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In Brazil, when it's time for entertaining or being entertained, chances are you will visit one of these restaurants.  

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They're called barbecue or boraca [rodizio].  

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Now, literally, they are all-you-can-eat.  

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And when I say "all-you-can-eat," I mean just that.  

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And the most important tool you'll need is one of these -- "no, thank you" and "yes, please."

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Who knew that eating could be so exhausting?  

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Thankfully, there are plenty of other ways to relax in Brazil that not only give you some downtime,  

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but will also help you work it all off.

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You either have it, or you don't.  

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And in Brazil, it's in their blood.  

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The beats, the rhythms -- I don't mind if I do try my hand. That's a bit of Bahian drumming.  

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This is Afro-Brazilian music. It originates from Bahia.  

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The African slaves brought it to Brazil's shores in the nineteenth century.  

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The drums are the heart of Brazilian culture, forming the rhythms of samba and capoeira.

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If the hotel gym doesn't appeal to you, this is a worthwhile workout.  

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They say it's a dance.  

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Frankly, it's more like acrobatics. And you need to be careful. You could have someone's eye out.  

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Music is integral to capoeira. Capoeiristas have to change their fighting style as the rhythm changes.

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Some things that I can't do when it's not playing,  

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but when the Roda -- the game -- starts, the circle starts,  

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and the music and everything, everybody singing and clapping hands, you start doing stuff that you couldn't imagine that you could do.

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They say anyone can learn this.  

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And a typical class will set you back around $75.

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My drumming was pretty pathetic. Capoeira, not a chance.  

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Thankfully there is something I have in common with Brazilians.  

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I do like a good party. And this month is Carnival and Brazil is already dancing up a storm.  

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To see the effort and physical exertion that goes into Carnival I visited a samba school, Portela, with 5,000 people.  

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The Carnival itself lasts one week.  

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The main event is the samba parade and the Sambadrome, where costumes are showcased and the floats are judged.  

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All this practice and it's over in less than an hour.  

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Anyone can join in with the preparations.  

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You can come along to watch.  

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You can say, "I've been there, done that -- oh and yes -- I've got the T-shirt."
