507 years of Brasil

Discoverer's Monument, Tejo River, Lisboa, Portugal

Map of the Discoveries Square, Lisboa, Portugal

507 years ago, the Portuguese mariner Pedro Álvares Cabral arrived in a huge piece of land in an unknowing part of the globe that was inhabited by about 2.4 million Amerindians. He and his crew arrived, took possession and declared this part of the new world Portuguese’s colony.

In a simplistic view and without any deep discussion, I can say that we Brazilians lost and gained with this colonization, repeating almost the same history of all countries that were colonized!

For long time, I must confess, I felt ashamed with this invasion by the Portugueses and its colonization, even though I’m and always was completely in love with the Portuguese language!

Well, in 2004 I had the opportunity to go to Portugal and being in the same place that Cabral left in 1500, Restelos beach, port of the beautiful Tejo River, I threw the towel.
As soon as I looked to this place my heart was invaded by a huge sense of a job well done by those brave mariners. I got myself very thankful in a strange way for being colonized by Portuguese.

Today, 22 of April, it’s the 507th anniversary of that huge piece of land that became a country called Brasil!

Congratulations my Brasil!

Discoverer's Monument, Tejo River and 25 of April Bridge, Lisboa, Portugal