Travelling to Brazil (1 Viewer)

[Uthred]

Ok, gentlemen!

Some of you asked to create this thread and here it is. Tips to make your trip to Brazil safe. Hope you enjoy the thread and the country!

1) Safety. This is by far the main concern of all foreign tourists who want to come to Brazil. Let me asure you Brazil is a safe place to visit, but like in many other countries there are a few areas that are off limits if you want to keep safe through your stay. I respect those limits and have never been the victim of a crime.

1a) The favelas (slums) are sometimes controlled by drug dealers and are obviously not safe at all. There tour visits to the favelas, and these are safe because these favelas included in the tour are those controlled by the police. Avoid favelas except for tours accompanied by guides. They really could be dangerous and 3/4 of all crimes in Brazil happen in the favelas.

1b) The beaches are usually safe except for some beaches in Rio that are targeted by pickpockets. Just ask at your hotel about the beaches. The staff lives in the city you are visiting, they know better. The rule should be: in Rio only go to beaches that you see cops patrolling. In the rest of the country the beaches are perfectly safe.

1c) Prostitution is not illegal in Brazil, but this doesn't mean it's safe. The girls will steal anyone they have a chance to. More than half the foreign tourists that are victim of foul play in Brazil were actively looking for sex or drugs at the time they were attacked. Drugs are illegal here, by the way. Anyone caught using or in possesion of it, will go to jail. Think "Midnight Express", if you know what I mean.

2) Health. Besides the diseases you can find anywhere else, some areas of Brazil are subject to tropical diseases. There are shots to be taken before going to these areas. I've been to tropical areas of Brazil several times, I live outside the tropical area, but never caught anything tropical. So, I guess the danger is not that big after all.

2a) The water. You may find it hard to believe but tap water in Brazil is clean! Keep in mind a simple rule: if it looks dirty or smells funny you probably should not try. I know I don't and I've never had problems with the water.

2b) The food. Brazil has an amazing variety of dishes to delight you. From the northeastern feijoada (beans and pork) to the southern churrasco (40 + different kinds of meat served one after the other) you should be aware we eat a lot and like our food spicy. All restaurants are inspected for sanitary reasons, so you should have no problems. Remeber:if a place looks filthy you probably shouldn't eat there.

3) Transportation. To travel through Brazil you could use airplanes and buses. The bus stations are excellent, and include bathing facilities that are clean and safe, so this is not a problem. If you are planning to drive, keep in mind Brazil's roads are sometimes in bad shape, specially in the northeastern region, the poorest of Brazil. Anyway the traffic laws are enforced and taken very seriously here. You probably should learn some Portuguese before driving around Brazil anyway.

4) Hotels. Hotels, restaurants and shopping malls are completely safe in Brazil. Ask for anything you need and the staff will help you. Brazilians are very hospitable, but rarely speak any English. Outside your hotel you could have problems of communication. Be sure you know where you want to go. Most taxi driver don't speak English, the same is true about waiters.

5) Money. Do not carry dollars. Exchange your cash or travellers checks at your hotel. If anyone offers to exchange them for an outrageous price be aware this person is probably planning to rob you. Use reais, our currency, around here. Credit cards, specially Visa and Mater Card, are accepted everywhere in Brazil.

5a) Do not look like an American tourist. Brazilians never wear those Hawaiian shirts Americans wear here in Brazil. You might just as well wear a tshirt with the following written: "I'm an American tourist and my pockets are full of dollars". Not a good idea.

I will come back later with tips of different places to visit in Brazil. If any of you gentlemen have any doubts, don't be affraid to ask.

Cheers...

Uthred

 

[Njja]

Uthred:

Do you think I might have any trouble bringing my guns, knives, and an
occaional bazooka through your customs? I usually travel light.

Actually I used to have a federal firearms license which allowed me to carry unloaded weapons in my luggage once they were checked at the counter and locked. Ah the good old days!

 

[Uthred]

Uthred:

Do you think I might have any trouble bringing my guns, knives, and an
occaional bazooka through your customs? I usually travel light.

Actually I used to have a federal firearms license which allowed me to carry unloaded weapons in my luggage once they were checked at the counter and locked. Ah the good old days!

LOL!

Automatic weapons are against the law in Brazil. Handguns are legal, if you follow the police procedures to buy them. Knives are ok, except if you conceal anything bigger than a pocket knife on you. In some rural areas men carry knives plainly visible, and in the tropical jungle machetes and shotguns are the norm.

Now, bazookas... I don't think they are ok... but I've never checked the law about them!


Cheers...

Uthred

 

[Njja]

This is a really cool thread, and I hope it encourages other members from different countries to do the same. I really enjoyed Harrys photos and story from his China travels. The photos of the street vendors, and the people, how
they were dressed told a story all its own.

Uthred's observations were very interesting and really gave you something to
think about. Who would think anyone spoke Portugese there? Is it different from Spanish? You can see inspite of my High School Language Study I speak only two languages.......English, and American!

I also found his suggested travel methods interesting! Can you imagine traveling anywhere in the US by Bus? Can you imagine taking a shower at a Bus terminal

I'm sure thats fine in Brazil, here we would not suggest you do that! While Bus travel is still available it is usually not a method anyone would recommend. A car rental would allow you much more freedom to travel, see the sights and arrive safely at your destination.

 

[Uthred]

This is a really cool thread, and I hope it encourages other members from different countries to do the same. I really enjoyed Harrys photos and story from his China travels. The photos of the street vendors, and the people, how
they were dressed told a story all its own.

Uthred's observations were very interesting and really gave you something to
think about. Who would think anyone spoke Portugese there? Is it different from Spanish? You can see inspite of my High School Language Study I speak only two languages.......English, and American!

I also found his suggested travel methods interesting! Can you imagine traveling anywhere in the US by Bus? Can you imagine taking a shower at a Bus terminal

I'm sure thats fine in Brazil, here we would not suggest you do that! While Bus travel is still available it is usually not a method anyone would recommend. A car rental would allow you much more freedom to travel, see the sights and arrive safely at your destination.

Well, I don't like buses myself and I do like to travel by car. But if you don't speak Portuguese maybe you should stay far away from the roads. How do you ask for gas? How do you call for help if you got a flat tire? How do you know if the restaurant or motel are ok and not some tourist trap? For these things you need to speak Portuguese.

Portuguese is somewhat similar to Spanish, but, except close to the frontiers of Spanish speaking countries, no one would understand you in Brazil, really. I think Portuguese is to Spanish what German is to English: Thousands of years agor they were a single language, but not anymore.

Thank you for your comments.

Cheers...

Uthred

 

[Njja]

Uthred:

Those are very interesting points, here in the U.S. we are spoiled we have

one language English, and get annoyed when we see things posted in another

language. In our defense one must realize the U.S. is hugh and when you

travel from state to state, or even to the oposite coast it is all the same.

If you traveled a similar distance in say Europe you would pass through a

half dozen or more countries each with their own language and customs.

Here in the U.S. we have 4 basic regions the north east usually industrial

with folks no-nonsense and usually on the go. The South a much more relaxed

area, warmer climate where the people generally are more laid back and easy

going. The mid-west.....the heartland......hmmmm don't know much about

those folks, but they are suppose to be level headed and the heart of the

U.S. The last would be the left coast- California.......home of Hollywood, folks

with mega-bucks, and crazy ideas about how the rest of us should lead our

lives. They are also interested in saving the world before California itself

drops into the pacific ocean (its on a fault line) and of course it is basically

bankrupt.

Okay if I haven't offended just about everyone I'm sorry because I

tried.

I'm sure the folks from Texas, the northwest, Alaska, Hawaii, the west......

are all highly insulted to be left out. So you can see the U.S. is really one

giant place filled with tons of different folks making up one big family!

And California is actually one beautiful place, with tons of sunshine, a

wonderful coasline on the Pacific and also Aaarnold......a native Austrian

who became a U.S. citizen and is now the Gov-a-nator of the state with

the largest population.........our course he is also an international movie

star! Only in California!

 

[marco55]

Uthred,
Would love to see pictures of your beautiful country and WOMEN.
Mark

 

[Uthred]

Uthred:

Those are very interesting points, here in the U.S. we are spoiled we have

one language English, and get annoyed when we see things posted in another

language. In our defense one must realize the U.S. is hugh and when you

travel from state to state, or even to the oposite coast it is all the same.

If you traveled a similar distance in say Europe you would pass through a

half dozen or more countries each with their own language and customs.

Here in the U.S. we have 4 basic regions the north east usually industrial

with folks no-nonsense and usually on the go. The South a much more relaxed

area, warmer climate where the people generally are more laid back and easy

going. The mid-west.....the heartland......hmmmm don't know much about

those folks, but they are suppose to be level headed and the heart of the

U.S. The last would be the left coast- California.......home of Hollywood, folks

with mega-bucks, and crazy ideas about how the rest of us should lead our

lives. They are also interested in saving the world before California itself

drops into the pacific ocean (its on a fault line) and of course it is basically

bankrupt.

Okay if I haven't offended just about everyone I'm sorry because I

tried.

I'm sure the folks from Texas, the northwest, Alaska, Hawaii, the west......

are all highly insulted to be left out. So you can see the U.S. is really one

giant place filled with tons of different folks making up one big family!

And California is actually one beautiful place, with tons of sunshine, a

wonderful coasline on the Pacific and also Aaarnold......a native Austrian

who became a U.S. citizen and is now the Gov-a-nator of the state with

the largest population.........our course he is also an international movie

star! Only in California!

Brazil is huge as well. You could fit all of Europe from the Urals to Ireland inside Brazil! But who would do that, really? You'd only crush us!


We have these differences too. We have 5 regions and they have nothing in common with each other, except for the language and the currency.


I will start on the five regions of Brazil tomorrow. It's time to go to bed!

Cheers...

Uthred

 

[Uthred]

Uthred,
Would love to see pictures of your beautiful country and WOMEN.
Mark

Mark, The women here are beautiful, no doubt about it.


I won't show Brazilian women here, my friend, I don't want the moderators deleting my thread, do I?


The pictures of Brazil I'll start posting tomorrow.

Cheers...

Uthred

 

[VIRIATO]

Dear Uthred,
About beautiful Brazilian women: Olha que coisa mais linda, mais cheia de graça... (for those of you that don't know, this is from the famous «Garota de Ipanema» song...).

About Portuguese, a little bit of History: Brazil was a Portuguese colony from the 16th century onwards, very much became a melting pot but kept the Portuguese language till today (something akin to USA/Britain). It became independent in the 19th century, after the Portuguese royal family fled Portugal at the time of the Napoleonic invasions, a certain D. Pedro fell in love with this beautiful land (now why should that be?) and it all rolled on from there, as Uthred can tell you better than me.
About Spanish and Portuguese, yes they are relatively similar but we always understand Spanish better than they understand Portuguese. But these are different cultures/nations all right. In Portugal we spent half our History at war with the Spanish, including in South America. Also just ask Uthred about Brazil and Argentina.... Different things for sure...


Paulo

 

[Uthred]

Dear Uthred,
About beautiful Brazilian women: Olha que coisa mais linda, mais cheia de graça... (for those of you that don't know, this is from the famous «Garota de Ipanema» song...).

About Portuguese, a little bit of History: Brazil was a Portuguese colony from the 16th century onwards, very much became a melting pot but kept the Portuguese language till today (something akin to USA/Britain). It became independent in the 19th century, after the Portuguese royal family fled Portugal at the time of the Napoleonic invasions, a certain D. Pedro fell in love with this beautiful land (now why should that be?) and it all rolled on from there, as Uthred can tell you better than me.
About Spanish and Portuguese, yes they are relatively similar but we always understand Spanish better than they understand Portuguese. But these are different cultures/nations all right. In Portugal we spent half our History at war with the Spanish, including in South America. Also just ask Uthred about Brazil and Argentina.... Different things for sure...


Paulo

Ah, Paulo, The Girl form Ipanema...


Anyway: Brazil and Argentina went to war against each other a number of times. One of the consequences is the existence of Uruguay. Brazilians did not admit the Argentinians to control both margins of the Rio de la Plata, and the Argentinians wouldn't let Brazil control one of the margins. The result is a very small country between the two giants of South America! The last time we went to war, in 1852, it ended with Brazilian troops parading in Buenos Aires! That probably prevented other wars...


Our friends in Argentina forgave that, generous people that they are.


What they can't forgive is that we won the Soccer World Cup 5 times (1958-1962-1970-1994-2002) and they only twice (1978-1986). That's something impossible to forgive, really.


Cheers...

Uthred

 

[VIRIATO]

Yes, the World Cup, soccer, now this is serious business, forget about all the rest, this is the one that matters...:. I am dead serious, this is no joke, people die because of soccer passions you know...


Paulo

 

[marco55]

Brazil is a very interesting country to me as I have read that it could be an economic superpower in this century.
Mark

 

[Njja]

Mark, The women here are beautiful, no doubt about it.


I won't show Brazilian women here, my friend, I don't want the moderators deleting my thread, do I?


Uthred

........................................................................................................

Okay wait a minute here......if you say Brazilian women are beautiful I think we would all like to see some visual proof!

I'm sure a few dozen tasteful photos could slip by the moderators

We will call it an international cultural exchange.

We will let an impartial source determine the beauty of the women in question......lets see who we could get?

Any volunteers? Harry?, Kilted Vampire?

 

[Spitfrnd]

Beautiful women in Brazil, well judging from the exports to the modeling world like Raquel Zimmermann, Gisele Bundchen, Adriana Lima, Izabel Goulart, Liliane Ferrarezi, Letícia Birkheuer, Ana Claudia Michels, Cintia Dicker, Fernanda Tavares, Mariana Weickert, Renata Maciel, Ana Hickmann, Isabeli Fontana, Jeísa Chiminazzo, Alessandra Ambrosio, Raica Oliveira and my favorite, Ana Beatriz Barros, I'd say there is more than sufficient evidence. Not that I think any of us would object to more.

 

[VIRIATO]

Beautiful women in Brazil, well judging from the exports to the modeling world like Raquel Zimmermann, Gisele Bundchen, Adriana Lima, Izabel Goulart, Ana Hickmann, Alessandra Ambrosio and my favorite, Ana Beatriz Barros, I'd say there is more than sufficient evidence. Not that I think any of us would object to more.

Sounds like an expert....


Paulo

 

[IXEC]

I can tell you some stories about three guys I knew that went to work In Brazil on an Aircraftcarrier they had there in Rio. I guess the British gave Brazil the Carrier and the goverment contrated for workers in the Millwrights Union here to fix it up. They were there for just eight weeks, but they contracted to work there for 4 months. Yeah, you guessed it, they got booted out of the counrty after they started a small riot. One night in Rio one of the guys beat-up a pick-pocket. It drew a small crowd that quickly became hostile when they saw they was American. Needless to say they had to fight there way back to their hotel and only when a undercover cop in the hotel lobby fired shots into the air did the crowd stop their attack, it was ugly. The next day the police took them to the airport.

One night one of them was on a beach in Rio romancing a local. He bought a guitar off one of the beach peasants and was smoking a........ you know. The next minute a Policeman with a machine gun told him to get up he was under arrest! He bribed him for $8.00 to let him go.

One of the guys ended up going back to Rio and married a Brazilian girl he met on the beach. We thought he was nuts, but he made a good argument that he would be rich there with all the money he saved and he could never marry a more beauty women were. He's living there like a king.

They all loved Brazil.

 

[Uthred]

Yes, the World Cup, soccer, now this is serious business, forget about all the rest, this is the one that matters...:. I am dead serious, this is no joke, people die because of soccer passions you know...


Paulo

You're right, Paulo.

My friends in the USA may not believe, but for latin americans soccer is serious... as serious as baseball or basketball are to you!


Cheers...

Uthred

 

[Uthred]

Brazil is a very interesting country to me as I have read that it could be an economic superpower in this century.
Mark

Brazil is very rich, one of the richest countries in the world. The problem is there's a part of Brazil, northeastern Brazil that's extremely poor. We still have to bring them to the 20th century (no, I don't mean the 21st century), to become a supower!


Cheers...

Uthred

 

[Uthred]

........................................................................................................

Okay wait a minute here......if you say Brazilian women are beautiful I think we would all like to see some visual proof!

I'm sure a few dozen tasteful photos could slip by the moderators

We will call it an international cultural exchange.

We will let an impartial source determine the beauty of the women in question......lets see who we could get?

Any volunteers? Harry?, Kilted Vampire?

Beautiful women in Brazil, well judging from the exports to the modeling world like Raquel Zimmermann, Gisele Bundchen, Adriana Lima, Izabel Goulart, Liliane Ferrarezi, Letícia Birkheuer, Ana Claudia Michels, Cintia Dicker, Fernanda Tavares, Mariana Weickert, Renata Maciel, Ana Hickmann, Isabeli Fontana, Jeísa Chiminazzo, Alessandra Ambrosio, Raica Oliveira and my favorite, Ana Beatriz Barros, I'd say there is more than sufficient evidence. Not that I think any of us would object to more.

Well, my friends, if only for cultural reasons, and if the moderators agree, I will include a couple of pictures of Brazilian models (no nudes because the kids may be watching!)


Cheers...

Uthred