cool find for someone like me who is a sucker for food history and tracing food sources. The bad news is I’m almost out of my new favorite find!

First Stop, Açukapé

Last weekend we headed out to the feira. I hadn’t been to the Sunday one before. There was a great selection, but despite the fact that for the past 2 months I have been in a place where paying $1 an apple was the norm, I thought the prices were a little higher than normal. Regardless, they were still a lot cheaper than the US and I stocked up during my first chance to get back to Brazil’s produce.

I’ve written a lot about the bakeries around here, but I don’t think I’ve told you about Açukapé. I had only been there once, yet it was the first bakery I wanted to go back to upon my arrival in Maringa. Fortunately for us they are open on Sunday.

One reason we like this place is because their pastries remind us a little of Anker in Vienna. They make a misto croissant that already has the ham and cheese wrapped up inside unlike the sandwich form most other bakeries make. While not like a French-style croissant it has a character all its own and beats any breakfast sandwich you can get in the States.

Their coffee is also the real thing. I posted a while back about the traditional way to make coffee and they do it here. Your cup is filled by pouring the coffee through the cloth filter. It is amazing what a difference this makes.

Their sweets are so good! They make the best sonho which is like a donut split in half and filled with goiaba, doce de leite or crème. They roll the donut-like part in cinnamon sugar which, well, makes it taste like home to me. We got doce de leite this time, but I’d have to say crème is my favorite.

This time we also tried a cookie. My best guess is that it was made with cornmeal and anise. I’m not a huge fan of Brazilian cookies, but this thing was great!

Açukapé is what I consider (after comparing it to other places in town) a much more traditional Brazilian café. You know I love the modern, the sleek, the updated and there are a few places like that around here now. However, I think Açukapé rates as my favorite café in town. Their pastries are some of the best and as you watch all the men standing at the bar drinking their coffee you get a true feel for the way of life here.

Tah-dah!!!!!

Look what I got this morning!

Can I just take this moment to say how proud I am to be living in Maringá when the first somewhat socially acceptable to-go cup arrived.

I had to laugh when they handed me the order. We were at a party last Saturday and one of the girls was going on about how muito grande the new coffees were. They are just barely the size of a tall at most cafes in the States. We tried to explain the venti to them, but I'm not sure they grasped the concept of a 20 oz coffee.

Ah, the freedom! I can literally walk anywhere fully caffeinated.

Coffee and Pretzels

I’ve always purchased my coffee at the local feira. I’ve experimented with a few brands in the supermarket, but I wasn’t impressed so I just stuck with buying a bag every few weeks from one of the vendors. The smell is always amazing and I like the idea of supporting the people there.

A friend of mine told me a while back that her favorite brand was Café do Ponto. Well, I ran out of coffee this week and my husband was headed to the supermarket last night so I told him to grab me a small package of it.

Oh my! It only took one sip this morning to realize it is amazing. The flavor is much more intense than what I’ve been getting at the feira. I may have found my new brand. I don’t feel so bad because it is produced in Sao Paulo state. I guess that isn’t so far away especially considering where the coffee I buy in the States comes from.

Then after some discussion about doughnuts, bagels and pretzels on Eric and Emily’s blog, my husband randomly brought home this dessert.

It was the first time I’ve seen the sweet ones at the bakery. They were awesome! Not like our pretzels at home, but still great. They actually had the texture of a heavy doughnut and were sprinkled with cinnamon and sugar.

I shouldn’t have eaten mine last night. I would have gone great with my coffee this morning!

Happy October!

Today is the first day of my favorite month of the year. Of course, looking out my window there are no signs of any changing leaves or blustery autumn winds, but there are some really pretty blooming purple trees speckled throughout the city. I also have to say that I love the palm trees here.

I’ve got pumpkins too. They may not be fit for carving, but they are fit for baking. I also have apples. I can’t go pick them myself, but there is a decent selection at the supermarket.

We’ve also been experiencing some cooler weather here which is certainly welcomed by me. It doesn’t seem to be quite as hot as it was this time last year.

While my mind is thinking fall thoughts of home I’m also noticing the changes in the air around here. As the sunny days are increasing you can really tell that there is an anticipation of summer right around the corner.

I often forget that while students at home are just gearing up for a new year the students here can already see the end in sight. They are definitely looking forward to summer.

There are a few things coming up here in the next couple weeks that are worth noting. Hopefully they will lead to some worthy posts.

First, the World Food feira (loosely translated) should start this weekend. They are already setting up for it in the center of town. German food, homemade pastel and coconut candies. I am looking forward to going a second time and taking more advantage of it. Also, I’ve gotten a lot less shy about taking pictures of everything so this year I should have plenty to report about.

This just in! Starting today the golden arches are going to start serving breakfast! I’m not excited about the food, just to see how the city reacts to it. I wonder if there will be a drive-thru line in the morning like there is at night.

Looking at the menu there are only about two foods that are the same as the US - the McGriddle and the McMuffin sandwiches. Other than that they have pão de queijo, two pieces of bread with butter that have been flattened in a panini press and a croissant.

I’m not sure why in the world someone would want something like the last three at a McDonald’s when they can get an awesome and fresh variety at one of the many bakeries around here. If I wanted a pão de queijo, that wouldn’t be my first choice of dining locations.

There are two things I am interested in though. Will they have to-go coffee??!!! And how in the world will they pronounce “McGriddle” and “McMuffin” in Portuguese?!

To top things off I am celebrating my last few days in my 20s. I’m trying not to be depressed about it. Any suggestions for what I should do over the next couple weeks?

Coffee Culture

It is a great thing for me when my interest in health crosses my interest in other cultures. The desire to learn more about these things is really what made the move abroad so appealing to me.


Last week my husband went to a local coffee shop and picked up this little flyer for me. It is all about coffee and health.



After some help with translating from my Portuguese teacher, I’ve learned the view, of what I consider a tasty liquid energizer, is a bit different here than it is in the US.

Don’t get me wrong there are a ton of coffee drinkers back home, and there are probably just as many who view is as something worthy of giving up to protect there health.

I am on the side of the coffee drinkers and tend to focus on the health benefits that come with its consumption. In moderation, of course.

I found this flyer to be so interesting. It is important to note that the publication came from a place that makes quite a bit of its money from selling the stuff. Perhaps it is a bit biased. I found some info I agreed with and some that I didn’t, from a health perspective that is.

(By the way, this is loosely translated to give you the general idea and make sure this post isn’t 3 pages long.)

The text presents the Truths vs. the Myths of drinking coffee in moderation. Now I should mention that I’ve been told that a cup in cooking is different than a cup of coffee even though it is the same word. A cup of coffee is like a shot in Brazil, but it is more intense like espresso. A cup in cooking is similar as in the US, about 200 mL.

Here are the Truths (according to this coffee shop):

Consuming coffee in moderation (3 to 4 cups a day) is effective in preventing Parkinson’s disease, depression, diabetes, gallstones, colon cancer and the use of drugs like alcohol. It also improves memory in school.

I’m not so sure about the depression here or any evidence that you are less likely to use other drugs, but the other things I did find scientific evidence to support.

Coffee contains vitamins and minerals.
True, but they named some that may not be correct like calcium. Yes, if you drink café com leite, but not in the coffee itself.

Coffee contains antioxidants and can help in sports practice. Yep.

Okay, so now for the myths and the part where I have lots of doubts. Here are the myths there answers to the myths.

Coffee is not good for kids. They disagree by saying daily coffee consumption by kids can help with concentration, learning in school, attention span and intellectual development.

Well, maybe it does, but that doesn’t mean that it is healthy. I didn’t find any evidence of their claims probably because caffeine is seen as a drug and most researches wouldn’t give it to children. Which leads me to the next point.

It isn’t true that coffee causes dependency and it does not act as a drug on the brain.

Um, sorry, just lost faith in the whole brochure. The caffeine in coffee is a psychoactive stimulant. You can learn about the action here. There is also evidence that long term use can cause dependency.

Diseases such as heart attack, deformities of the fetus, breast cancer miscarriage and gastric ulcers are not associated with moderate coffee intake.

I’d be careful this one. There is evidence that taking in 200mg of caffeine can increase the risk of miscarriage. These are the types of situations where I’d rather be safe than sorry.

Now don’t think that these are the thoughts of Brazil as a whole on their beloved drink. Just like in the US I am sure that there are contradicting thoughts and ideas.

I just think that there is some inaccurate info being presented in this coffee ad. Irresponsible promotion like this can be found everywhere, though.

I did learn a little more about coffee. I wasn’t aware of some of the specific associations. So, in retrospect I guess the brochure worked for me. I’ll continue drinking coffee. I just wish they wouldn’t stretch the truth so much.

Blondie Goes to Europe

I have arrived!!

My adventures in Europe (Ireland right now) started yesterday. You know those times when you just feel happy? You don’t have to put forth any effort, the feeling just overwhelms you.

These are the times to cherish in life. I felt it this summer during my visit home to the States and I am definitely feeling it now.

I feel unbelievably normal. Normal is a very personal, relative term. I feel normal with a splash of excitement mixed in. I enjoy my experiences in Brazil, but I don’t fit in by a long shot. From blond hair, to un-manicured nails, to my more sporty/Gap inspired attire.

While I’m sure my (US)American-ness stands out to the people here, personally I feel like I fit in. This is a great feeling.

It started in the airport. I stood there people watching for a while and in a completely packed airport I think I saw three people with high heels on. In Brazil, you can reverse this ratio.

The people looked…well…they looked like me. I used to thrive on uniqueness, on being different, but after a year standing out in Brazil, I love being in a place where I blend with the crowd.

After sleeping a whopping 12 hours, the first thing I did this morning was go get this. (I had my first pint of Guinness last night.)

I didn’t sit in the coffee shop for long. I had a to-go coffee and this overwhelming urge to get out and walk around with it!!

Over the next couple weeks I’ll have the opportunity to experience a lot. My experiences in Brazil will definitely be on my mind. I’m going to have the opportunity to give a US vs. Brazil vs. Europe perspective on things and I can’t wait.

It will be more of a Blondie in Brazil Visits Europe blog for a while.

How do I know Brazil won’t be far from my mind?

Well, one of the first languages I heard here was Portuguese – no kidding! And we just happen to be here during the Festival of World Cultures. I’ve seen the schedule and Brazil is definitely represented.

Okay, so I’m in one of the most beautiful countries in the world and all I’ve given you is a picture of a coffee. How about this one?

Just kidding. Here are some more. I have been to Dublin before so I won’t be going to a lot of the major tourist spots this time. I’m hoping to spend more time exploring the eastern coast which is sure to mean some awesome pictures.

Things That Make You Forget

Believe it or not, I found places in Curitiba that made me all about forget my longing for Starbucks and local coffee hangouts from home. Well, with the tiny exception of to-go cups, I guess.

I stumbled upon many places that I could spend hours in reading, eating and drinking coffee. Oh, they had free wifi too. Bring on the laptop!

To prevent a ridiculously long post, I’ve narrowed it down to two favorites.

This is an amazing little French bakery that was suggested to us. The croissants were more authentic than anything I have had in Brazil before. I have yet to go to France, but they were very similar to the ones I’ve had in other European cities.

Something interesting we haven’t seen before was that they brought the coffee to the table in mini-carafes. It was almost like getting free refills. Here is our spread with the little coffee carafe.

You might be wondering what that delicious looking, powdered-sugar thing is. That, my friend, is my absolute favorite pastry and I found in it Brazil - the almond croissant!

I can’t say it beat the best I’ve had at Anker in Vienna, but it was darn close to the Mozart Croissant there. It was almost as good as the one I get back home at a local bakery as well.

If the place had been closer to the hotel I would have walked there every day we were in Curitiba. It is probably a good thing it wasn’t. I don’t think those buttery, sweet, almond beauties are meant to be at the base of my food guide pyramid.

Late in the trip I also received a tip for a local café near our hotel. We get lots of tips from my husband’s coworkers, by the way.

I walked into to Lucca and could have fallen over. I know, that is dramatic, but you just can’t understand until spend months away from comfortable, cozy coffee shops. I like the cafes in Brazil, but many of them are more like cafeterias than an oasis for relaxation and reading.

Lucca was completely different.

It was three stories of modern coffee shop with an industrial, yet comfortable feel. There were tables inside and out. I was amazed to see couches and relaxing loungers for reading. There was even a little bookstore inside. This is what I have missed!!

To top it off they sold their own coffee beans. I opened the first page of the menu and almost squealed with excitement. They had cafe lattes and cappuccinos – the real kind.

What I mean by the real kind is that this was the best of two worlds – rich Brazilian coffee prepared in the traditional Italian ways. The cappuccino wasn’t sweetened with cocoa powder or topped with whipped cream. The coffee art was a nice touch too.

I noticed on the walls that they were voted Best in Curitiba from 04-07 and the menu boasted awards for several blends of their coffee.

Starbucks, what Starbucks? I can barely remember it after my trip to Curitiba.

In fact, I hear they are putting one in the city at some point. With the exception of the occasional to-go cup, I feel if I lived here I would probably frequent these local places more often.

Shocking, I know.

One Year and Counting

You can probably tell by the title what this post is about. Yep, I have now been living in Brazil for a year.

We all know time flies so I won’t go on and on about how I can’t believe it has been a year already. The truth is there have been days when time passed with a blink of an eye and days when I felt this experience was the longest of my life.

I did some creative thinking last week about some of both the good and bad things I recognize after being a year into this journey. I’m not at a point where I want to reflect on the experience as a whole. I’ll do that at the end of year two.

I can step back and say that there have been great adventures, fun times, new friends, struggles and sadness. I’ve always been taught to start with the positive, but this time I think I’d rather end on a good note for the things that are yet to come. So here you have the not-so-good and the good.

The Not-So-Good

Speaking
I am sad to say that I still don’t know Portuguese. Yes, I can answer questions and I recognize words, but I certainly don’t understand as much as I should. This makes me disappointed in myself.

Others have suggested that there are reasons including – I’ve lived here a year, but spent a significant amount of time in the US visiting family and friends (13 weeks to be exact), I’m not in a situation where I’m forced to speak the language daily and I don’t watch TV in Portuguese.

Hopefully, it will change soon. I signed up for private lessons last week. I’m already wishing that this was what I had done in the first place. After only 3 private lessons I recognize that the group classes I had before were not nearly as effective.

Personal Bubble Issues
I still have personal bubble issues, but I am more tolerant, I think. Now let me explain. I’m not talking about greetings – hugs, kisses – I don’t mind. It is the person literally breathing on your neck as you wait in line at the grocery store that gets to me. I just prefer space from strangers.

Heat
As much as I try to enjoy it, the heat is still unbearable to me. I am not looking forward to round two at all. If I had a pool or beach this would be a different story. I am thankful I have all the trees in this city for shade though. Now, if they would only plant a huge one right in front of our building so it would reduce the afternoon scorch I’d be good.

Travel Expectations
I have gotten to see several places here within a year’s time – Foz (twice), Sao Paulo state, Curitiba, Londrina and Floripa. That is actually a pretty decent list. There are just a ton of places, mostly in the north, that I thought for sure I would get to see and I don’t think it is going to happen.

There are a lot of factors – schedules, lack of holidays this year, cost – I’ve even traded some opportunities to travel here for travel other places which I’m happy with. There is just still a feeling of disappointment that I’ll miss seeing most of this country. However, a lot can happen in a year so we’ll see.

The Good

A Settled Apartment
Considering that it took 6 months to completely move into the apartment with all that we needed, this is a much bigger deal than it might first appear. The endless days of waiting for furniture, the repair of the kitchen floor and the install then re-install of the ACs and internet are now behind me. Sometimes this is much more unbelievable me than the fact that I’ve been here a year!!

Shortcuts and Street Names
It is definitely nice when you get to know a city. I’m happy to say that I actually know several street names and areas of town. When I’m out and about I’ve recognized a few short cuts to save me walking time as well. Knowing your way around can make a place feel more like home even if it is for a short time.

Cafés and Padarias
Despite the fact that Europe will always hold a special place with me when it comes to bakeries and cafés, I am beginning to enjoy those I have available here. I’ve had some really great breads and pastries and, of course, great coffee. I miss the relaxing atmosphere that I am used to at these types of places, but I’ve learned to ignore the madness of people rushing around and create my own coffee break.

Less Looks
I think I get stared at a little less when I am out. This could be due to one of three things. It is actually happening less, I was overly sensitive to it before and noticed it much more, or I’ve just become immune to it and it doesn’t bother me anymore.

New Career
I’ve mentioned my switch to freelance writing throughout this living abroad experience. Not a day goes by that I am not happy about the fact that I don’t have to go into an office. This is definitely the right move for me.

So Saúde, Prost, Na zdraví, Sláinte and Cheers!

Here’s the passing of one year and the start of another.

The Real Thing

A few days ago I was reading about how to make real Brazilian coffee. Apparently there is no coffee maker involved.

I was a little confused by the process, until we stopped in a local bakery last weekend for breakfast. My husband had been there with coworkers and I wanted to check it out. I loved it and will write more about it later, first I have to tell you about the coffee.

We stood at the counter waiting for our order and looked over the see others getting refills at the bar (coffee bar that is). The woman was pouring the coffee out of a pan through a sieve and into the cup.

It only took me a second to realize that I was witnessing exactly what I had read about. Our next stop was the grocery store so I made a point to pick up my own sieve which looks a bit like a mini-fishing net.

So this is how it is done. Any input if I am incorrect is greatly appreciated.

First you boil the water in a pan and add sugar. Once the sugar dissolves you pour the coffee grounds right into the pan.

If you haven’t had Brazilian coffee, there is a distinct difference between our ground coffee in the US and ground coffee here. Brazilian coffee is ground into a fine powder. More fine than even espresso.

So now you have a very strong, sweet and thick liquid. This is poured through the mini-fishing net and into the cup. This separates the grounds (more of a paste at this point) from the drinkable goodness.

It is a bit labor intensive so I haven’t used the method every morning, but I really like knowing how to make it correctly. I need to perfect it a bit, but I’m one step closer to making my coffee more like what I get when we go out.

Macchiato

Just when I thought I had found my favorite coffee shop along comes Macchiato. This little gem opened a few months ago and my husband and I decided to stop by one Saturday morning. I immediately liked the place.

It has a modern, sit-and-relax-here-for-hours kind of atmosphere with both tables and booths. There was even a little reading section with magazines to borrow during your visit.

I love this because I feel like a complete weirdo when I take my books or magazines to the coffee shop to read. This is one trend that has definitely not hit Maringá. In the US people spend hours at their tables immersed in a good novel. I rarely witness this here.

A friend who is most recently from Curitiba did tell me that coffee shop reading occurs there and that she also noticed the lack of this relaxing pastime upon moving to Maringá. You can also forget about laptops. I’ve seen a total of one person in a coffee shop (the one in the mall) working on a computer.

Sometimes I catch myself and think well maybe it is because people can’t afford them here. Then I think about the imported Audis and Range Rovers, Nike Shox and designer jeans I see on a daily basis and I think, no, that’s not the reason.

So anyway, I’m hoping since Macchiato offers reading materials, maybe they hope you will read during your visit. It is worth a try.

Moving on to their menu. We just stopped for coffee and the selection was great. This is the first place I have been to that actually distinguishes between the different kind of cappuccinos. I think I’ve mentioned before that a Brazilian cappuccino is more like a mocha. It has chocolate powder in it and whipped cream on top. Well Macchiato offers the Brazilian cappuccino and the Italian cappuccino, which is more the traditional frothed milk and espresso.

I decided to try the coffee with avelã, hazelnut. Much to my surprise, it was basically a latte with a scoop of Nutella spread in it. More like a dessert, but pretty darn good.

The shop is relatively close to our apartment so I have easy access. It is in a different direction too, which is a plus because I can get a change of atmosphere. In addition to coffee, the rest of their menu looks great. They also had a dessert case which, by appearance, topped even Marcos.

I’ll be headed back soon with my reading material in hand. Who knows, maybe I’ll do something really crazy and actually write there on my laptop. Somebody’s got to set the trend. Maybe this gringa can get it going.

Alfajor in Argentina

I had never heard of this great dessert/cookie that is common in Argentina. When we had made the decision to go over to that side of the falls the one thing my husband had on his mind was finding these.

He heard about them from his coworkers and they actually had some at our local grocery store around Christmas, but they are no where to be found now. Our local bakery, Marcos, has their version and we had tried one in the Sao Paulo airport once, but we wanted to try the real thing from where it originated.

I guess I should explain Alfajor before I go any further. It is two-wafer type cookies with a huge layer of doce de leite (a caramel made of milk and sugar) in the middle. Then the whole thing is covered by a thin layer of chocolate. I think it is similar to a Little Debbie snack, but my husband is always quick to remind me that I am wrong and that they are so much better.

We were delighted to see a Havanna shop right on the grounds of Iguazu park in Argentina! This is actually the same brand that they sell in the Sao Paulo airport, but this little shop was much nicer.

There was Alfajor and variations of similar sweets everywhere. We also learned about all the different varieties. There were those filled with chocolate and some with a fruit mixture. Some were covered with dark chocolate and some with white chocolate. I stuck with the standard and it was great. Much better than the others we had tried previously.

We were hoping to find more around town on the Brazil side (with it being so close to Argentina) so we could take home a box, but didn’t find anything. It wasn’t good timing to get a box from Havana with the heat in the car and all that. At least we can say we had a real Alfajor in Argentina.

And take a look at this exciting news. This was a poster outside the shop. Do you see what I see? Why yes, those look like…to-go cups!!!

Come on Brazil, or at least Maringá, we’ve got to get with the program. Am I going to be forced drive to Argentina for my to-go coffee?

Café Cremoso

I have branched out of my typical stops at Marcos and Cafeeria Maringá to give Café Cremoso another try. My husband and I went there a few months ago, but it is further away from our place so I haven’t made it back.
The first time we went I was amazed by the fact that they actually have breakfast-like items on the menu, namely omelets. While I know this is even a lunch food in Brazil, it is usually more popular on the breakfast menu in the States. They also had a few sandwiches that could pass as breakfast options.

While the place is older and less modern than my other favorite cafes, it has its own character. It is a bit cramped, but strangely has a Waffle House-type feel. There is a counter with bar service in the front with cooks behind it at the grill.

I’m a big fan of egg sandwiches so this is what I ordered, along with an espresso com leite. This is basically a latte everywhere else in the world, but I had to do some experimenting until I finally found it. Now it is my favorite coffee drink here, and although smaller, at R$1.90 ($1.12 USD) it is much better for the budget than Starbucks back home. However, I’d probably give $5.00 USD if they’d put it in a to-go cup.

I had to ward off the typical stares from the waitresses who were not so friendly, I might add. The one serving me did pretend like she didn’t notice my inability to order correctly, but I saw her say something to her companion as she went back to put my order in. The cashier was very nice, however.

That is one reason why I’ve come to love Marcos. They know me now and wait patiently as I stumble through my order. They are all smiles and welcome my frequent visits. It is good to get out of the comfort zone though (as if this isn’t an everyday occurrence) and try someplace new.

Overall, you can’t beat the bargain I got. I’m still amazed how some things can cost practically nothing here (produce, beer), but others are so outrageous (housewares, electronics).

I settled my tab at R$3.60 ($2.12 USD), an incredible deal for a latte and breakfast sandwich. Maybe that is why McDonald’s doesn’t serve breakfast here, because it couldn’t compete with the prices. I’m still wondering how they even paid for the ingredients and the waitress for what I was charged. I know labor and food are cheap, but come on!

By the way, the pictures are bit blurry because it was a rainy day. However, if you look closely you will see that a Christmas decoration of Santa and his sleigh still hangs in the air between the trees surrounding the restaurant. Looks like we, in the US, aren’t the only ones who keep them up year round!

No To-Go Coffee? Well, I Guess I’ll Have a Beer

I’m not trying to beat this topic of the lack of to-go coffee into the ground, but every time I return to Brazil from a trip elsewhere I’m hit with this hard reality once again.

While sitting in the Sao Paulo airport on Friday, I realized something that had never occurred to me before. I can get beer to-go here, but I can’t get coffee to-go. How crazy is that?!

I can walk up to any airport restaurant kiosk or any eating establishment in the food court at the mall and order a frosty cerveja and it will be served to me in a plastic cup. I am then free to take this plastic up with me as I walk around.

What I cannot do is order a nice cappuccino, receive in a disposable cup with a lid and leisurely walk around. What is wrong with this picture? It just seems completely mixed up to me.

I guess when one is on the go, it is better to be intoxicated than caffeinated.

To take it a step further, passengers in a car can openly drink a beer, but there is no coffee available for take out during long commutes. (Yes, I know that the whole drinking in a car thing isn’t exactly legal, but they don’t enforce it. Having a law and not enforcing it is the same as not having a law, in my opinion.)

I always experience the impact of this somewhat odd phenomenon when I go back to the states. I’m so excited to get a coffee to-go I can barely wait to find the first available line at the airport terminal. However, when at a restaurant and ordering a beer with dinner I have to consciously remember that I actually have to finish it before I can leave.

Time for Some Positive Thinking

I realize that most of my recent posts have had a bit of a negative tone. There was the variety, the weather and then travel. I thought it might be time to concentrate on some of the things that I actually like here, focus on some positive energy.

When thinking of things to mention, I quickly realized that it is the simple things that make me happy. I’ve always been like this. I can find so much joy in something simple like a special food or finding a sale and immediately my mood is brightened.

Here are a few things that I actually like about living in Maringá.

1. The fruit. I have probably quadrupled my antioxidant and vitamin C intake! Unfortunately, since fries are served with every single meal here and deep fried snacks are abundant (even though I exercise moderation) I am probably canceling out the benefits. Despite that, my body is getting nutrients it has never seen before. I drink pure açai juice and eat passion fruit. Even things that I could have back home like bananas, oranges and pineapple, taste much better here.

2. Capybara (Capivara in Portuguese). Have you seen these incredibly cool creatures? I never knew about them until I moved to Brazil. The best way to describe them is overgrown guinea pigs. They are nicknamed water pigs. I just love to look at them. To my knowledge there aren’t any in Maringá, but I’ve seen them in Curitiba and at a lake near the airport in São Paulo. Here’s a picture if you are wondering what they look like.

3. Agua con Gas. Water with gas, the bubbly. I first discovered this in Europe. Well, I guess not discovered, it exists the U.S., but it is expensive hardly anyone drinks it. In Brazil it is as inexpensive as plain bottled water and they serve it with lime. It has become my alternative to soft drinks, which I set out to eliminate from my diet once we moved here. I am close, I only have about one a week. I was on a 2-3 cans a day habit when I was at home so I really had a problem!

4. Trees. This is one of the most beautiful things about this city and truly makes it stand out from other cities I’ve visited in Brazil. I believe it was once noted as the city with the most trees per capita in Brazil, but has since fallen to second or third. Despite the face that we live right in the middle of downtown I am still able to look out our window and see trees. They line every street and overflow in every park. They are also great for shade in the unbearable heat!

5. Coffee. I’m not talking about the drink here, although Brazilian coffee is some pretty tasty stuff. I love seeing the coffee plants on the outskirts of town. Every time we take a trip I get to see the rows and rows of green plants with bright red berries. I buy my coffee at the feira and it is probably the freshest coffee I have ever woken up to.

I’ll stop there but there are other things. See what a little positive thinking will do. I’ve completely forgotten how frustrating it is that stores close for the weekend at 1:00pm on Saturday. Well, maybe not completely but almost.