I was born in Ukraine, long time lived in Poland, now I live in Brazil. I love to travel, and travelled a lot around Europe. Also I visited South Korea, Antigua. But now it is a time for Latin America.
Brazil! What do we think about Brazil in Europe?! What stereotypes we have in our minds?
Definitely, first thing we think is the Carnival, second - Rio de Janeiro, then probably beaches Copacabana and Ipanema, where young guys all day long playing football and beach volleyball, hot Brazilian body shapes (I mean women here), Neymar, and never-ending summer. This is my subjective point of view. Maybe another people from Europe would imagine different picture. And I couldn’t agree more that it is also possible to have a completely different picture in your head.
Before my first visit in Brazil, to the south of Brazil - Rio Grande do Sul region, I didn’t know that such places exist. Such places as “Big green” canyon, as I called it, Fortaleza Canion close to Cambara do Sul town (also known Cambara Canion).
And many other incredible places. Living there on the other side of the ocean it is hard to believe that down here in Brazil you may discover mountains higher than Alps, wineries valleys as in Italy, breweries and little cute towns with houses in Bavarian style as in Germany. Some of those places were set up by the Italian immigrants and some other by German and Polish ones. Today the region of wineries called itself a Small Italy, our Italy - “Nossa Italia”. They are proud to be descendants of the European immigrants and proud of their achievements in cultivation the traditional Italian recipes of cheese, hams and wines. Many of them made a fortune on it and export their products to eco-shops around the world.
Rio Grande do Sul is a region of “gaúchos”, a traditional cowboys, a skilled horsemen who devote themselves to lassoing and raising cattle and horses. Later all inhabitans of Rio Granbde do sul became being called”gauchos*”.* This guys drank a tradidional tea made from erva mate, a special herb which grows only in Latin America and has energizing properties as a coffee due to a high contain of caffeine. This drink is calles*”chimarrão__”.*__
Nowadays it is usual to see people here in Rio Grande do Sul, in every town or city, or small village, drinking “chimarrão” while walking in the city parks, at their front yards and gardens, relaxing at the balcony and chatting with friends or family members.
And what is more important, this is like peace pipe here. You share it with all of the participants of the group no matter you know the person or not. It means you are the part of a group, part of the family. It is like they say, “you are one of us!”.
As I mentioned at the beginning, I like to travel. So I like to enjoy drinking chimarrão in the different places every time. So every weekend when we plan our trip, we choose the new place, where we can drink mate. Especially it is cool when it comes to driving, no alcohol attached.
I have chosen for you TOP 5 Best Viewpoints in Rio Grande do Sul where you can enjoy incredibly marvelous beauty of Brazilian nature and drink your mate. You will not regret your trip there, as I bet, your never saw before this view in your life. It is totally unique experience.
In the map next to every object you will find short facts, information on opening hours and admission fee.
Map - Top 5 Best Viewpoints in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, for drinking Chimarrão
Your feedback and any comments will be very appreciated.
You need some tips or help to get around Rio Grande do Sul, feel free to contact me here.
Have a nice trip, try new things, open to the world! 
Yours, Olga.
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