A prize to be cherished

This is one of our powdered chocolate mixes one puts in the milk or with water and powdered milk for a nice chocolaty treat. This is a common remedy here to encourage kids to drink their milk and many drink it everyday. As with many products here, there is an extra incentive - buying this brand over another type could win you a special prize.




Only in Brasil? I actually can think of a few different countries where this kind of thing might work. My first inclination for Brasil now, having lived here for more than four years, is that this kind of thing shows how far Brasil needs to go to join the "1st world." Although it is stated that one can win either they cow OR the equivalent in R$ of the value of it, what people who spend R$5 on chocolate mix powder are really buying it hoping to win a cow? Okay, so this might appeal to those in the interior who might have a good fazenda to keep the cow in. It might even appeal to the general minimum salary worker here in the city, since there is no law against farm animals within city limits, although the cost of upkeep of a cow might be a tad discouraging. Sure, sure, it's just a symbol to go with that fact that this is chocolate MILK, okay, whatever. It's still just a tad on the ridiculous side.

Feeding Micos

There is a large population of small monkeys here, and they hang out and beg just like squirrels and pigeons in the States. If you feed one, the whole colony shows up asking for a handout. It's kind of funny to go to the zoo and see the depressing animals in cages and see these guys perched on the signs outside of the cages. Our inner city pests. Occasionally in Pelo you will see a random guy on the street with one on a leash that you can pose and have your picture with. Their little teeth look pretty sharp, so I'd rather treat them as the wild animals they are. Still, they are awfully cute.

Urban Cowboy

It's not terribley unusual here to see horses, or any kind of farm animal/livestock, within city limits on a regular basis. People keep them all over, and they are left grazing the grasses at the side of major roads, sometimes tied up, sometimes not, and are frequent road hazzards for unsuspecting motorists if they happen to think the grass on the other side might be tastier than where they are. Less common, at least in city limits, is the cowboy riding along the street (other than cops). This guy wasn't really riding in the street, but on the sidewalk between the lanes in each direction. He even had a saddle, which you usually don't see, and seemed dressed for the part. The only thing missing here is the cellphone he was chatting on right before I managed to drag out my camera.