Stacey Sofka in Natal Brazil

I traveled to beautiful to Natal, Brazil in December of 2009. I went to the spectular lake district. I also went to Ponta Negra and Pipa beaches. The lake district and beaches were very beautiful, safe, and clean. Georgous white, soft stretches of beaches. Natal is home to the second largest urban park in Brazil called the sand dune park. It is also home to the largest cashew tree in the world. Brazilan food is quite delicous. The national dish is feijoida, made from pork, black beans and rice. Braziialn coffee is so strong, served expresso style with sugar and yummy. The fruits are mango, coconut, and papaya. The alcholic drinks are beer, wine, pitu, cashaw, caipinais. I love to drink caipinias. Along the beaches of Pipa and Ponta Negra there is a great variety of vendors selling a different food from Brazilian food or pizza or crepes. Vendor sell art work, jewelry, bikini, bikini wax, sarongs, and Brazilian football jersey. Of course I purchased a fabous Kaka jersey! This is an essential item for any one that loves football and I am very happy about my purchase! I had the pleasure of staying with my good Brazilain friend and his family during my trip. I think this was such a culturally rewarding trip for me. I stayed at my friends house with cocunut, and mango trees galore. This was wonderful for me cut the fruit drectly off the tree and eat it. So fresh and delicous. I had a marvelous time in Brazil. I highly reccomend traveling to the northeast or Rio Gande Norte of Brazil. Brazil is rising economically. The FIFA world cup for football will take place in 2014 in Brazil. Natal city will be one the host cities for the 2014 FIFA cup games. This means a huge increase in Natal's infrasture, for expample a new massive airport constuction. The Olympics will take place in Rio in 2018. This will inrease investment and infrasture in Rio for the Olympic games. Finally, according to the world bank Brazil's GDP for 2009 was 16.7 and they have 11 strongest economy in the world. Watch out world Brazil is rising. I am definately heading back to this beautiful country in the future. Why? Beautiful beaches, food, music, and very warm, kindhearted people. I just hope they is going to a hamock and capininha waiting for me.