Why We Love the Brazilians

We love Brazilians for staying fit and having beautifully-sculpted bodies. Of course, you have to look your best to sport a thong bikini or a speedo.

Just off the heels of the 2012 London Summer Olympics, fans are already buzzing with excitement about Rio de Janeiro, host of the 2016 Summer Olympic Games. It’s the first time a South American country will host the Games.

Edson Arantes do Nascimento aka Pelé is inarguably the best soccer player of all time. We admire the now retired sportsman for his competitive edge and for scoring 1,281 goals in 1,363 games.

The macaw (pictured), jaguar, anaconda, howler monkey, black caiman, whiteknee tarantula and pink dolphin are a few reasons why exploring Amazonian rainforests can be a great outdoor experience. We love a good trek through the jungle to see animals in their natural habitat.

You can’t talk about Brazil without mentioning its popular beach culture and beautiful beaches, including Copacabana, Ipanema, Fernando de Noronha, Caraiva, Bonete, Leblon and Logoinha do Leste.

Volleyball -- including beach volleyball -- is Brazil’s second most popular sport, and this South American country is the most successful country to compete. The Brazil men’s national volleyball team won both the Volleyball World Cup and Volleyball World Championship. And both the men’s and women’s national teams are ranked number 1 in the FIVB (Fédération Internationale de Volleyball) World Rankings.

We love sexy Brazilian model and actress Adriana Lima. The Victoria’s Secret model was born in Salvador, Bahia. Adriana started modeling when she was 15 years old and is ranked number 4 on Forbes Magazine’s list of the highest-paid models in the world.

We love big dance parties, and there’s no reason why we wouldn’t love shaking our tail feathers with the rest of the samba dancers during Carnival. The huge festival in Rio de Janeiro draws more than 4 million people each year.

Experience Capoeira -- a martial art where power, speed and leg sweeps are combined with dance and music. These unique Brazilian moves were created by descendants of African slaves and influenced by native Brazilians during the 16th century.

Travel to the border -- between Brazil and Argentina -- to see one of the most amazing natural wonders in the world, Iguazu Falls.

Born in Rio de Janeiro, actor Rodrigo Santoro is one of Brazil’s most talented and famous actors. We loved his performance in movies, including <i>Che</i>, <i>Rio</i>, <i>I Love You Phillip Morris</i>, <i>Hemmingway & Gellhorn</i>, and <i>300</i>.

We love Rio de Janeiro because it’s the host city for the 2014 Soccer World Cup and 2016 Summer Olympic Games. Not to mention, its fun tourist attractions, including Christ the Redeemer, Sugarloaf Mountain, Carnival, Tijuca National Park and Hippie Fair.

We love the fruits native to Brazil, including acai berries (pictured), mangoes, papayas, guavas, passion fruit and hog plums. Over the last decade, acai has been increasingly popular and used in juice, smoothies, food, cosmetics and dietary supplements.

Soccer is the most popular sport in Brazil. Seleção Brasileira, the Brazilian national soccer team, has won the FIFA World Cup a record 5 times. With great players like Pelé, Ronaldo, Roberto Carlos and Garrincha, there’s no mystery why the 2014 World Cup Championship will be held in Rio de Janeiro. Other popular sports in Brazil include footvolley, basketball, auto racing and futsul.

Can you say yummy? Feijoada -- a stew made with beans, beef and pork -- is Brazil’s national dish. If you’re a real meat eater, then we suggest you try eating at a churrascaria, where the waiters move around the restaurant with skewers, slicing meat onto your plate. We love it!

São Paulo is the largest city in Brazil and the 6th largest city in the world with more than 10 million residents. We marvel at the city’s awe-inspiring architecture and delicious gastronomic cuisine. Fortaleza, Salvador and Brazil’s capital, Brasilia, are a few other places we love.

Isn’t she lovely? It’s Brazilian supermodel Gisele Bündchen. In addition to being the top-paid model, according to Forbes magazine, she is also a goodwill ambassador for the United National Environment Programme. What’s not to love about her?

We love the sweet taste of brigadeiros -- a candy made out of sweetened condensed milk, butter and cocoa powder. After it’s baked, the delicious mixture is usually rolled into balls or used as a topping or filling for cakes and other pastries. Not surprisingly, brigadeiros are a popular treat served at children’s birthday parties.