Pulp Ideas & Branded Content

What the hell is Pulp?

Pulp is the main reason why the postings on this blog are not more frequent. It's the name of my new venture, the company I have opened up in Brazil with two other friends!

At first we thought it would take a while for business to pick up and we wanted to create a nice website and have some videos and other gimmicks on the net. However since day one the phones dont stop ringging, we have loads of work to do and it is driving us all insane. Kind of an addiction since the more work we have, the nicer it becomes.

But what exactly does Pulp do?

We create content for audio-visual productions. If you want to make a film, we write the script, if you want to invite customers to visit your shop we create the event, if you want to make a catalogue, we develop the ideas and search for references for pictures. We also do newspapers, magazines and much more...

For now our website is still under construction. The site is www.pulpideias.com.br

Now at least you can understand why it takes me so long to write here.

Kiss, kiss, bye bye!

The perfect long weekend!

Off the coast of Rio lies an island called Ilha Grande. For many years it had a state prison so people were scared to visit the island in case all inmates decided to flee. This is why the island has remained intact for all this time. Now that the prison has been demolished and small boutique hotels have popped up along the coast, it became a small paradise.

The water is emerald green on the coast facing the continet. On the other side, with the open sea, the water is deep blue! You hire a boat and spend the day discovering small hidden beaches and coves. There are some nice restaurants serving shrimps, crabs, fresh seafood and nice caipirinhas made with tropical fruit!

Tempted? Come over to Brazil and I will take you there!!!

Travels and Work

Lately I have been on the move quite a lot. After returning from Chile I went to São Paulo for the weekend with my mom and Raul. We needed to renew our US Visas and do some shopping.

We had to stay for 3 hours queueing outside the consulate, under the tropical sun, than be shoved here and there. At the end they only collected our passports and got our digitals on the computer. We left happily to the mall!!!

Than two days ago I get a call from the consulate saying that my visa process is stuck because they need to ask me certain questions about my life. Why??? Well, who goes to Yemen for the weekend, travels for a birthday in Lebanon, says that he has an Italian passport but his Brazilian passport is filled with European stamps!!! That is me! And I aint no terrorist Mr Bush!!! So I will dress up as a rapper, prepare all my documents proving I love America and that I have no intention of moving to Kansas!!!

However, before this personal interview at the consulate in Sao Paulo, I am going with friends to Ilha Grande! It is an island off the coast of Rio! It is a long holiday here due to May day!!!

On the other hand, I have been working a lot! The new business is a great success! So in the next post I will write more about it. Now I have to go home and pack my swimsuit for the beach!

Bye!

pictures

Patagonia!

It has been over a week now since I got back from Patagonia. A tough week I have to say as I am still not used to getting back to Curitiba after an international trip. So I had to go thru a bit of drama during the week until things got settled again.

The trip was fantastic! It really feels like you are at the end of the world. We left on Thursday and had dinner at the Fasano Hotel Restaurant in São Paulo. An amazing restaurant, very sophisticated with the nice paulistanos. Than on to Santiago de Chile. We were lucky to be on the afternoon flight since all airports in Brazil closed down due to an air controler's strike from 6pm onwards! The country is in a bit of a turmoil.

Chile is a very organised country. Not that typical Latin America mess. But in a way it looks out of place, more like Canada, nice and boring. From Santiago it was a 3 hour flight down to Punta Arenas, at the southern tip of the continent. Than the hotel van was waiting for us (mom, dad, brother) and other guests for a 5 hour drive to the hotel. Quite a long day but the feeling of being so far away was exhilarating!!!

The hotel were we stayed is a great place. Called Explora, it is in the middle of the Torres del Paine National Park. It pampers the guests and from the hotel we can do lots of walks, see glaciers, ride horses or simply stay at the jacuzzi. We had 4 days in heaven.

On our way back to Brazil we stopped in Buenos Aires and it is booming!!! Feels like Barcelona! Of course I wanted to stay there and live in Argentina but I had to come back to Brazil!!! :-)

Hopefully in two weeks time I can move to my flat! It is almost ready!

A little travel is always good!!!

Finally the world is smiling again!!! This is all because I have an air ticket in hand and plans for traveling! Tomorrow I leave Curitiba with my parents and dear brother for a night in Sao Paulo. Afterwards we head down south to Santiago de Chile and the Chilean Patagonia! On our way back to Curitiba a short stopover in Buenos Aires!

It was about time! I thought I would never leave Curitiba again! On the other hand yesterday I started packing and it really felt odd! I remember in Dubai that my suitcases were always so easy to pack. Maybe because I was so used to it. Now it took me half an afternoon and I had to put a lot of stuff. Maybe I am also getting old since half of it was pills, cream against hair loss, etc.

Will tell you more about Chile later! Now I still have a lot to do!

What am I doing here?

This is the title of one of Bruce Chatwin's novels! It is also a question I ask myself a lot these days!

However the answer is simple: I came back to Brazil looking for some stability and for a new challenge! In less than 3 months I have opened, together with two old time friends, a Branded Content Agency called Pulp Idéias e Conteúdo! In English it would be Pulp Ideas and Content.

Since day one we have all been working like mad! We have been lucky because in such a short time we already have customers, make money and became quite famous in town! My two partners are called Fernanda and Patricia. Fernanda is a journalist and Patricia is an art director. Together we are Pulp and we do everything related to being creative. From magazine design, corporate newspapers, logos, brand launching, fashion catalogues, and so on and so forth!

We have been so busy that we havent had time to prepare our website but soon it will be online and you will be able to check it out!