What a view of Joao Pessoa!
Estação Cabo Branco Ciência Arte e Cultura
Open your eyes to enjoy this latest work of the architect Niemeyer. This architectural masterpiece is situated in a Mata Atlântica nature reserve and was inaugurated in July 2008. From the top of its main tower, it offers the visitor a spectacular 360 degree view of Joao Pessoa and the Cabo Branco Park. Cultural events are held within the complex, in addition to scientific activities related to the environment.
ABC
Within the Sertaneja (frontiersmen) popular folklore, ABC is a competition between two quick thinking people who are required to make up instant poem /songs, based upon an agreed theme. These themes may be drawn from folklore heroes and their adventures, the stories contained in the booklets and magazines hung upon strings for sale in the street markets or the doings of the local inhabitants. The participants take it in turns to sing a few phrases about the agreed theme, and when one stops singing suddenly, the other has to immediately pick up, and continue. This is a very ancient tradition in the region, and is made more intriguing by the compulsory use of key words or codes, following the alphabetical order. Don’t miss listening to one of these competitions.
Mercado de Artesanato Paraibano, such wonderful Handicrafts
There are only a relatively few places where you will find authentic Brazilian art, but in Paraiba you will be able to see at close hand a marvellous selection of popular art-work. There, wonderful surprises await you in many shops, including wooden sculptures, ceramic pieces, popular toys, marquetry, baskets and bags made out of wax palm fibre and cloth woven on hand looms, utilising the famous coloured cotton, and made into hammocks, bedspreads and shirts.
Don’t forget your sun-glasses!
The quality of light in this region is so pure and clear that sudden moves from bright sunlight into the shadow of a building or tree can temporarily disorientate you, until your eyes adjust.
Don’t miss trying this!
Typical Paraibana food. For those who have never had the opportunity to taste the local food, the names and descriptions may seem somewhat exotic, but do experiment! In Sertaneja (pertaining to the frontier) cuisine, lamb and goat meat are considered to be the choicest. The most famous specialities include Buchada which is a sort of Haggis, being the animals stomach filled with spiced chopped heart, liver and kidney. Panelada is a stew with tripe and vegetables, Sarrabulho is based upon coagulated blood and to complete the menu of typical culinary delights, a stew made from lamb and chicken giblets.
Rubicão is a dish which originated in the Sertão (frontier) and is based upon goat
meat, which is more tender and less fatty than beef. This is a traditional cowboy dish, and to-day includes tasty accompaniments like green beans, Manioc flower paste and cottage cheese.