Living
Edward Finney
Oct 7 2008

If you go to the Northeast reagion of Brasil doesn´t mean that your purchases are limited to souvenirs of arts and crafts and the normal T shirt with some silly saying. In our wonderful seaside city of João Pessoa located on the eastern most point in South America, you can find anything that you would find in London or New York, and much much more.

Brasil doesn´t have a car of it´s own but every major manufacturer in the world has a factory here. . . . . .most in the south of Brasil near or in São Paulo. Want a Ford, Fiat, Renault, Honda, or Volkswagen. .you can find it here. At a price competetive with it´s home nation. If it is imported, be prepared to open your wallet wide to pay an absurb price. Cars, which were previously only for the rich are now financially available to the growing middle class because of the booming economy and easy credit with long payback.

Clothes are another bargin. Brasil has long been known for it´s fine eye for design. In the major shopping reagions, you can find clothes that will satisfy the most discriminating taste. Here in João Pessoa, go to Ave Epitacio Pessoa, Edson Ramalho or the Shopping Center in Manaira. Chic stores with class merchandise have what you want but not always at the price you want to pay. If you want cheap, and perhaps a little less class, you go to the center city where the goverment has made shopping centers for the lower classes that sell everything imaginable. There you can buy the T shirt with the silly saying for about 2 or 3 dollars US. CD´s and DVD`s on your list?. . . . . . try 4 for $5 US. . . no guarenteed you´ll get it thru customs. Pirating is an art here and the government can´t keep up with putting them out of business. Same same with a watch. Knock offs for 5 to 8 dollars US. . . no guarentee it will work more than 2 months. But,
if it doesn´t, buy another. . they are cheap enough.

Our shopping center `Shopping Manaira` is the second largest in Northern and Northeastern Brasil (Recife has the largest) and the 10th largest in Brasil. It has 260 stores with class merchandise at a price more expensive than city center but still reasonable. Many national and international stores are represented here. Large, air conditioned, pleasant like most international malls, it entertains more than one million clients a month. You should be able to find what you want there for a price you want to pay.

Food? Fruits, vegetables, meat? Go to any of the many Mercados throughout the city. Direct from the farm with no middleman you have your choice of quality farm fresh produce and meat at the cheapest prices in the city. You can even bargin a little if that is what is in your blood. . .not guarenteed that you will get it any cheaper but it can be fun listening to how you are robbing them, their family,and sending them into bankrupcy. First class supermarkets, Hipermarkets, call them what you will. . . . they are large and have it all. Not the best prices compared to the Mercados but the quality is there and the selection is enormous. Colored peppers, cherry, pear, salad and beefsteak tomatoes, Japanese cukes, dozens of types of cheese, bakeries that will have you salivating, wines from everywhere (except California it seems). . You are not going to go thru withdrawal symptoms while here.

Fish and seafood fresh off the boat in Tambaú Beach, beef, pork, chickens direct from the interior a few hours away. Like goat. No problem. Tropical vegeies and fruit you never had before? Try them. . you´ll like them and go back for more. Lots of reagional stuff that I wouldn´t recommend but if you are courageous and can handle the `Delhi Bellý the next day, go ahead. Hard to find hot peppers. . . . . .bring your own.

That´s about it. You can shop until you drop. Eat until you break your belt. And even find that silly T shirt if you are so inclined.