Bristol Duomo Park Hotel

The Parque dos Poloneses...

by lichinga

The Parque dos Poloneses (Polish people Park) has been built with original reconstruction of traditional Polish rural houses (see picture). The Polish community is very strong in Parana, mainly in the southern surroundings of Curitiba.
The stronger community is the Italian one, followed by the Polish and the Germans (most of them still came from former Pomerania).

Arab food - fast food style!

by VdV about Habib's

Habib's is a fast-food chain, supposedly with 200 locations throughout Brasil and Mexico combined. It's the equivalent almost of a Burger King or Del Taco (but slightly better food!)

After passing by Habib's several times while riding a bus or in a car, I finally had an opportunity to eat there...for a friend's daughter's bday party! It was a festive atmosphere, perfect for the kids at the party, with a "play area." The "party" fare being served was kibbe (a traditional Middle Eastern food--seasoned ground beef filling within a cracked wheat dough that is fried); Brasilian pasteles; pizza (the "International" food choice found everywhere 'round the globe); and of course, one can't truly be a fast-food restaurant without the requisite french fries!

It was just interesting to go there. While I think the food selections would be popular enough to make the chain successful in the U.S., I don't know if the "Habib's" icons would fly in oh-so-politically-correct U.S. places...it reminded me of Sambo's restaurants (remember those? with the tiger-pancakes and Sambo?)

It was just fun to check out...and cheap too, for those looking for a quick, fast-food fix.

Curitiba

by hartuing

"Curitiba for travelers"

In this page i am sharing with people from all over the world my impressions about this city located in south Brazil. It is actually the sixth largest metropolitan area in the country and the eleventh in South America, with more than 3 million people. I've been there several times and in my opinion this gives me a good knowledge to tell everybody about things in this place.

Curitiba has a reputation to offer a great quality of life to the resident people. Between brazilians, Curitiba is thought always as an example of urban planning, cleanliness and green parks around the city. In my point of view, there are several nice places to visit and some positive solutions about urbanism, but the city has grown too much in the past two decades and most of the good standards are now frightened or even lost. Many big city problems are now real life in Curitiba, such as crime issues, traffic and deployment. Visitors may experience a first-world tour, but this town of millions don't let us forget that it's Brazil, with all its enchants and disgraces, not different from any place in this country.

I tried all the times to live the everyday of resident people, go where people are used to go and knowing locals around. Local customs for me are the main atrractives of any place. You are more likely to find expert and alternative tips here than the lonely planet's ones.

here lies my compilation, and i didn't forget the traps and dangers, that are equally important when you go around the globe.