| From the www.VideoSource.com Global Village Travel Guide and DVD, "Brazil". Stock footage available from http Transcript: THE SOUTHLAND WAS CONGENIAL TO THESE SETTLERS FROM EUROPE. IT IS THE ON REGION OF BRAZIL WITH FOUR DISTINCT SEASONS, LOOKING EVERY BIT LIKE THE EUROPEAN COUNTRYSIDE....... ......EXCEPT FOR THE PALM TREES. THE TOWN OF GRAMADO LOOKS VERY GERMAN, WHICH ISN'T SURPRISING BECAUSE GERMAN IMMIGRANTS SETTLED HERE IN 1824, AND DEVELOPED A PROSPEROUS AGRICULTURAL ECONOMY. IN FACT, THIS PART OF BRAZIL RETAINS A EUROPEAN WAY OF LIFE THAT SEEMS TO HAVE ALMOST DISAPPEARED IN EUROPE ........ IN THE 1870S ITALIANS ALSO CAME, BRINGING THEIR OWN CULTURE AND THEIR GRAPES AND PRODUCING VERY GOOD WINE IN THESE RICH SOUTHERN SOILS. BUT THE SOUTHERN REGION ISN'T ONLY A LAND OF AGRICULTURE. IT IS A REGION OF NATURAL WONDERS AS WELL. THESE WIND SCULPTED SPIRES OF RED SANDSTONE RESEMBLE THE RUINS OF SOME ANCIENT CIVILIZATION, ITS GREATNESS REDUCED BY TIME, AND THE NAME GIVEN TO THESE NATURAL MONUMENTS, VILA VELHA, MEANS JUST THAT -- ANCIENT CITY. ITAIMBEZINHO CANYON IS A DRAMATIC FIVE MILE WIDE FAULT-- CLEAVED BY GEOLOGICAL MOVEMENT. FEATHERY WATERFALLS DESCEND TO A PRIVATE EDEN BETWEEN THESE FERN COVERED WALLS. GEOLOGY HAS GIVEN THE SOUTHERN REGION ANOTHER CURIOUSITY. THE FURNAS -- CAVITIES IN THE EARTH CREATED WHEN THE CEILINGS OF SUBTERREANEAN RIVERS COLLAPSED. TO RIDE DOWN THIS ELEVATOR IS TO FALL INTO A FAIRYTALE WORLD OF DEEP GREEN POOLS AT THE BOTTOM OF A GIANT WELL ... |