Hotel Tivoli

Fine Wines of Durigan Winery

by mircaskirca

Starting in Dall'Armi, Luiz and me continued our wine tasting journey and finally ended in Durigan Winery. It is the biggest and the most modern from those that we have visited and it offers the greatest selection of wine.

Durigan family arrived in Brazil in 1845 from Treviso. Their activities were always dedicated to agriculture, especially the wine. The beginning of wine production goes back in 1873. In 1932 the wine factory was awarded with a quality certificate and a medal of honour. Production was improving all the time and the top quality continued to the present time.

The finest Durigan wines are Tinto Cabernet Savignon, Rose Cabernet Savignon, Tinto Merlot, Branco Moscato Giallo and Espumante Moscatel.

On arrival one of professional staff offered us assistance. He was very friendly and explained all about the winery and wine and was particularly enthusiastic when he was telling about the visit of wineries in Italy. We tasted everything from sparkling wine to white and red. As always, red was my favourite, but I enjoyed others as well.

Avenida Manoel Ribas 6169 - Santa Felicidade

the city's best park - entrance

by randychiara

everything is sooooo clean
i hate to hear, when i am in the usa or in europe, that brasil is all dirt and ignorant illiterate people..
oh man.. Americans should really come and see places like this..
Singapore is not the only clean city in the world.. and law here is not as strict as in Singapore..
oh well, it's the same story.. western countries like to talk *** about 3rd world places...

Curitiba and the Train Ride to Paranagua.

by coconutwireless

"Curitiba"

After crossing the border by private car from Cateratas Argentina, (Iguazu Falls) to Foz de Iguazu on the Brazilian side, we traveled by bus to Curibita to take the Serra Verde Express Train Ride to Paranagua.
The local Curitibanos are mostly descended from Italian, German and Polish immigrants. There is a large university population, which gives the city a young feel, and a good music scene as well.
As you exit the Rodaviario, there is a Curitiba City Tourist booth, with English speaking college students - very helpfull with information. Well, that is not always true as the new government has cut back tourist services and you cannot always find them in the booths., however, if they are there they are quite helpful. I found Bruno in the Sierra Verde Express Office very helpful and he speaks English.
Although we did not take the opportunity to use the public transport (bus) system in Curitiba is world renowned. It is unique in that when boarding many of the city buses you have to enter through big perspex tubes that are unique in kind.

"Curitiba: Train Ride to Paranagua"

Serra Verde Express: Train Ride to Paranagua: (however, in January of 2004 the train was only going as far as Morretes due to rennovation of the tracks)
Completed in 1880, the railroad from Curitiba to the Port of Paranagua is the most exciting in Brazil. Leaving from Curitiba at an altitude of 900 meters, the train descends a steep mountainside to the coastal lowlands. The 110-km track goes through 13 tunnels and crosses 67 bridges. Promotional materials say "the view below depending on the cloud formations and tone of the sunlight is often surreal: threatening mountain canyons, tropical lowlands and the vast, blue Atlantic.
We bought the Morretes and Antonina Package which includes a minivan trip to Antonina and a lunch in Morretes of the local dish "Barreado". Sharing the lunch with many local Brazallians who come from all over Brazil to experience the train ride was the highlight of the whole trip. The package was 120BR per person.
"Although the train ride was interesting it was not something I would go out of my way to see unless Curitba is on your itinerary".
If you go, I would definitely recommend staying a night or two in Morretes and Antonina.
"Sierra Verde Express" check out their website www.serraverdeexpress.com.br for more information and photos.
Tickets can be bought from the Serra Verde Express contact the ticket office in Curitiba (2348441). Ask for "Bruno" he is most helpful and speaks English.