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Brazil from A to Z
Brazil, largest country in Latin America
Brazil is as large as the continental United States with an extra Texas thrown in for good measure and 200 times bigger than Holland. It's also a very diverse country. This means that your choices are many and varied and you'll have to do your homework to narrow them some...
Brazil is the largest Latin American country. Covering nearly half (47.3 percent)of the South American landmass, it occupies an area of 3,286,470 sq. miles (8,511,965 sq. km). It is the fifth largest country in the world after the Russian Federation, Canada, China and the United States. Except for a small number of islands, Brazil consists of a single unbroken landmass. On the world map it can be seen that the eastern bulge of Brazil conforms to the concave curve of the west coast of Africa. This is no coincidence: Africa and South America were once a single landmass, but then drifted apart over millions of years.
The Equator passes through the North of the country near Macapá; the Tropic of Capricorn passes through the South near São Paulo. Brazil's maximum width, 2,684 miles (4,319.4 km), is almost the same as its maximum distance from north to south, 2,731 miles (4,394.7 km).
Brazil has ten neighbours: the Department of French Guiana and the countries of Suriname, Guyana, Venezuela and Colombia to the North; Uruguay and Argentina to the South; and Paraguay, Bolivia and Peru to the West. Ecuador and Chile are the only two countries in continental South America that do not border Brazil. The Atlantic Ocean extends along the entire Eastern side of the country, which has 4,578 miles (7,367 km) of coastline.
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A piece of history
In the 15th and 16th centuries Portugal, with barely a million inhabitants, was hemmed in by the Atlantic to the West and a hostile Castile to the East. After years of struggle against the Moorish occupation, the Portuguese looked to the sea and what lay beyond. While the Spaniards set out in search of a route to the Orient by voyaging to the West, the Portuguese opted for the so-called Southern Cycle down the African coast. Reaching the Cape of Good Hope in 1487, they proved the existence of a sea route to the Far East across the Indian Ocean in 1497. They knew of the existence of lands across the Atlantic and they had made several expeditions to the West before Columbus discovered the Antilles in 1492. But they had kept the knowledge to themselves in order to thwart the ambitions of Spain, England and France. Secrecy was the only means of safeguarding the rewards of successful exploration against exploitation by more powerful maritime rivals.
During the period it ruled Brazil, Portugal was essentially an intermediary between the colony as producer and the European economic centres as consumers. The fact that England remained Portugal's principal trading partner during this period is important. Various commercial treaties were signed between the two Governments (1642, 1654, 1661, 1703, 1810, 1826). These were highly favourable to the development of English trade because they opened up Portuguese colonial markets. Monopolising all trade with Brazil, Portugal retained a substantial part of the profits, which led to growing discontent among the settlers. After Dutch and French invasions of the Northeast region at the beginning of the 17th century, the colonists had been developing a feeling of nationalism because of the fight to expel the invaders.
The final abolition of slavery is usually regarded as the most immediate cause for the fall of the monarchy. With the emperor away in Europe, his daughter, Princess Isabel, acted as regent. On 13th May, 1888, responding to the collapse of slavery as a workable system and yielding to pressures from the abolitionists, she signed the so-called Golden Law (Lei Áurea) that abolished slavery in Brazil. In reality, the abolition of slavery was the outcome of a longstanding British policy of putting pressure on the Brazilian government to end the slave trade. The fight against the trade was intended to assist the expansion of production (of sugar, for example) using non-slave-labour in British colonies, thereby favouring the growth of British industrial capitalism.
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Accommodation
Brazil's hotel industry does not revolve around European or North American visitors, as the vast majority of guests come either from Brazil itself or from the other South American countries. Hotels operate on their local reputation, and because of this you tend to get what you pay for: prices are a fairly accurate guide to the degree of comfort that can be expected. Price also reflects the location of a hotel: for the amount you pay on the oceanfront, you can often find a better place two blocks back from the beach.
Brazil offers accommodation to fit every taste and budget, from picturesque privately-owned Inns, known as pousada’s, to the most modern resort properties; from simple accommodation in the back streets of the main cities, to the presidential suites of the big deluxe hotels in prime city locations. From camping sites, to privately owned villas and apartments; from youth hotels, to internationally recognised spa properties. Accommodation in Brazil is always good value, especially away from the main business cities. Typically for Capital Brasilia are the big en modern hotels, which are often been attuned to the business traveller. Another excellent option throughout Brazil are the pousadas. These are normally small, privately run hotels that offer a varying degree of comfort that will be reflected in the price. Pousadas are the accommodation backbone of most of the coastal towns and villages as well as the historic towns of the interior.
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Banks
Most of the major banks are Brazilian but many foreign banks will have an agreement with one or more of the major players. Largest bank is Banco do Brasil which also has foreign offices. Banks that can be found all over Brasil are: Banco Real, Caixa, HSBC, Banco Boston. Banks operate Monday to Friday, 10am - 4pm. On national holidays, Saturdays and Sundays the banks are not opened. You can take up your money with your credit card (with the Maestro or Cirrus mark), by the Banco do Brazil and the 24- hours banking pin automatics and the kiosks. Pay attention: on the pin automatics should be standing the mark of Maestro or Cirrus!
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Bill
It does not happen often but for that one occasion: always check your bill in bars and restaurants. Once in a while an enthousiastic waiter charges an extra drink or coffee. After all you are the rich tourist! Don't become angry but say that a mistake was made, generally this mistake is corrected offering a big smile.
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Buses
Despite the distances involved, it is possible to travel from Brazil to another country by bus. Nationally, there is an extensive internal bus service linking all the main Brazilian cities. It is for the most part maintained by particular societies. Thee used material is in general of good and modern quality and have at one’s disposal of a fridge, adjustable sleeping chairs and a video. While this is an inexpensive way to view the country, distances can be considerable. Most of the big international car rental companies operate in the major cities alongside local companies. The national car rental company Localiza (Europcar in Europe) has got the most establishments separate over whole Brazil. And it has got also a modern car park with mainly in Brazil produced Fiats. As a visitor, al that is required to drive in Brazil is a full valid British or European driving licence. It is preferable to take a licence with a photo. Taxis in Brazil are cheap compared to Europe and easy to find in all the major cities. When you don’t see a metre in the taxi, you must agree a price, before you leave.
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Business (going to do business)
Brazilians, even in the major cities, dress casually outside the office. None of the country's top restaurants insist on collar and tie although the occasional private club does.
Collar and tie still predominate in formal office and business surroundings in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro and most working women wear dresses or skirts. Ladies should remember to pack a jacket or shawl when coming to Brazil, as some of the buildings and restaurants can be a little enthusiastic with the air conditioning.
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Carnival
Carnival, which takes place throughout Brazil, is a moveable feast that is tied to the religious Calendar. It is a traditional pre-Lenten celebration which ends on Ash Wednesday.
Carnival activities around Brazil normally take place from the Friday prior to Ash Wednesday and continue up to and including Ash Wednesday itself. In some cities the celebrations will spill over through the entire week and include the following weekend. Most Brazilian offices and business will close for the week of Carnival in much the same way companies in many parts of the world close between Christmas and the New Year.
One of the traditional highlights of carnival in Rio de Janeiro is the parade of the top samba schools which take place on the Sunday and Monday nights of carnival along the purpose built Passarela do Samba (Sambódromo), located on Avenida Marques de Sapucaí, close to the city centre. The winners’ parade, featuring the top samba schools from all the divisions, will take place on the following Saturday (12 February in 2005).
But carnival is not just about Rio de Janeiro. It is celebrated throughout the country. Other major carnival celebrations are held in Salvador, Recife and Olinda.
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Climate
Although 90 per cent of Brazil is within the tropics, more than 60 per cent of the population lives in areas where altitude, sea winds, or polar fronts moderate the temperature. There are five climatic regions in Brazil: equatorial, tropical, semi-arid, highland tropical and subtropical. Plateau cities such as São Paulo, Brasília and Belo Horizonte have milder climates averaging 19°C (66°F). Rio de Janeiro, Recife, Natal and Salvador on the coast have warmer climates balanced by the Trade Winds. Rio, for example, has an average temperature of around 26°C (80°F) which will climb into the high 30s-low 40s (over 100°F) during the summer months. In the southern Brazilian cities of Porto Alegre and Curitiba, the subtropical climate is similar to parts of the US and Europe, with frosts occurring in the winter months (July-August) when temperatures can fall below freezing. Summers are hot, however.
Despite the popular image of the Amazon as a region of blistering heat, temperatures rarely rise above 32°C (90°F). In fact, the annual average temperature in the Amazon region is between 22-26°C (72-79°F), with only a very small seasonal variation between the warmest and the coldest months. The hottest part of Brazil is the northeast, with average daytime temperatures of between 23-27°C (73-81°F). Inland, on higher ground, temperatures are lower, ranging from 18-21°C (64-70°F). South of Rio, the seasons are more noticeable and the annual range of temperature greater. The average temperature for this part of the country is between 17-19°C (63-66°F).
Seasons in Brazil are the reverse of those in Europe and the US:
Spring: 22 September to 21 December
Summer: 22 December to 21 March
Autumn: 22 March to 21 June
Winter: 22 June to 21 September
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Corruption
In an immensely big country like Brazil it is almost not avoidable: corruption exists in all layers of the community, especially among the richer and more sophisticated classes. Being a tourist, you will not get in touch with this, except maybe at a Policepost when driving and being stopped(Policia Militar). Don't start a discussion when you are sure that nothing is wrong, but ask the officer's name. An example is that you may be asked for your International Driving License (not obligated but useful)and you notice that they ask more than the piece of paper. Declare that the Brazilian Embassey in your country clearly said to you that an International Driving License is not necessary. And when your own people dont even know....
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Culinary
Like the hamburger and the banana split in the United States, Brazil’s cuisine is the product of tradition. Each region of Brazil – depending on its indigenous culture, which European group colonized it, nearness to rivers or the ocean, annual rain and soil conditions – developed its own very diverse cuisine.
The cuisine from Bahia, for example, dates back to the time of slavery when the masters saved the leftovers from the previous day’s meal to give to their slaves. Some slaves were allowed to fish and look for shrimp and clams. Remembering their cooking-pot training from Africa, the women would put bits of ingredients together and add the milk of coconuts or the oil from the dendê palm. Over the years these mixtures and concoctions were worked up into recipes and given names. Today it is the basis of traditional Bahian cuisine.
In the Amazon region a favourite dish is pato no tucupi which is pieces of duck in a rich sauce that is loaded with a wild green herb that tingles the stomach for hours after eating. Another typical dish is tacacá, a thick yellow soup that is laced with dried shrimp and garlic.
In Rio Grande do Sul churrasco is the big dish. It is pieces of beef, skewered onto a metal sword, and roasted outdoors over hot coals. There is a tomato and onion sauce to go over it. The gauchos of the interior barbecue an entire steer this way and barbecue houses, churrascarias, can be found throughout Brazil.
If there is one dish that typifies Brazilian cooking it is probably feijoada. In Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, where it is especially popular, feijoada is a complicated bean dish prepared with air-dried beef, smoked sausage, tongue, pig’s ears and tails, garlic, and chilli peppers. It is customary to fill a plate with white rice and spoon feijoada over the top. Over this is added pulverized manioc flour (farofa), a starch that thickens the sauce. The whole dish is garnished with spring greens and slices of oranges. Most of the main hotels in Rio and São Paulo, traditionally offer feijoada for Saturday lunch.
Many international travellers believe Brazilian beer is one of the best in the world. For generations there have been expert German and Dutch brewers overseeing the manufacturing and processing of all the major Brazilian breweries.
Brazil also produces a powerful spirit, cachaça, which is made from fermented sugar cane alcohol. Cachaça combined with crushed lime, sugar, and ice becomes a caipirinha, a drink that is growing in popularity on the global scene.
As for soft drinks, Brazil has Guaraná, made out of a fruit from the Amazon and every bit as popular as the traditional colas.
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Culture
Brazil's origins - the Indians with their reed flutes, the Portuguese with their singers and viola players, and the Africans with their many rhythms - make it a musical country. From the classical compositions of Villa-Lobos to the soft sounds of bossa nova, to the driving beat of samba, Brazil has developed music of striking sophistication, quality and diversity.
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Departure tax
For all domestic travel the general rule is that you have to pay a local departure tax upon check in of your flight, which varies by city. When your ticket is bought outside of Brazil, this tax is already included and you need not pay again. When you fly on a charter airline to/from Europe, you need to pay a departuretax which varies per destination, but is an average of R$130 per person.
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Distances
Distances in Brazil are given in kilometres. One mile is equivalent to 1.62 kilometres. For a quick conversion of kilometres into miles, divide by eight and then multiply by five.
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Drinks
The legal age to purchase alcoholic beverages in Brazil is 18. Brazil produces or imports most of the major international brands. Brazilian beer is a very good lager which is served in draught form (chopp) or bottled. The national drink is cachaça, made from crushed sugar cane, which is the basis of the popular caipirinha. Cachaça is also the basis for batidas, a mix of cachaça and fresh fruit juices. Soft drinks are no less spectacular and the most popular is Guaraná. Brazil is, of course, the world’s largest coffee producer.
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Diving
All along the Brazilian coast there are many exceptional dive sites. Equipment for diving can normally be rented locally. Locations rated among the best in the world for diving include the archipelago of Fernando de Noronha; the coast of Pernambuco around Recife; and the marine park of Abrolhos off the southern coast of the state of Bahia.
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Economy
Until the beginning of the 20th century the Brazilian economy was characterized by a succession of cycles, each based on the exploitation of a single export commodity: timber (brazilwood) in the first years of colonisation; sugarcane in the 16th and 17th centuries; precious metals (gold and silver) and gems (diamonds and emeralds) in the 18th century; and coffee in the 19th. Slave labour was used for production until the last quarter of the 19th century. Parallel to these cycles, small scale agriculture and cattle farming were developed for local consumption. A first surge of industrialisation took place during the years of World War I, but it was only from the 1930s onwards that Brazil reached a level of modern economic performance. In the 1940s, the first steel plant was built in the state of Rio de Janeiro at Volta Redonda with US Eximbank financing.
From the earliest years of the colonial era, agriculture has held centre stage in Brazil's economy. Plantation agriculture was the country's link to the world economy. The agrarian economy was based on large holdings dedicated to a single export crop and dependent on slave labour for its production. Beginning with sugar cultivation in the 16th century, the country's economic trends have been susceptible to a series of "boom-bust" agricultural cycles. Cotton, cocoa, rubber and coffee followed sugar. The 1970s saw a general rise in the number of agricultural products exported. Soybeans outpaced Brazil's traditional agricultural earners - coffee, cocoa, and sugar. The volume, value, and variety of semi-processed and manufactured agricultural products increased substantially, largely as a result of government incentives favoring processed goods over raw crops.
Today, Brazil is still the world's largest producer of coffee and sugar (from sugarcane). It is second in terms of cocoa production, and ranks fourth among tobacco growers. The various programmes undertaken in the last two decades to promote diversification of crops have borne impressive results. The production of grain - including wheat, rice, corn and particularly soybeans - has grown consistently. In 2001-02 the grain harvest reached 94 million tonnes, helped by a consistent increase in the use of agricultural machinery.
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Electrical Current
In Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, the current is 127 volts (60 cycles) but many of the larger hotels also offer 220 volts. If there is any doubt, check with the front desk of the hotel or the owner of the house or apartment. Transformers to boost the current from 110 volts to 220 volts are available in most good electrical supply stores.
Not all of Brazil is 127 volts, however. Salvador and Manaus, for example, are, while Recife and Brasília are 220 volts.
For most electric appliances Brazil uses a two round-pinned socket.
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Geography
Brazil is divided into five regions:
North Region
North East Region
West Central Region
South East Region
South Region
Major Cities
Brasília
São Paulo
Rio de Janeiro
Salvador
Belo Horizonte
Curitiba
Recife
Porto Alegre
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Government
Federation and Presidential System
The newborn republic adopted a federative system which has endured ever since. Under the federation, the provinces of the empire were transformed into states. The parliamentary system was replaced with a presidential one. A bicameral Congress (Chamber of Deputies and Senate) was created, as well as a completely independent Supreme Court.
Federal states also adopted republican structures, both in terms of political representation and in the organisation of their governing and legislative bodies. Until 1930, successive presidents were elected under the rules of the 1891 republican constitution.
In October 2002, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva was elected President for the period January 2003 to December 2006. Nearly 53 million people voted for him out of more than 86 million valid votes. The election was widely praised for its fairness and efficiency. Lula, as President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva is popularly known, has a different background to that of his predecessor Fernando Henrique Cardoso. Lula is very much a man of the people, with a background as a metalworker and trade unionist. His party is the PT - Partido dos Trabalhadores (Labour Party).
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Health
Brazil has more than 16,000 hospitals, clinics and local health centres, and around 200,000 doctors. Its public health network is one of the most extensive in the world. However, health conditions vary from region to region. Most large cities have a sufficient number of medical practitioners, but in rural areas there tends to be a shortage of doctors, nurses and pharmacists, as well as insufficient hospitals and clinics.
Private medical care is expensive, so it is advisable that all visitors take out medical insurance prior to their arrival. Even without insurance, Brazil has a public health service that will look after foreign visitors in an emergency.
There are pharmacies (drogarias and farmácias) everywhere, but you must have to pay attention to the date of the medicines.
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Infrastructure
Especially in the South and Southwest the roads are good and the cities easily reachable. In the Northeast and Centre West the roads are of a lesser quality. The Northernly Amazon has few roads, which are of poor quality. The South and Southwest have some railroads.
Domestic flights are numerous and are offered, besides the well known companies like Varig and TAM, by many smaller airlines like GOL, Rico, Bra and others.
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Internet
The internet is well developed in Brazil, so most hotels will have access to the web and there are cyber-cafes in many of the main shopping centres.
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Jet Lag
Because of the relatively small time difference between Brazil and Europe, jet lag normally is no problem for travellers.
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Language
Portuguese is the official language of Brazil. Except for the languages spoken by Indian tribes living in remote reservations, Portuguese is the only language of daily life. There are no regional dialects. Brazil is the only Portuguese-speaking country in South America. Spanish and English may help you get around.
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Money
Brazil’s currency since 1 July, 1994, is the Real (R$).
Most Brazilians understand dollars and as a foreign currency it is by far the most widely accepted and throughout the country gives the best exchange rate. In the main cities there is little problem in changing other foreign currencies and there is an extensive network of ATMs. Most major credit cards are widely accepted in Brazil.
Chronically behind the United States on the money side, depending on the market, you can expect your buck to buy two to four times as much goods while you are in Brazil. This means that your total costs is going to go down.
Like when visiting any country, it is worth getting hold of some low denomination notes and coins on arrival.
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National Public Holidays
As well as the national public holidays listed below, individual states and cities also have their own separate holidays. 20 January, for example, is a holiday in the city of Rio de Janeiro, but not the state, and 25 January is a holiday in the city of São Paulo.
2004 Holidays
1 January -- New Year's Day
21 - 25 February-- Carnival
9April -- Good Friday
21 April -- Tiradentes
1 May -- Labour Day
10 June -- Corpus Christi
7 September -- Independence Day
12 October -- Our Lady of Aparecida
2 November -- All Souls Day
15 November -- Proclamation of the Republic
25 December -- Christmas Day
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Nature
Fauna - The largest variety of birds in the world, mammals of the Western tropics, reptiles, invertebrates, amphibians and sealife.
Flora - The variety of climates is reflected in Brazil's vegetation: tropical rain forest, woodland savannah, swamplands, grasslands and the semi-arid Northeast.
Minerals - Brazil is extremely rich in mineral deposits and gems, but the country's resources are yet to be fully surveyed.
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Period to travel
Before you plan to visit Brazil decide what it is you want to see. Do you want to see Carnival or do you want to see the real Brazil?
Best Periods:
North
June (to visit Parintins in Amazonas)
September to February (to visit Santarém in Amazonas)
September to October and March to April (to fish in Araguaia in Goiás)
December to May (to see waterfalls in Presidente Figueiredo in Amazonas)
Northeast
March and May (rain season in Ceará)
April to September (to visit Serra da Capivara in Piauí)
May and June (a lot of rain in Bahia)
May and August (rain season in Sergipe and Alagoas)
June to July and December to March (to visit Chapada Diamantina in Bahia)
June and July (cold in Gravatá-Pernambuco)
July and August (rain season in South Bahia)
July and January (to surf in Jericoacoara, Ceará)
September to April (to visit Recife)
December to February (summer time in Bahia)
December to January (to visit Sergipe and Alagoas)
December to March (to visit Paraíba and Rio Grande do Norte)
December to July (to visit Sete Cidades in Piauí and Lençóis Maranhenses in Maranhão)
South
January to April (best time to visit wine-growing in Serra Gaúcha)
June to August (cold in Serra Gaúcha)
July to November (best time to see the whales in "Litoral Sul" de Santa Catarina)
October to March (enjoy the beaches in "Litoral Gaúcho")
December to February (summer time in Serra Gaúcha)
Southeast
April (to visit Diamantina in Minas Gerais)
April to November (to visit caves in São Paulo; dryness period in Minas Gerais)
June to August (low season in Campos do Jordão)
June to September (winter in "Serra Fluminense - Petrópolis)
All year - Historic Cities in Minas Gerais (except in school holiday period)
December to March (to visit caves in Minas Gerais)
December to January (to visit Vitória in Espírito Santo)
Central West
May to October (to visit Alto Paraíso in Goiás)
May to September (to visit Jalapão in Goiás and Pantanal)
July to October ( to fish in Pantanal)
November to May (to visit Brasília - capital of the country)
December (to visit Bonito in Mato Grosso do Sul)
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Police
Other than in European countries, like Holland, the Police in Brazil is an authority and the policemen act as such and are being treated as such. A contravention is a contravention and shall be punished as one. Brazil knows many different Police Departments: Policía Militar, Federal, Rodoviaria, Civil, etc.)
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Population
on 10/01/2006
There are now in Brazil: 186.112.794 inhabitants
Brazil's population reached 175 million in 2002, making it the sixth most populous country in the world after China, India, the United States, Indonesia and the Russian Federation. The population is predominantly young: 62% of Brazilians are under 29 years of age. There are 11 cities in Brazil with a population of over one million, of which São Paulo is the largest with 10.4 million residents and Rio de Janeiro second with 5.8 million.
Brazil's rate of population growth, high throughout the early and mid-20th century, has decreased significantly since 1970, largely due to economic modernisation and also a dramatic urbanisation process. (In 1980, 67% of the population lived in cities, but by 2000 the figure was more than 81%.)
The annual rate of population growth fell from 2.9% in the 1960s to less than 1.9% in the 1990s. Behind these figures was a fall in the fertility rate from 6.3 children per woman in the early 1960s to 4.4 in the 1980s.
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Postal Service
The postal service (Correios) in Brazil is very efficient but at least a week should be allowed for postcards and letters mailed in each direction.
The opening times of post offices vary but is usually 8 am to 6 pm Monday through Friday and until noon on Saturday.
The express door-to-door mail service in Brazil is known as SEDEX and operates from most of the main post offices. There is also an Express Mail Service (EMS) for international mail and this is often as fast as a courier service and a lot cheaper.
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Religion
Brazil is the largest Catholic country in the world. Religion and spirituality play a major role in the daily life of the Brazilians, there are many stories and legends about relegious persons. Padre Cicero was the Messias of the poor in the Northeast, he could make it rain and bring furtileness and ended hunger and poverty. On his date of death, 20 June, many people still morn.
Catholic and African influences mingled during the slave period, during which it was forbidden for the slaves to practice their rituals, but still did so under the cover Catholicism. Most of the known Afro-Brazilian religions (candomblé and umbanda) stem from these rituals, believers think that the spirits of desaesed people influence their lives. During a ceremony believers try to make contact with spirits and Gods by getting possessed by them under guidance of a Priest. There are special candomblé feats, of which the one of Senhor de Bonfim on February 2nd is most wellknown. Candomblé has many adherents, proof of which are the more than 1.000 temples in the city Salvador alone.
Umbanda, the contemporary version of candomblé, has Western and spiritual influences and an adherence of more than 30 million Brazilians from all layers of the population.
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Rent a car
Cars can be rented throughout Brazil, but usually in larger cities. The larger carrental companies like Hertz and Avis are representated only in the big cities, while the Brazilian Localiza is represented all over Brazil in cities and at airports.
The fleets are current and up to date, with usually Brazilian made Fiats and Volkswagens. Services given are excellent by curteous staff.
Other than in most countries, it is custom in Brazil that a rental car is returned clean by the renter. Best thing is to have your car cleaned at a 'Lava auto' cleaning station the day you drop off the car. Excellent service for an unbeatable price!
In most cities you will also find local carrental companies, which offer cars at a competitive price. The cars rented out are usually of much less quality and often show defects, additionally your car is usually not immediately replaced if a major defect occurs.
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Rivers
Brazil has one of the most extensive river systems in the world with eight drainage basins. : The Amazon and the Tocantins Araguaia basins in the north account for 56 percent of Brazil's total drainage area. The Amazon River, the world's largest river in volume of water and second longest after the Nile, is 4,087 miles (6,577 km) long, of which 2,246 miles (3,615 km) are in Brazilian territory. The river is navigable by ocean steamers as far as 2,414 miles (3,885 km) upstream, reaching Iquitos in Peru. The Paraná-Paraguai river system drains the area from the southwestern portion of the state of Minas Gerais southward until it reaches the Atlantic through the River Plate (Rio da Prata) near Buenos Aires, Argentina. Brazil's two southernmost states are drained through the Uruguay River also into the Prata. The São Francisco River is the largest river wholly within Brazil, flowing for over 1,000 miles (1,609 km) northward before it turns eastward into the Atlantic. It rises, like the Paraná and the Tocantins, in the Central Highlands of the coun try. The upper river is navigable for shallow draft riverboats in some areas, but only the last 172 miles (277 km) of the lower river is navigable for ocean-going ships. The hydroelectric potential of Brazil, according to the data provided by Eletrobrás in 1994, is of 127,867.6 MW/year of energy. Of this 24.42% is in operation and/or under construction, 35.80% are in inventory and 39.78% are estimated.
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Safety
One of the urban myths that surrounds Brazil and can put people off a visit is the question of safety and security. In fact, Brazil, including the main cities of Rio, Salvador and São Paulo, is no more dangerous than anywhere in Europe or North America and violent crimes against tourists or foreign visitors are extremely rare, hence the headlines if they do happen. Brazil is also politically stable with no natural enemies and no terrorist activities.
Being sensible and streetwise is the key to a trouble-free and enjoyable stay in Brazil. However, just like in London, Paris, New York or any other major metropolitan and tourist centre, petty crime in Brazil is an unfortunate fact of life. The crime tourists are most likely to fall victim to in Brazilian cities is robbery and the target of most petty pilfering is the bag. If a bag is left unattended, the chances are that somebody else will try to pick it up. The simple solution is that visitors can’t get robbed if they’ve got nothing with them to be stolen. Always leave travellers cheques, passports, air tickets and the like in the hotel safe deposit box. Visitors should however carry some form of ID, such as a photocopy of their passports, with them at all times.
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Safety: don't
leave your bag unattended.
put your wallet in your back pocket or the outside pocket of a bag.
walk in unlit areas at night.
wear flashy jewellery in the street, even if it is fake.
take more than you need to the beach.
take drugs or get involved with them.
think that you are a better swimmer than the Brazilians.
think it can't happen to you.
be stupid.
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Safety: do
put your money, passport and ticket in the safe deposit box of your hotel.
take cabs rather than buses.
ask policemen for help if you need it.
ask your hotel for information. They know most of the answers.
call on your Consulate for help if you have a serious problem.
avoid crushes.
act like a traveller rather than a tourist.
ask.
have a good time.
be sensible.
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Shops
Brazil is a shoppers paradise. Each city has large numbers of shops, although usually small and with little choice. The larger cities however all have one or two large shoppingmalls that can easily compete with the North American malls. Openingtimes are generally from 09.00-18.00, but shoppingmalls are usually open till 21.00 hrs.
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Souvenirs
Each region, state and sometimes even city offers their own typical handicraft. The picture shows colourful statues from Caruaru in Pernambuco, famous for its São João processions and dance fests in June.
The Amazon offers many handicraft made from leather, the South from wood. Nice souvenirs to take home are CD's with swinging Brazilian music like the samba, samba-reggae, forro and bossa nova. Typical musical instruments like the berimbau from Bahia are also nice. Bottles, filled (by hand) with coloured sand, lace, embroidery, footballshirts and a bottle of cachaça to make your 'caipirinha' at home. Haggling is a sport and widely accepted but do not go to the extreme. Everybody has the right to make some money!
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Sports
Brazilians are fond of sports in general - a fact demonstrated by the existence of some 8,000 sports clubs throughout the country - but no other game can compare in popularity with futebol.
For decades Brazil has produced an astonishing number of highly talented professional footballers, many of whom leave the country to spend at least part of their careers abroad. The Brazil national team, widely regarded as the finest exponents of 'the beautiful game', have won the World Cup five times - twice more than any other country. After victories in 1958, 1962, 1970 and 1994, the latest triumph came in Japan and South Korea in 2002.
Volleyball, whether played on a conventional court or on the beach, is the second most popular sport in Brazil.
Brazil is regarded as a major force in basketball, twice winning the world men’s championships as well as turning in impressive performances at many Olympic Games. The women's team won bronze at the 2000 Olympics.
Tennis is quite popular, and was given a boost in the late 1990s with the success enjoyed by by Gustavo Kuerten, known to all Brazilians by his nickname 'Guga'.
Motor racing has grown in popularity since the late 1960’s when Emerson Fittipaldi started accumulating Formula One victories.
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Taxis
You will find taxi's in all colourschemes in all cities. Riding a taxi is widely accepted in Brazil because of the low fares and usually good service. Most taxi's are meter driven, for langer distances is it however usual that you agree on the price first.
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Telephone Services
Brazil has a well developed telephone network and it is relatively simple to direct dial to anywhere in Brazil or internationally. You can dial direct (DDI), which is cheaper, to most countries in the world, by first dialling 00, the long distance operator code (21 for Embratel or 23 for Intelig) and then the country's own code followed by the area code and the number you want to contact. Should the area code start with a zero, the zero must be dropped.
The local telephone directories have a full list of country codes as well as the major area codes but this information is also available free of charge from the international operator on 000333. The operators speak English and also offer a free translation service in French, Japanese, German, Italian and Spanish on 000111.
Nowadays it is possible to use foreign mobiles within Brazil but you should first check with your service provider as to exactly what coverage to expect because it does vary from state-to-state and from one service provider to another. As does the cost.
To dial internationally from your mobile, you may have to follow the same procedure as a land line and choose a long distance operator. For example 00 (for international) followed by 21 (for Embratel), followed by the number of the country you wish to talk to and the full telephone number.
If your mobile phone is not compatible to work in Brazil, it is also possible to rent a hand set in Brazil. This can be delivered to your hotel or picked up at the airport.
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Time Zones
The time in the parts of Brazil most popular with foreign visitors is three hours behind Greenwich Mean Time. This is valid for Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Brasília, Bahia, Minas Gerais etc. Amazonas, Roraima, Rondônia, Pará, Mato Grosso and Mato Grosso do Sul are a further one hour behind Brazilian stantard time, while Acre is two hours behind. Fernando de Noronha and other oceanic islands are one hour in front.
In 1985 Brazil introduced ‘summer time’ to help save energy and has repeated the measure ever since. Brazilian summer time comes into effect in October and ends in early February. During this period of daylight saving time, Brazil’s clocks go forward one hour in most of the south east. This when most of the Northern Hemisphere countries, such as the NL, are putting their clocks back one hour and coming off summer time. So, from March to October, when Brazil is on normal time and the NL is on its summer time, the time difference between Rio and Amsterdam will be five hours.
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Tipping
Nearly all hotels add a service charge to the bill, usually 10%. Most restaurants also add 10% or more to the total of the bill, but must make it clear that they have done so. Brazilians don’t normally tip taxi drivers, although they may round the total up.
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Transport
In the early years of the 20th century, travelling to Brazil meant a lengthy sea journey both for Europeans and North Americans. From Britain, travellers to Rio de Janeiro embarked in great style on the Alcântara, Andes and Arlanza ships, belonging to the Royal Mail Steam Packet Company. It was, of course, a voyage for the rich: in 1914, a first-class return ticket cost the considerable sum of £53, roughly the same price as a motor car.
Today, most visitors from abroad arrive at one of Brazil’s modern airports, having flown with one of a number of airlines which link the country with the rest of the Americas, Europe, Africa, Asia and Australasia. For Europeans and North Americans, the principal gateways are the large international airports in São Paulo (Guarulhos) and Rio de Janeiro (Tom Jobim).
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Vaccinations
An international certificate of vaccination against polio is compulsory for children aged between three months and six years.
An international certificate of vaccination against yellow fever is compulsory for travellers who, within the three months prior to their arrival in Brazil, have visited or been in transit through any of the following countries: Angola, Benin, Bolivia, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Colombia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ecuador, French Guyana, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea Bissau, Liberia, Nigeria, Peru, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Venezuela and Zaire.
Additionally, vaccination against yellow fever is recommended for all travellers when visiting the following states of Brazil: Acre, Amazonas, Amapá, Distrito Federal, Goiás, Maranhão, Mato Grosso do Sul, Pará, Rondônia, Roraima and Tocantins. Please note that yellow fever vaccinations take approximately 10 days to become effective.
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Visas
NL passport holders do not require a visa to enter Brazil. However, passports must be valid for at least six months and a return ticket and proof of sufficient funds may be requested on arrival. Tourists will be admitted for a stay of up to 90 days which is extendable, at the discretion of the Federal Police, for a further 90 days. Tourists are not permitted to work.
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Water
Drinking water from the tap is not advisable. Some (luxurious) hotels have special threaded and filtered water from a separate tap. To shut out all risk it is recommended to drink mineral water out of bottles only. You can buy these everywhere for a low price ( R$ 1,00 ). Also, you must look out for food products that have been in contact with water, like lettuce, raw vegetables, unpeeled fruit, coffee, tea and ice cubes.
Rio de Janeiro's water supply conforms to international standards; due to the pronounced taste of chlorine in the water it is advisable to drink bottle mineral water.
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