Article 22108 of soc.culture.brazil: From: rick@rio.moneng.mei.com (Rick Bronson) Newsgroups: soc.culture.brazil,soc.answers,news.answers Subject: Soc.Culture.Brazil Frequently Asked Questions [FAQ] Date: 20 Nov 1994 18:14:05 GMT Message-ID: Summary: This posting contains a list of Frequently Asked Questions (and their answers) about the country Brazil. It should be read by anyone who wishes to post to the soc.culture.brazil newsgroup. Archive-name: Brazil-faq Posting-Frequency: monthly Version: 1.4 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ F R E Q U E N T L Y A S K E D Q U E S T I O N S for soc.culture.brazil Version 1.4 Nov 19, 1994 Table of Contents 1.0 Overview 2.0 General Information 2.1 About Brazil 2.2 About things Brazilian in other countries 3.0 Culture and Language 4.0 Travel and Tourism 5.0 Internet ******************************* 1.0 Overview ******************************* This is the FAQ for soc.culture.brazil, it has the following goals. A. Answer the most common questions concerning things pertaining to soc.culture.brazil, the country Brazil and things Brazilian. B. Keep it's size to something around 2000 lines max. This FAQ will easily reach the maximum and if it gets much greater than that not many people will want to wade through it so I think it is in our best interest to keep it somewhat concise. Instead of including large verbose items we should reference where the reader can obtain them on the Internet. About soc.culture.brazil The soc.culture.brazil newsgroup was established in It is devoted to the discussion of all aspects of Brazil culture. There are many other related newsgroups. See section 5.0 for a list of them. If your article is more appropriate for another newsgroup, please post it there first -- you'll get the audience you're looking for. ************************* 2.0 General Information ************************** ***************************** 2.1 About Brazil ***************************** KEY FACTS Official title: Federative Republic of Brazil Ruling party: National Reconstruction Party (PRN) Capital: Brasilia Official languages: Portuguese Currency: Real Area: 8,511,965 sq km Population: 147m (1989) GDP per capita: $2,449 (1988) GDP real growth: 3.6% (1989) Trade balance: $14,390m (1989) Foreign debt: $114.6bn (1989) GEOGRAPHY: Brazil occupies nearly half of the total area of South America. It has borders with all the South American countries except for Chile and Ecuador. Its land mass totals approximately 3,300,000 square miles, more than the continental United States and slightly less than all the European countries together. 40% of the Brazilian land is occupied by the Amazon Rain Forest. Brazil covers almost half of the South American continent and it is bordered to the north, west and south by all South American countries except Chile and Ecuador; to the east is the Atlantic. Brazil is topographically relatively flat, and at no point do the highlands exceed 3000m (10,000ft). Over 60% of the country is a plateau; the remainder consists of plains. The River Plate Basin (the confluence of the Parana and Uruguay Rivers, both of which have their sources in Brazil) in the far south is more varied, higher and less heavily forested. North of the Amazon are the Guiana Highlands, partly forested, partly stony desert. The Brazilian Highlands of the interior, between the Amazon and the rivers of the south, form a vast tableland, the Mato Grosso, from which rise mountains in the southwest, that form a steep protective barrier from the coast called the Great Escarpment, breached by deeply cut river beds. The population is concentrated in the southeastern states of Minas Gerais, Sao Paulo and Parana. Sao Paulo has a population of over 10 million, while over 5 million people live in Rio de Janeiro. Brazil is composed of 26 states and 1 Federal District. The capital is Brasilia. There are five regions: North: (States of Amazonas, Para, Roraima, Acre, Amapa, Tocantins and Rondonia). Northeast: (States of Bahia, Sergipe, Alagoas, Pernambuco, Paraiba, Rio Grande do Norte, Ceara, Piaui and Maranhao) Central West: (States of Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, and Goias) Southeast: (States of Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais, Espirito Santo, and Sao Paulo) South: (States of Parana, Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul) TOTAL AREA: 8,511,965 km2; land area: 8,456,510 km2; includes Arquipelago de Fernando de Noronha, Atol das Rocas, Ilha da Trindade, Ilhas Martin Vaz, and Penedos de Sao Pedro e Sao Paulo COMPARATIVE AREA: slightly smaller than the US LAND BOUNDARIES: 14,691 km total; Argentina 1,224 km, Bolivia 3,400 km, Colombia 1,643 km, French Guiana 673 km, Guyana 1,119 km, Paraguay 1,290 km, Peru 1,560 km, Suriname 597 km, Uruguay 985 km, Venezuela 2,200 km COASTLINE: 7,491 km CONTINENTAL SHELF: 200 meters or to depth of exploitation; EXCLUSIVE FISHING ZONE: 200 nm; TERRITORIAL SEA: 200 nm DISPUTES: short section of the boundary with Paraguay (just west of Guaira Falls on the Rio Parana) is in dispute; two short sections of boundary with Uruguay are in dispute (Arroyo de la Invernada area of the Rio Quarai and the islands at the confluence of the Rio Quarai and the Uruguay); claims a Zone of Interest in Antarctica CLIMATE: Mainly tropical and sub-tropical; particularly humid in Amazon region and along the coast. Temperate on the southern coast and on the higher lands. Rainy season in south from Nov-Mar, driest from Jun-Aug. Temperatures in Rio de Janeiro: winter (Jun-Sep) 14-30 degrees C, summer (Dec-Mar) 20-39 degrees C. ENVIRONMENT: recurrent droughts in northeast; floods and frost in south; deforestation in Amazon basin; air and water pollution in Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo Note: largest country in South America; shares common boundaries with every South American country except Chile and Ecuador TERRAIN: mostly flat to rolling lowlands in north; some plains, hills, mountains, and narrow coastal belt POPULATION DENSITY: 17 per sq km. CAPITAL: Brasilia. Population: 1,567,709 (1985). <<< GOVERNMENT >>> LONG-FORM NAME: Federative Republic of Brazil TYPE: federal republic CAPITAL: Brasilia ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISIONS: 26 states (estados, singular--estado), and 1 federal district** (distrito federal); Acre, Alagoas, Amapa*, Amazonas, Bahia, Ceara, Distrito Federal**, Espirito Santo, Goias, Maranhao, Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, Minas Gerais, Para, Paraiba, Parana, Pernambuco, Piaui, Rio de Janeiro, Rio Grande do Norte, Rio Grande do Sul, Rondonia, Roraima*, Santa Catarina, Sao Paulo, Sergipe, Tocantins; note--the territories of Amapa and Roraima became states on 5 October 1988. INDEPENDENCE: 7 September 1822 (from Portugal) CONSTITUTION: 5 October 1988 LEGAL SYSTEM: based on Latin codes; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction PUBLIC HOLIDAYS fixed dates: 1.1 New Year's Day, 21.4 Tiradentes Day, 1.5 Labour Day, 7.9 Independence Day, 12.10 Nossa Senhora de Aparecida, 2.11 All Souls Day,15.11 Proclamation of the Republic, 25.12 Christmas moveables: Carnival (February, ocasionally begining March) Easter ( note that Easter Monday is not holiday) Corpus Christi local 25.1 (in Sao Paulo), 20.1 ? (in Rio) Note: It is government policy in Brazil for certain holidays to be taken on Monday if those holidays fall during the week; however, the church wishes to continue holding festivals on the traditional days. If plans are likely to be affected by such a holiday it is advisable to check the situation with the Information Office before travelling. Please note also that as four of the traditional holidays are fixed by municipalities there may be some variation from region to region. EXECUTIVE BRANCH: president, vice president, Cabinet LEGISLATIVE BRANCH: bicameral National Congress (Congresso Nacional) consists of an upper chamber or Senate (Senado) and a lower chamber or Chamber of Deputies (Camara dos Deputados) JUDICIAL BRANCH: Supreme Federal Tribunal SUFFRAGE: voluntary at age 16; compulsory between ages 18 and 70; voluntary at age 70 FLAG: green with a large yellow diamond in the center bearing a blue celestial globe with 23 white five-pointed stars (one for each state) arranged in the same pattern as the night sky over Brazil; the globe has a white equatorial band with the motto ORDEM E PROGRESSO (Order and Progress) DIPLOMATIC REPRESENTATION: Ambassador Marcilio Marques MOREIRA; Chancery at 3006 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington DC 20008; telephone (202) 745-2700; there are Brazilian Consulates General in Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, and New York, and Consulates in Dallas, Houston, and San Francisco ; US--Ambassador Richard MELTON; Embassy at Avenida das Nocoes, Lote 3, Brasilia, Distrto Federal (mailing address is APO Miami 34030); telephone p55o (6) 321-7272; there are US Consulates General in Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo, and Consulates in Porto Alere and Recife Time GMT -3 (except western states including towns of Campo Grande, Corumba, Cuiaba, Manaus: GMT -4. Fernando de Noronha Islands: GMT -2. Acre: GMT -5.) Working hours Government and business (Mon-Fri) 0900 - 1200; 1400 - 1800. Government departments usually 1100 - 1800. N.B. In Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo there is no siesta break; in Brasilia there is a three-hour siesta, 1200 - 1500. Currency exchange: All banks and cambios exchange recognised travellers cheques and foreign currency, but there is also a flourishing black market trade in foreign currency which offers about 20% above the official rate. This is strictly illegal in Brazil. <<< COMMUNICATIONS >>> RAILROADS: 29,694 km total; 25,268 km 1.000-meter gauge, 4,339 km 1.600-meter gauge, 74 km mixed 1.600-1.000-meter gauge, 13 km 0.760-meter gauge; 2,308 km electrified HIGHWAYS: 1,448,000 km total; 48,000 km paved, 1,400,000 km gravel or earth INLAND WATERWAYS:: 50,000 km navigable PIPELINES: crude oil, 2,000 km; refined products, 3,804 km; natural gas, 1,095 km PORTS: Belem, Fortaleza, Ilheus, Manaus, Paranagua, Porto Alegre, Recife, Rio de Janeiro, Rio Grande, Salvador, Santos MERCHANT MARINE: 271 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 5,855,708 GRT/9,909,097 DWT; includes 2 passenger-cargo, 68 cargo, 1 refrigerated cargo, 12 container, 9 roll-on/roll-off, 56 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker, 15 chemical tanker, 10 liquefied gas, 14 combination ore/oil, 82 bulk, 2 combination bulk CIVIL AIR: 176 major transport aircraft AIRPORTS: 3,774 total, 3,106 usable; 386 with permanent-surface runways; 2 with runways over 3,659 m; 21 with runways 2,240-3,659 m; 503 with runways 1,220-2,439 m TELECOMMUNICATIONS: good system; extensive radio relay facilities; 9.86 million telephones; stations--1,223 AM, no FM, 112 TV, 151 shortwave; 3 coaxial submarine cables 3 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth stations with total of 3 antennas; 64 domestic satellite stations A 40 per cent tax is added to cost of all international communications. Telephone Long-distance calls can be made from state telephone company offices, post offices and hotels. Trunk dialling system linking all main cities. Public telephone booths (orelhoes) operated by tokens, which can be bought from newsagents, cafes etc. Dialling code for Brazil: IDD access code + 55 followed by area code (Belo Horizonte 31, Brasilia 61, Rio de Janeiro 21, Sao Paulo 11) followed by subscriber's number. Telex and telegram Country telex code: BR. Telex messages can be sent from main post offices during business hours and from hotels at nights and weekends. Telegrams can be sent over the phone or at post offices and hotels. Telephone: The telecommunications systems are state-owned. Full IDD services available for the whole country and abroad. Country code: 55. Public telephones require metal discs called 'fichas', which can be obtained from cash desks or newspaper kiosks. All calls are liable to a 20% tax. Fax: Facilities are available in the main post offices of major cities and some 5-star hotels; because this technology is only just being introduced it is advisable to check that this facility is offered at your destination. Telex/telegram: International telegram and telex facilities exist in many cities. Offices of Embratel in Rio de Janerio (Praca Maua 7) and Sao Paulo. Rio's airport provides 24 hour telecommunication services. The domestic telex service now covers the whole of the country. Post: Services are reasonably reliable. Sending mail registered or franked will eliminate the risk of having the stamps steamed off. Airmail service to Europe takes four to six days. Surface mail takes at least four weeks. Press: The only English newspaper is The Brazil Herald in Rio. Also in Rio there is an English Language publication, the Rio Visitor which gives tourist information. BBC World Service and Voice of America frequencies and wavelengths: From time to time these change. BBC: MHz 17.76 15.18 9.915 6.005 Metres 16.89 19.76 30.26 49.96 Voice of America: MHz 15.21 11.58 9.775 5.995 Metres 19.72 25.91 30.69 50.04 POSTAL SERVICE Postal charges are high. PO Box (Caixa Postal) address and post code number should be used when possible. MEDIA Press Around 250 daily newspapers with a combined circulation of under 5m. Due to distribution difficulties in such a large country there are no national dailies. However, numerous regional papers are published. Main US and European newspapers available in Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo. Brazil Herald (circulation 18,000) incorporating Daily Post is only local English language daily. Main papers are O Dia (261,653), Jornal do Brasil (170,151), O Globo (266,569) and Jornal do Comercio (in Rio de Janeiro, 31,000) and O Estado de Sao Paulo (222,173), Folha de Sao Paulo (283,048), Gazeta Mercantil (leading business paper, 80,000), Jornal da Tarde (100,151), Diario Popular (90,000) and Diario do Comercio e Industria (50,000). Numerous periodicals are also available. Broadcasting Over 1,000 radio stations (including AM, FM, SW and Tropical Wave) and 127 TV stations. Satellite connection with rest of world. TIME: Brazil spans several time zones: Brazilian Standard Time: GMT - 3 (GMT - 2 in summer). Amazon time zone (except Acre): GMT - 4 (GMT - 3 in summer). Acre State: GMT - 4 (throughout year). Embassies and Consulates in Brazil British Embassy Caixa Postal 07-0586 Setor de Embaixadas Sul, Quadra 801 Conjunto K 70.408 Brasilia DF, Brazil Tel: (061) 225 2710. Consulates in: Belem, Manaus, Recife, Salvador, Rio de Janeiro, Belo Horizonte, Fortaleza, Sao Paulo, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande and Santos. Embassy of the United States of America Setor de Embaixadas Sul, Av. das Nacoes Lote 3 70.403 Brasilia DF, Brazil Tel: (061) 321 7272. ************** 2.2 About things Brazilian in other countries **************** 2.1 Address and phone numbers of the Brazilian embassies and consulates Embassy 3006 Massachusetts Ave NW Washington DC 20008 +1-202-745-2700, 2828 Consulates Miami Los Angeles 2601 Bayshore Dr #800 8484 Wilshire Blvd #730/711 Miami, FL 33133 Beverly Hills, CA 90211 +1-305-285-6200 +1-213-651-2664, 5833, FAX 653-3903 Boston San Francisco 20 Park Plaza, Suite 810 300 Montgomery St #1600 Boston, Mass. San Francisco, CA 94104 617-542-4000 +1-415-981-8170 Chicago Puerto Rico 401 North Michigan Ave #3050 Av. Munoz Rivera, 268 8th Piso Chicago, IL 60611 Oficina 804 312-464-0269, 0244 Hato Rey, Ruerto Rico 00910 +1-809-754-7983 Houston New York 13333 W Loop South #1100 630 Fifth Ave Houston, TX 77027 Room 2720 +1-713-961-3063, 3064, 3065 New York, NY 10020 +1-212-757-3080 Embassy of the Federative Republic of Brazil and Brazilian Information Office 32 Green Street London W1Y 4AT Tel: (071) 499 0877. Fax: (071) 493 5101. Brochures and publicity material may be ordered via Country Connect by keying *567# on ISTEL TravelGuide 999. Brazilian Consulate General 6 St Alban's St London SW1Y 4SG Tel: (071) 930 9055. Opening hours: 1000-1600 Monday to Friday. 2.2 Where can I buy Brazilian food, music, and books, videotapes? Brazilian newspapers and magazines? Brazilian music: telnet cdconnection.com Brazil CD's, PO Box 382282, Cambridge, MA 02238-2282, +1-617524-5030, drumpler.aol.com The Music Planet, 6680 Alhambra Ave., #403, Martinez CA 94553, +1-510-372-0556 Brazilian newspapers and magazines: Brazil Review 141 Ne 3rd Ave Miami, Fl 33132 305-358-8822 Brazilian Courier Miami, FL 305-377-1223 Brazilian Times 70 Union Sq Somerville, Ma 02143 617-625-5559 Brazilian Voice 53 Johnston Ave Kearny, NJ 07032 201-955-1137 Folha do Brasil New York, NY 212-869-7022 Brazil Today, Box 1121, El Cerrito, CA 94530 510-223-5190 The Brasilians 15 W 46th St New York, NY 10036 212-382-1630 FAX 382-1632 News from Brazil, Box 42536, Los Angeles, CA 90050-0536 800-354-4953, 213-255-4953, 718-746-0169, 415-648-5966, 305-566-7467 Portugal Brazil News 212-228-2958 The Brazilian Music Review 708-292-4545 Brazil in Review 708-805-9025 The Brazilian Press 212-691-7759 The Samba Planet 510-372-0556, fax: 510-372-0575, EMail: jsierra@ix.netcom.com Books and videotapes: Luso Brazilian New York, NY 2.3 Addresses of Brazilian associations and organizations: Brazilian Amercn Chmbr Commrce 80 Sw 8th St Miami, Fl 33130 305-579-9030 Brazilian American Society 2161 Peachtree Rd Ne Atlanta, Ga 30309 404-351-6791 Brazilian Amer C Of C Inc 22 W 48th St New York, Ny 10036 212-575-9030 Brazilian American Lang Inst 19 Mill St Lowell, Ma 01852 508-937-7545 Brazilian Cltrl Club Detroit 6556 Crabapple Dr Troy, Mi 48098 313-879-2303 Brazilian Cultural Foundation 120 Park Ave New York, Ny 10017 212-661-9860 Brazilian Government Trade 551 5th Ave New York, Ny 10176 212-867-3374 2.4 How can I send money to Brazil? See BACC later. 2.5 Radio broadcasts that carry Brazilian music Stations that carry "The Brazilian Hour" music program STATION CITY STATE BROADCAST TIME KBRW-AM Barrow AK Tue 8 PM KAWC-FM Yuma AZ Mon 11 AM WLRN-FM Miami FL Fri 7 PM KIPO-FM Honolulu HI Sat 2 PM KBSU-AM Boise ID Fri 11 AM WSIU-FM Carbondale IL Sun Midnite WGLT-FM Normal IL Tue 7 PM WUSI-FM Olney IL Sun Midnite WAMQ-FM Great Barrington MA Fri Midnite WESM-FM Princess Anne MD Sun 4 PM KCMW-FM Warrensburg MO Sun 9 AM WPRL-FM Lorman MS Sat 6 PM KIOS-FM Omaha NE Tue 1 PM KRWG-FM Las Cruces NM Sat 1 PM WAMC-FM Albany NY Fri Midnite WCAN-FM Canajohare NY Fri Midnite WAMK-FM Kingston NY Fri Midnite WOSR-FM Middletown NY Fri Midnite WCFE-FM Plattsburgh NY Fri 7 PM WANC-FM Ticonderoga NY Fri Midnite KMBH-FM Harlingen TX Sun 2 PM KHID-FM McAllen TX Sun 2 PM KUOW-FM Seattle WA Sun 10 PM WYMS-FM Milwaukee WI Sat 7 PM Address: The Brazilian Hour 8484 Wilshire Blvd Beverely Hills, CA 90211 ATTN: Sergio Mielniczenko WWOZ 90.7 FM in New Orleans broadcasts "Tudo Bem", a two-hour program of Brazilian music Saturday afternoons from 2-4pm Central time USA. Katrina Geenen hosts the show, and her love and knowledge of the music shows. She's a wonderful host with a lively personality. If you'd like to know more, simply write: WWOZ PO Box 51840 New Orleans, LA 70153 VOA transmitimos em portugues nas seguintes frequencias entre as 16:00 e 17:00 horas hora da costa oeste (Pacific Daylight Time): 17.740 kilohertz na faixa de 16 metros, 15.330 kHz em 19 m 11.680 kHz em 25 m e 9.455 kHz em 31 metros. KCRW does not have a show that features Brazilian music exclusively. It does have a show that features Brazilian, Latin, African music (among others). It's called Cafe-LA and it's on Saturday and Sunday, 11AM - 3PM. KCRW is 89.9 FM, Santa Monica, CA. WRTI 90.1 FM in Philadelphia (Temple University jazz station) - "Under One Sun" Thursdays, 10 p.m. - midnight, hosted by Ken Dossar. The program features Brazilian music plus other African-influenced musics such as Cuban music and Latin jazz. Radio station WNUA (95.5 FM in Chicago) is featuring a music program called "Sounds of Brazil" every Saturday night from 10pm to 12 am (midnight). They also offer complete CD information on how to buy the CD's that you hear from their catalog also because they feature a 1-800 number to call. I don't know the number but it will be annouced during the program. Also on KSSJ 101.9 FM Sacramento, CA Sunday at 11am, WOTB 100.3 FM Rpovidence, RI sundays at 10am and 88.9 Panama CIty, Panama Mondays at 7pm In New York WEVD 1050 AM Every Sunday 7pm In Ft. Collins, Colorado there is the PBS-Radio station KUBO-FM which broadcast a brazilian hour at noon every Sunday. They are based in Denver. Miami - Brazilian Love Jazz Todos os Domingos 18:00 - 21:00 93.9 FM New Jersey Todas as quartas, a partir das 22:00 WJDM 1350 AM "The Sounds of Brazil!" with Scott Adams Satunlay lOpm-midnight WNUA FM 95.5, Chicago, IL "Samba Pagode" with Jose Moacyr Tuesday 3-4pm WHPK FM 88.5, Chicago, IL "Coracao Brasileiro" with Dennis Miller Sunday Noon-2pm WMBR FM 88.1, Boston, MA "Brasil Com "S" with Judy King Saturday 9pm-midnight WGBO FM 88.3, Newark, NJ "Brasilian Tropicale" with Alvin Griffin Wednesday 1-2pm WMNF FM 88.5, Tampa, FL "Brazilian Love Jazz" with Gina Martell Sunday 6-9pm WLVE FM 93.9, Miami, FL "A Taste Of Brazil" with Dick Conte Sunday 10-11pm KKSF FM 103.7, San Francisco CA "Sounds of Brasil" with Sergio Miemiczemko Thrursday 9:30-11:30 am KPFK FM 90.7, Los Angeles, CA Agora Brasil - Every Staurday 3:00pm KPFA 94.1 FM San Francisco CA Brasileirinho - Every Wednesday 9:30 pm KZSC, 88.1 FM San Francisco CA OneOcean - Sunday 3-5pm KZYX FM 90.7, Philo, CA Jazz Tropicale, Sunday 10pm-Mid WDCB FM 90.9 Glen Ellyn, IL Brazilian Cool Jazz Sunday 3-8pm FM 88.9 Panama City, Panama Canta, Brasil - Every Sunday, 6-8pm KKUP 91.5 FM San Francisco CA Tropicalia Brasiliana - Every Friday 8:00pm KUSF, 90.3 San Francisco CA "Horizontes" hosted by Michael Crockett (sp?) on KUT-FM 90.5 in Austin, Texas. This program airs on Friday afternoons from 2:00 to 4:30 pm and features primarily Brasilian music for the first 1 1/2 to 2 hours and then Latin music from around the world. "Meu Brasil" on WERS in Boston, Saturdays, 4-8 p.m. WBGO 88.3 "Brasil com S" NJ, NY Sabados de 9pm ate' meia-noite Excelente programa de MPB apresentado por Judith King 2.6 Television broadcasts that carry Brazilian television Many cable TV systems carry "Scola" which has a delayed broadcast of Journal Nacional. (This was discontinued in early 1994) Views of Brazil on Cable in L.A. and San Francisco. Call 310-559-5382 or 415-648-5966 Brazil Update (Globo), 37 W 43rd St, New York, NY 10036 212-819-9078 ************************* 3.0 Culture and Language ************************* (Edited by Cecilia Soares and Ricardo Esparta ) Part 3.1 - History (by Cecilia Soares and Ricardo Esparta) ================== After Columbus reached America in 1492, the Portuguese and the Spanish agreed to divide the new world into two halves by an imaginary longitudinal line at 370 leagues west of the Cape Verde Islands. According to this agreement every land found east of the imaginary line belonged to Portugal and west to Spain. The Portuguese navigator Pedro A. Cabral landed in Brazil on April 22nd, 1500. At that time there were numerous native populations all over South America. The indians living in Brazil, however, were not socially organized as, for example, the Incas in Peru. At the beginning, the European colonizers were only interested in quick profits. But as they didn't find anything, they began to exploit a red-colored wood from which dye was obtained. They called this wood 'pau-brasil' (Brazil-wood or literally blazing wood) and named the country after it. The extractive exploitation of this wood was Brazil's first economical cycle. Only when the profits of the commercialization of spices from India and the Western coast of Asia began to decrease the Portuguese turned their eyes to the new territory. A systematic accupation and exploration of it was set about, and pieces of land were donated to friends of the court. Later, a centralized government was nominated and the second economical cycle was initiated with the cultivation of sugar cane. Attempts were made to use the native indians as slaves in the plantations, but it wasn't too hard for them to run away, given that they knew the land better than the Europeans. Also, the catholic church was against the use of native indians as slaves, for they thought they could convert them. So African slaves were brought over to work in Brazil. In the first half of the 17th century, gold and precious stones were found in Brazil as a result of many expeditions led by frightfull men who were also indian hunters. This caused the enlagerment of the territory, not unlike what happened in the USA. The country borders, however, were only to be defined in the 19th century when Uruguay became independent (it had been a Brazilian province until that time) and what today is the state of Acre was bought from Bolivia. During many years the present state of Minas Gerais alone provided the Portuguese crown with big amounts of gold and precious stones ('minas' means mines). This period would be called later the gold cycle. It was also in Minas Gerais that the first independence movement took place, at the end of the 17th century, inspired in the American liberation movement, and whetted by abusive tax raises promoted by the Portuguese crown. The movement was unsuccessful and one of its leaders, the dentist Joaquim J. S. Xavier, known as Tiradentes, was executed on April 21st, 1789. This date became later an important national holiday (Tiradentes' day). In 1807 the Portuguese royal family moved to Rio de Janeiro escaping from Napoleon's troops. The presence of such honorable guests brought prosperity to the second capital of the colony (the first had been Salvador), culture flourished, and new economical liberties were allowed. But the glorious days came to an end in 1821 when the King decided to return to Portugal where things were back to normality; in Brazil, on the other hand, there was too much political instability, and strong sentiments for independence. The King knew about that so he told his son Pedro who was to remain in the country and become the ruler there that, if the situation reached the point where independence seemed inevitable, he should be the one to declare it and should establish himself as emperor of Brazil. And so that's what Pedro did on September 7th, 1822, but the Portuguese resisted for almost a year at Salvador, they were defeated in July 2, 1823 But the new country would have to put up with a series of problems: a war against Paraguay (the longest in the Brazilian history), great economical dependence on England, and the embarassing permanence of slavery. Brazil was the last country in the western hemisphere to abolish slavery, which only happened in 1888. A little over one year later, on November 11th, 1889, the empire would come to an end with the proclamation of the republic. The end of the monarchy occurred mainly on behalf of the interests of coffee producers from the southeast of the country, especially from the state of Sao Paulo. It was the beginning of the coffee cycle during which labour force had to be imported from empoverished countries such as Germany, Italy and Japan. Since coffee was responsible for 70% of the country's export the immigrants were very attracted by promises of prosperity in the new world (as a matter of fact, this idea was advertised by the Brazilian government in some poor countries). At first, however, they were highly exploited, and a great part of the plantations owners' increasing profits was due to their hard work. But the world depression that started in the late 20's would hit everyone. Coffee reached then its lowest price in history. The economical and political conditions favoured a military coup used by Getulio Vargas to take over the government. The era of the "Republica do Cafe' com Leite" (Coffee and Milk Republic), dominated by Minas Gerais and Sao Paulo farmers (the former, great milk producers, and the latter, great coffee producers) was over. In 1937, Getulio Vargas eventually installs a dictatorship that lasts until 1945. The industrialization period, which began in the late 10's, booms during World War II with the construction of steel mills, automobile and chemical plants, etc. Brazil was neutral in the war until 1943 then it fought on the allies' side, in spite of the government being sympathetic to the fascist regimes. Culminating with the modernization process the new capital of the country -Brasilia- was inaugurated in 1960: within only 3 years a new town, worldwide famous for its unique and impressive architecture,had been raised in the geographical center of the nation, a place where up to that point wilderness had prevailed. But the great material progress during the 1950's was achieved at a high cost in terms of inflation and repeated foreign loans. These problems and an alleged communist influence on the government paved the way for a right-winged military coup. The new government installed another dictatorship and granted himself authority to cancel the mandates of elected officials, to dismiss public servants, and to revoke for 10 years the political rights of those found guilty of subversion. Governmental repression reached its peak at the beginningof the seventies when there was also a great enthusiasm among the people because of the so called "economical miracle" (economical growth made possible by foreign loans), and because Brazil had become world soccer champion for the 3rd time in 1970. But abuse of power and admnistrative incompetence (including uncountable cases of corruption and the ruination of the public educational system) would weaken the authoritarian government and expose the social and economical wounds of the country. So in the early 80's, the same middle class that had been a beneficiary from economical growth under the military regime began to demonstrate against it. However, only in 1984 Brazil would have a civilian president again. Tancredo Neves was elected by the congress but was never able to take office because he became very ill and died shortly after the elections. The vice-president, Jose Sarney, a man who had worked closely to the military during about 20 years of dictatorship, took the presidency. Inflation rate was already high in the last years of the military regime and would never decrease; undisputable sign of longlasting crisis it's still a major concern for most Brazilians. Around 30 years after the last direct elections for president took place in the country, Brazilians could choose their president again in 1989. Fernando Collor was elected but didn't even stay half of the presidential term in office; he resigned for being suspected of corruption. To a large extent, Collor represents the major Brazilian problem: a country controlled by a greatly corrupted political elite not sincerely determined to improve the living standards of the population. Part 3.2 - Language (by Luciana Storto) =================== The official language of Brazil is Portuguese and the Brazilian society as a rule is largely monolingual. Linguists have classified the variety of Portuguese spoken in the country as Brazilian Portuguese, which differs from European Portuguese not unlike American English differs from the British variety. The indigenous language which mainly influenced Portuguese was Tupinamba' (known by Brazilians as Tupi), a Tupi-Guarani language which was spoken along the whole extension of the coast at the time the colonizers arrived in the country. During the XVI and XVI centuries Tupinamba' was used as the contact language between indigenous populations and Portuguese in territorial expansions in the south (the "Bandeirantes") and in eastern Amazonia. As a result of this contact situation, the Poruguese lexicon incorporated a large number of words from Tupinamba' (especially for place names, fauna and flora); examples are jabuti `turtle', jacare' `alligator', capim `grass' and cipo' `vine'. Another group which had a great impact on Brazilian culture and language were the Africans; examples of words of African origin are dende `palm oil', candomble (a religion) and samba (a type of music and dance). The south of Brazil has received masses of immigrants in the end of the XIX century, mainly from Italy, Japan and Germany. These linguistic groups would quickly make contributions to the enlargement of the vocabulary and pronunciation of local varieties of Brazilian Portuguese. Today, following a world tendency, English words are used especially in technical fields. However, the average Brazilian - as it is truth of the average American in the US - does not speak a second language. Foreign visitors, therefore, should not expect Brazilians to understand English or even Spanish, even though they may be surprised with the extent to which Brazilians enjoy to spend time socializing, in spite of the language barriers. Useful terms and expressions in Portuguese(*) by i.sanches@ic.ac.uk English Portuguese ------- ---------- Do you speak English?...................Voce^ fala Ingle^s? I do not understand.....................Na~o compreendo. Thank you...............................Obrigado. You are welcome.........................De nada. Please..................................Por favor. Excuse me...............................Com licen_ca. How much is it?.........................Quanto custa? It is too expensive!....................Esta' muito caro! What a bargain!.........................Esta' barato! :-) I want (...)............................Eu quero (...). When is it?.............................Quando e'? Where is it?............................Onde e'? Where am I?.............................Onde estou? How far is it?..........................A que dista^ncia? Yes/No..................................Sim/Na~o. Go/Stop.................................Siga/Pare. Entrance/Exit...........................Entrada/Sai'da. I/you/she/he/we.........................Eu/voce^/ela/ele/no's. One/two/three/hundred/thousand..........Um/dois/tre^s/cem/mil. Bank/cash/coin..........................Banco/dinheiro/moeda. Shop(store)/credit card/cheque..........Loja/carta~o de cre'dito/cheque. Supermarket/restaurant/food.............Supermercado/restaurante/comida. Hotel/room/breakfast/lunch..............Hotel/quarto/cafe' da manha/almo_co. Coffee/tea/water/soft drink/juice.......Cafe'/cha'/a'gua/refrigerante/suco. Beer/wine/caipirinha....................Cerveja/vinho/caipirinha. Hot/cold................................Quente/frio. Airport/Station.........................Aeroporto/Esta_ca~o. Consulate/Embassy.......................Consulado/Embaixada. Post Office/stamp/envelope..............Correio/selo/envelope. Pharmacy,chemist/medicine...............Farma'cia/reme'dio. Hospital/doctor/dentist.................Hospital/me'dico/dentista. Ill,sick/pain,ache......................Doente/dor. Fire Brigade/fireman....................Corpo de bombeiros/bombeiro. Police Station/policeman................Delegacia de Poli'cia/guarda. Plane/train/ship/car/bus/taxi...........Avia~o/trem/navio/carro/o^nibus/taxi. Petrol Station/petrol,gasoline..........Posto de gasolina/gasolina. Theatre/Cinema/Stadium/Gallery/Museum...Teatro/Cinema/Esta'dio/Galeria/Museu. Ticket(plane)/ticket(cinema)............Passagem/entrada,ingresso. North/South/East/West...................Norte/Sul/Leste/Oeste. Lavatory(toilet)........................Banheiro. Men/Gentlemen...........................Homens/Cavalheiros. Women/Ladies............................Mulheres/Senhoras. Danger..................................Perigo. Emergency Exit..........................Sai'da de Emerge^ncia. Bank holiday............................Feriado. No smoking..............................Proibido Fumar. No parking..............................Na~o estacione. Speed limit.............................Limite de velocidade. Hello...................................Ola'. Cheers!.................................Sau'de! Have a nice day!........................Tenha um bom dia! Good morning............................Bom dia. Good evening,good night.................Boa noite. What is your name?......................Qual e' o seu nome? How are you?............................Como vai? Very well...............................Muito bem. Stop thief!!............................Pega ladra~o!! A cold beer, please.....................Uma loira gelada, por favor. :-) A cup of coffee and the bill, please....Um cafezinho e a conta, por favor. See you.................................Ate' logo. Goodbye.................................Adeus. (*) Where: a' is the letter "a" with an acute accent mark. a~ is the letter "a" with a tilde accent mark. `a is the letter "a" with a grave accent mark. e^ is the letter "e" with a circumflex accent mark. _c is the cedilla. Indigenous Languages: (by Luciana Storto) Brazil has approximately 170 languages today. The great majority of them is spoken in indigenous reservations located in the states of Amazonas (62), Mato-Grosso (28), Para'(25), Rondonia (25) and Roraima (11). Most of these lan- guages are part of one of the five major linguistic groups of Brazil: Tupi, Macro-Ge, Karib, Aruak, and Pano. The total number of speakers of the Brazilian Indigenous languages is appro- ximately 150,000. Whereas some languages have thousands of speakers and are being actively learned by children, many others are in precarious conditions. For example, the Xipaya (Juruna family, Tupi stock) language is now spoken by only two older women in Altamira, Para'. The last two speakers of Purubora', the only language of the Purubora' family of the Tupi stock (listed as extinct for the last thirty years) were recently discovered, but they hadn't spoken the language for 40 years and could remember less than 200 words. The Tupinamba' (the indigenous language which mainly influenced Brazilian Portuguese, see up) is today extinct, even though elements of it survived in the "Lingua Geral Amazonica" or Nheengatu, a language which retains qualities of Portuguese and Tupinamba', having been largely spoken in Amazonia in the XVII, XVIII and XIX centuries. Its descendant today is called Nheengatu, which is spoken, among other regions, in the upper Rio Negro (NW Amazonia). The great majority of the Brazilian indians are at least bilingual, since, apart from their own language, they speak Portuguese. Multilingualism can also be found in certain regions, such as the eastern Uape's river, where Tukano po- pulations, due to exogamous marriages and linguistic purism, speak in average 3 to 5 languages. Reference: Rodrigues, Aryon, 1986. Linguas Brasileiras - Para o Conhecimento das linguas indigenas. Sao Paulo: Loyola. Some of the information above was given to me first-hand by Dr. Denny Moore from the Linguistic Division of the Museu Emi'lio Goeldi, Bele'm, PA, Brazil. Part - 3.3 Culture (by Ricardo Esparta, 1st Version) ================== The Brazilian population today comes from four ethnic groups: the indigenous Indians, the colonizing Portuguese, the African Negroes, and a number of immigrant European and Oriental groups that have come to Brazil since the 1850's. The most important of these cultures is that of the Portuguese, from whom the Brazilians acquired their language, their religion and most of their traditional customs. The indian contribution to Brazilian culture is perhaps most apparent in the Amazon Basin. Evident in northern coastal regions are religious cults of African origin. African influence is also reflected in Brazilian popular music, especially in the rhythmic samba. Brazil is a country that adapts readily to rapid changes and new opportunities. The attempt upon to impart "Brazilianness" to the arts succeds in the hands of creative geniuses: the composer Heitor Villa-Lobos (a powerful force in breaking with tradition to create distinctively Brazilian compositions by weaving into his music folk themes and rhythms), the painter Candido Portinari (influential in developing a uniquely Brazilian style, blending the abstract techniques of Europe with the real people and landscapes), the novelist Joao Guimaraes Rosa (always using regional and traditional themes though treated in very experimental and personal linguistic style), the architect Oscar Niemeyer (the creator, in collaboration with Lucio Costa, of the capital's original layout), and the cinema director Glauber Rocha (?), who have handled Brazilian themes with a distinctly Brazilian attitude. Brazilian cultural life has been influenced by a series of intellectual movements since independence. Some have aimed at a cultural renewal or modernization; others at a return to national traditions. A complex and vigorous group of poets novelists, short-story writers, literary critics and essayists are imparting to Brazilian literature an authenticity not so much of theme as of attitude. Here is a result of prenational and national development of Brazilian culture with its characteristic combination of cosmopolitanism and tropicalism. It embodies a tendency continuous from colonial days toward a genuine ethnic democracy - not imcompatible with an equally persistent tendency toward aristocracy of family, manners and spirit. Brazil's greatest novelist and short-story writer, Joaquim Maria Machado de Assis (1839-1908), was socially a plebeian but an aristocrat in spirit and literary form, though not a pedant. A tipically romantic movement of the 19th century was Indianism, which emphasized Amerindian themes in art, music and literature. It produced a sociologically important type of novel (as exemplified in the work of Jose Martiniano de Alencar), of poetry (Antonio Goncalves Dias), and music (Carlos Gomes, whose opera 'O Guarani' is based on Alencar's novel about a noble Guarani indian). The regionalist-traditionalist movement are generally associated with the so-called regional novel of the 1930's, as exemplified by the work of Jose Lins do Rego, Graciliano Ramos, Rachel de Queiroz and Jorge Amado.The movement also stimulated historical, anthropological , and sociological studies of a new type, involving a fresh approach on the part of the Brazilian intelligentsia to Brazilian popular art, folklore and traditions. Later, the movement influenced many other writers, among them the poet Joao Cabral de Melo Neto, the dramatist Ariano Suassuna and the novelist Joao Guimaraes Rosa. The modernism movement, started in 1922, was inspired by new tendencies in European arts and letters. A branch of it was cosmopolitanism and another one was inclined to be nationalistic. Modernism counted among its leading proponents the writers Pereira Graca Aranha (novelist), Manuel Bandeira (poet with conections with the regionalist movement), Mario de Andrade (novelist, poet, musicologist), Oswald de Andrade (poet and novelist) and Carlos Drummond de Andrade (poet); the composer Heitor Villa-Lobos; the painters Tarsila do Amaral and Emiliano di Cavalcanti; and the sculptor Victor Brecheret. Popular dance and music: Ballet and even church music in Brazil have been inspired by folk dances and songs, most of Amerindian and African origin. Brazil is one of the main sources of internationally popular rythms, dances, and music styles , of which samba and bossa nova are notable examples. Another tendency in popular music is the protest song, with political and social implications. Architecture: The landscape architect Roberto Burle Marx has made urban Brazilians especially aware of the splendours of their natural environment by replacing the traditional formal European-style with profusions of native species in close association of their natural settings. Some of Marx's landscapes have been used to set off the imaginative structures of Brazil's world-renowed architect Oscar Niemeyer. Brazil also cherishes numerous splendid structures from its colonial and imperial past from the tiled houses and ornate churches of Salvador to the palaces and public buildings of Rio de Janeiro. Among the most revered of these are the 18th-century churches in Minas Gerais that were adorned by facades, biblical scenes, and statues carved in soapstone by Antonio Francisco Lisboa, better known as Aleijadinho. Reference: Freyre, Gilberto (1965) Brazilian cultural life in ************************** 4.0 Travel and Tourism ************************** *************** 4.1 General Travel Information about Brazil **************** For hundreds of years Brazil has symbolized the great escape into a primordial, tropical paradise. No country ignites the Western imaginations as Brazil does. From the mad passion of Carnival to the enormity of the dark Amazon, Brazil is a country of mythical proportions. Roughly the size of the continental United States, Brazil is a vast country encompassing nearly half of South America and bordering each of the continents lesser nations with the exceptions of Ecuador and Chile. After 40 years of internal migration and population growth, Brazil is also an urban country; more than two out of every three Brazilians live in a city. Sao Paulo, with the 12 million inhabitants, is one of the most populous megalopolises in the world. Nevertheless, Brazil's population is clustered along the atlantic coast and much of the country - including the massive Amazon basin- remains scarcely populated and inaccessible. For most, the Brazilian journey begins in Rio de Janeiro. For some it goes no further. One of the world's great tourist cities, Rio has developed a highly advanced culture of pleasure. It revolves around the planet's most famous beaches Copacabana and Ipanema - and is fuelled by the music and dance of samba, the beauty of Corcovado and Sugar Loaf, the athleticism of football, the happiness of ice-cold cerveja (beer), the camaraderie of papo (chit-chat) and the cult of body-beautiful. This hedonism reaches its climax in the big bang of ecstasy that is Carnival - four days of revelry and debauchery unrivalled by any other party on the globe. Perhaps Brazil is not the paradise on earth that many travellers once imagined, but it is a land of often unimaginable beauty. There are stretches of unexplored rainforest, islands of pristine tropical beaches, and endless rivers. Then there are the people themselves who delight the visitor with their energy, fantasy and joy. . . . . From the book "A Travel Survival Kit" Brazil. ********************* 4.2 Travel Information by Region ********************** For the purposes of this section, the country has been divided into five regions: the northern, the northeastern, the west-central, the southeastern and the southern. The Northern Region The states of Amazonas, Para, Acre and Rondonia cover an area of more than 3,400,000 sq km (1,300,000 sq miles) but have a combined population of little more than 6 000,000. Almost entirely covered with thick rain forest, the north of Brazil is known as the 'exotic Amazon' and is an area where nature prevails over all else (except, perhaps, the slash-and-burn agriculturalists and road-builders). Manaus is the capital of the state of Amazonas. It contains the Amazonas theatre, with a majestic neo-classical facade, a number of fine restaurants and hotels and a free trade zone which is excellent for cheap shopping. The Amazon river and its tributaries are ideal for boat excursions, and also offer excellent angling. Belem has a splendid park and market as well as many fine churches. The Goeldi Museum contains the largest collection of tropical plants in the world. Maray's Island is the cradle of the Marajoara civilisation; Santarem, Rio Branco and Porto Velho are also all worth a visit. The Northeastern Region Known as the 'Golden Coast', this region contains the states of Bahia, Sergipe, Alagoas, Pernambuco, Paraiba, Rio Grande do Norte, Ceara, Piaui and Maranhao. It covers nearly 1,600,000 sq km (600,000 sq miles) and has a population of 35 million. The area is distinctive for its historical and folkloric traditions, as well as for its many beautiful beaches. Salvador, the capital of Bahia, contains the beautiful arts and crafts market of the Mercado Modelo. The number and variety of churches in Salvador is staggering; some of the best include the convent of Sao Francisco de Assis and the church of Nosso Senhor do Bonfim. Salvador is also renowned for its museums, some of which are converted churches. The area around the city also has many excellent beaches. The towns of Ilheus, Porto Seguro, and Aracaju all have fine churches and colonial architecture worth visiting. Recife, known as the 'Venice of Brazil' on account of the canals and waterways which criss-cross the city, is also well endowed with churches. Olinda, Caruaru, Natal, Fortaleza, Teresina and Sao Luis are also notable for their architecture, craftworkers and fine beaches. The West Central Region An area of huge marshes traversed by the Araguaia River, it consists of the states of Goias, Mato Grosso and Mato Grosso do Sul. It covers as area of 1,900,000 million sq km (730,000 sq miles) and has a population of nearly eight million. The region is best known for its pleasant climate, and for its huge cattle ranches and plantations. Brasilia is known worldwide for its futuristic architecture, which is most notable in the Praca dos Tres Poderes, Palacio do Planalto, and The National Congress. Goias, 200km (120 miles) to the west, serves as a jumping off point for tourists visiting the Araguaia River, Bananal Island and the thermal springs of Caldas Novas. Mato Grosso is the gateway to the Pantanal, which is Brazil's largest ecological reserve where farm-hotels house tourists and organise fishing trips and photographic excursions. The Southeast Region This comprises the states of Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais and Espirito Santo. It covers an area of more than 900,000 sq km (350,000 sq miles) and has a population of nearly 53 million. It is the country's most developed region and offers the best tourist facilities, including a wide variety of scenic and historic resorts. Rio de Janeiro has one of the most beautiful settings in the world. Renowned for its excellent beaches, such as Copacabana and Ipanema, the city is chiefly known for its world famous carnival. Sao Paulo is famed throughout the continent for its night-life and its shopping facilities. The gold boom in Minas Gerais during the 18th century produced a number of historic towns, the most famous being Ouro Preto. The southeast region has a number of spas, known for their marvellous climate and mineral water; all are well equipped to accommodate the traveller, Petropolis, Teresopolis and Nova Friburgo are but a few of these. The Southern Region This consists of three states, Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina and Parana, covering an area of over 570,000 sq km (220,000 sq miles). The ideal climate has made this region the most popular among European immigrants. Rio Grande do Sul is one of the richest states in Brazil, and is equipped with good tourist facilities. Porto Alegre, its capital, offers the visitor fine museums and art centres as well as delightful surrounding countryside. The most popular beaches in this area are the Tramandai and Torres, respectively 126km (78 miles) and 209km (130 miles) from Porto Alegre. The Gramado and Canela mountains are also popular with tourists. The state of Santa Catarina, with its island capital of Florianopolis, also has fine beaches at Laguna, Itapema and Camboriu. Parana is a prime coffee producing state. The train journey between its capital Curitiba and Paranagua is a sightseeing must, as is Vila Velha (the City of Stone) and - most famous of all - the Foz do Iguacu (Iguazu Falls), the massive waterfalls on the border with Argentina and Paraguay. ************************** 4.2 Entry Requirements *************************** Passport Required by all except for nationals from the Mercosul (The South-american common market) - Argentina, Uruguay e Paraguay. Passports should be valid for six months beyond the date of arrival. Visa Required by all except nationals of EC countries, Scandinavian countries, Canada, most South American countries and certain others. No restriction on import/export of local currency. Foreign currency import unlimited but amounts must be declared; export of foreign currency allowed up to declared amount. Regulations liable to change at short notice. International credit cards widely used, though cash advances only paid in local currency. Valid passport required by all. Passports must be valid for at least 6 months. British Visitors Passport: Not acceptable. VISAS: Required by all except; (a) nationals of EC countries other than France. (b) nationals of Argentina, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Chile, Columbia, Ecuador, Finland, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Mexico, Monaco, Morocco, Norway, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Switzerland, Sweden, Suriname, Trinidad & Tobago and Uruguay. Note: All travellers must be in possession of onward or return tickets; alternatively, evidence that sufficient funds are available to purchase a return ticket to their country of origin will be sufficient, providing a satisfactory reason for not having an onward or return ticket is also given. Types of visa: Tourist, Business, Transit (required by all passengers in transit). A fee may be charged if visa is not applied for personally. Tourist visas valid for up to 90 days. For an extension of this period apply in Brazil. Tourists are not allowed to work in Brazil. Send application to Consulate (or Consular Section at Embassy). Application requirements: (a) Valid passport. (b) Application form. (c) Sufficient funds to cover duration of stay. (d) 1 photo. Working days required: 3 clear days. For temporary residence, apply to Consulate. Note: Visitors on business require a letter from their firm giving full details and confirming financial responsibility for the applicant. Visas will not be granted if the validity of the passport expires within 6 months. ************************* 4.3 Health Information ************************** Mandatory: Yellow fever vaccination certificate if arriving from infected areas. Advisable: Yellow fever vaccination essential for visits to infected areas within Brazil; these include Mato Grosso, Rondonia and states surrounding the Amazon. Typhoid paratyphoid and polio vaccinations also recommended. Malaria prophylaxis advisable for visits to Amazon regions. Water precautions should be taken. PRECAUTIONS CERTIFICATE ADVISED? REQUIRED? --------- --------- Yellow Fever 1 1 Cholera No No Typhoid/Polio Yes - Malaria 2 - Food/Drink 3 - (1): A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from travellers over 6 months of age arriving from infected regions. Vaccination is strongly recommended for those intending to visit rural areas in Acre, Amazonas, Goias, Maranhao, Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, Para, Rondonia, Amapa and Roraima States. (2): Malaria risk exists throughout the year below 900m in Acre and Rondonia States, in the Territories of Amapa and Roraima, and in some rural areas in Amazonas, Goias, Maranhao, Mato Grosso and Para States. The malignant falciparum form of the disease is reportedly highly resistant to both chloroquine and sulfadoxine/pyrimethane. (3): All water should be regarded as being potentially contaminated. Water used for drinking, brushing teeth or making ice should have first been boiled or otherwise sterilised. Pasteurised milk and cheese is available in towns and is generally considered safe to consume. Milk outside of urban areas is unpasteurised and should be boiled; powdered or tinned milk is available and is advised in rural areas, but make sure that it is reconstituted with pure water. Avoid dairy products which are likely to have been made from local milk. Only eat well-cooked meat and fish, preferably served hot. Pork, salad and mayonnaise may carry increased risk. Vegetables should be cooked and fruit peeled. Rabies is present. For those at high risk vaccination before arrival should be considered. If you are bitten abroad seek medical advice without delay. Bilharzia (schistosomiasis) is present. Avoid swimming and paddling in fresh water. Swimming pools which are well- chlorinated and maintained are safe. Health care: English-speaking medical staff are found mainly in Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. The main hospital in Sao Paulo is the Hospital Samaritano. Full insurance is recommended as medical costs are high. ************************** 4.4 Methods of payment ************************** Credit cards: Access/Mastercard, American Express, Diners Club and Visa are accepted. Check with your credit card company for details of merchant acceptability and other services which may be available. Travellers cheques: Tourists cannot exchange US travellers cheques for US banknotes. Currency restrictions: Free import and export of local currency. Free import of foreign currency, subject to declaration. Free export of foreign currency up to the amount declared. The following goods may be taken into Brazil without incurring any duty: 400 cigarettes or 250g of tobacco or 25 cigars; 2 litres of spirits; 280g of perfume. Prohibited goods: meat and cheese products from various countries; contact the Embassy for details. The total value of imported goods may not exceed US$300. ********************** 4.5 Getting tourism information ********************** NOTE: For up to date listing of places to get tourist information please check on ftp.cc.umanitoba.ca in the directory /pub/rec-travel as tourism-offices or on rtfm.mit.edu as /pub/usenet/news.answers/travel/tourism-offices Here are addresses of where to write to get tourist information on Brazil: 4.5.1 Within Brazil: Brazil- Embratur-Brazilian Tourism Board Rua Mariz e Barros, 13 Rio de Janeiro, 20270, Brazil +55-21-273-2212;; FAX +55-21-273-9290 Brazilian Chamber of Commerce Avenida Rio Branco, 91, 8 S/10/12, 20040 Rio de Janeiro +55-21-221-1901 Cebitur (Tourist Office) Avenida Brigadeiro Faria Lima 1323 Sao Paulo RioTur City of Rio de Janeiro. Rua da Assembleia, 10/8th and 9th floor. Rio de Janeiro, Brasil +55-21-297-7117, +55-21-242-8000 Automated;; FAX +55-21-252-7779. Rio Convention Bureau +55-21-259-6165;; FAX +55-21-511-2592 Tourist Information Centre Barata Ribeiro 272 Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro. Sao Paulo Convention & Visitors Bureau +55-11-289-9397 Embratur / Rj - Brazilian Tourist Board Rua Mariz E Barros, 13 - CEP 20.270 - Rj Tel-(021) - 273-2212 / 293-1313 / 293-1516 Embratur / BrasÍlia - Brazilian Tourist Board Setor Comercial Norte Quadra 2 - Bloco G - 3º Andar - CEP 70.000 - BrasíLia /Df Tel - (061)- 224-9100 Fax: (061)-223-9889 Rondonia Departamento De Turismo - Detur/Ro Rua Padre Chiquinho, 580 Esplanada Das Secretarias 78900 - Porto Velho - RO Tel.: (69) 223-2276 Acre Departamento De Turismo - Detur/AC Av. GetÚlio Vargas, 659 69000 - Rio Branco - AC Tel.: (68) 224-3997 Amazonas Empresa Amazonense De Turismo - Emamtur Av. Taruma, 379 69025 - Manaus - AM Tel.: (92) 234-5642 And 233-9973 Roraima Coordenadoria De Turismo Rua Coronel Pinto, 241 EdifÍcio Boa Vista 69300 - Boa Vista - RR Tel.: (95) 224-9977 And 224-9454 ParÁ Companhia Paraense De Turismo - Paratur Feira Do Artesanato PraÇa Kennedy, S/N 66030 - BelÉm - PA - Cx: 839 Tel.: (91) 224-9633 And 224-9155 AmapÁ Departamento De Turismo - Detur/Ap Av.: Raimunda Alvares Da Costa, 18 - Centro 68900 - MacapÁ - AP Tel.: (96) 223-4555 And 223-2331 Tocantins Coordenadoria De Turismo Do Estado De Tocantins Secretaria De Estado Do Desenvolvimento Da IndÚstria E Do ComÉrcio 77000 - Palmas, TO Tel: (62) 866-1084 MaranhÃo Empresa Maranhense De Turismo - Maratur Rua Portugal - Centro Projeto Reviver 65000 - SÃo Luis - MA Tel.: (98) 221-1231 And 221-1276 PiauÍ Empresa De Turismo Do PiauÍ - Piemtur Rua Alvaro Mendes, 1988 64020 - Teresina - PI Tel.: (86) 222-6202 And 222-6254 CearÁ Empresa Cearense De Turismo - Emcetur Centro De ConvenÇÕes Do CearÁ Av. Washington Soares, 1141 60810 - Fortaleza - CE Tel.: (85) 239-1623 And 226-7122 Rio Grande Do Norte Empresa De PromoÇÃo E Desenvolvimento Do Turismo Do Rio Grande Do Norte S/A - Emproturn Centro De ConvenÇÕes Via Costeira, S/N - Ponta Negra 59010 - Natal - RN Tel.: (84) 221-1451 And 221-1453 ParaÍba Empresa Paraibana De Turismo S/A - PB - Tur Av. Almirante TamandarÉ, 100 Centro TurÍstico De Tambau 58033 - JoÃo Pessoa - PB Tel.: (83) 226-7078 And 226-6873 Pernambuco Empresa Pernambucana De Turismo - Empetur Av. Conde Da Boa Vista, 700 - Boa Vista 50060 - Recife - PE Tel.: (81) 231-4421 And 231-5803 Alagoas Empresa Alagoana De Turismo S.A. - Ematur Av. Siqueira Campos S/N - 2nd Floor Trapiche Da Barra 57010 - MaceiÓ - AL Tel.: (82) 221-9393 And 221-8987 Sergipe Empresa Sergipana De Turismo - Emsetur Centro De Int. ComunitÁrio Min. Jose Hugo Castelo Branco - Distrito Industrial Rua Q - Super Quadra K - S/N 49000 - AracajÚ - SE Tel.: (79) 231-9164 And 231-9165 Bahia Empresa De Turismo Da Bahia S/A - Bahiatursa Loteamento Jardim ArmaÇÃo Centro De ConvenÇÃo Da Bahia 41700 - Salvador - BA Tel.: (71) 371-1522 And 230-3159 Minas Gerais Empresa Mineira De Turismo - Turminas Rua Guajajaras, 1022 30180 Belo Horizonte - MG - P.O.Box 906 Tel.: (31) 201-3247 And 201-3942 EspÍrito Santo Empresa Capixaba De Turismo - Emcatur Rua BarÃo De Monjardim, 30 29010 - VitÓria - ES - P.O. Box 1367 Tel.: (27) 222-0309 And 222-0711 Rio De Janeiro Cia Turismo Est. Rio De Janeiro - Turisrio Rua Da AssemblÉia, 10 / 7th And 8th Floors 20011 - Rio De Janeiro - RJ Tel.: (21) 221-8422 And 252-2646 SÃo Paulo Secretaria Esportes E Turismo Estado De SÃo Paulo Coordenadoria De Turismo Rua SÃo Bento, 380 - 1st Floor 01010 - SÃo Paulo - SP Tel.: (11) 239-0087 And 239-0094 ParanÁ FundaÇÃo De Esporte E Turismo - Festur Rua Deputado Mario De Barros, 1290 EdifÍcio Caetano Munhoz Da Rocha 80530 - Curitiba - PR Tel.: (41) 254-7273 Santa Catarina Santa Catarina Turismo S/A - Santur Rua Felipe Schmidt, 21 - 9th Floor Centro Com. Aderbal Ramos Da Silva 88010 - FlorianÓpolis - SC - P.O. Box D-3 Tel.: (48) 24-6300 And 24-5862 Rio Grande Do Sul Cia. Rio-Grandense De Turismo - Crtur Rua Dos Andradas, 1137 - 6th Floor 90020 - Porto Alegre - RS Tel.: (512) 28-7695 And 28-1311 Mato Grosso Empresa Matogrossense De Turismo S/A - Turimat PraÇa Da RepÚblica, 131 78000 - CuiabÁ - MT - P.O. Box 500 Tel.: (65) 322-5363 And 322-5749 Mato Grosso Do Sul Departamento Geral De Fomento Ao Turismo Parque Dos Poderes, Bl 3 - Ala D 79013 - Campo Grande - MS Tel.: (67) 721-4180 And 721-4680 GoiÁs SuperintendÊncia De Turismo De GoiÁs - Goiastur EstÁdio Serra Dourada Ala Sul - 3rd Floor - Jardim GoiÁs 74510 - Goiânia Tel.: (62) 225-7491 And 223-1459 Distrito Federal Dept. De Turismo Do Distrito Federal - Detur Setor De DivulgaÇÃo Cultural Centro De ConvenÇÕes, 3rd Floor 70075 - BrasÍlia - DF Tel.: (61) 225-5710 And 225-5703 4.5.2 Outside of Brazil: Brazilian Tourism Bureau(USA, FL) 2828 SW 22nd St Miami, FL 33145 +1-305-445-9694 Brazilian Tourism Office(USA, NY) 551 5th Ave #-590 New York, NY 10176 +1-212-286-9600 Brazil -Funtur-Brazilian Tourism Foundation(USA, NY) 551 5th Ave. #519 New York, NY 10176 +1-212-286-9600;; FAX +1-212-490-9294 Rio- TurisRio (USA) 55 East 59th St, 18th floor New York, NY 10022 +1-212-759-7878;; FAX +1-212-759-7288 Also there is a program which runs on an IBM compatible PC that has all kinds of Brazilian tourism information on it, it is: /ftp@math.berkeley.edu:/pub/Preprints/P_N_de_Souza/Images/Brazil/bratour.zip *********************** 4.6 Travel books on Brazil ************************* a. the South American Handbook b. Lonely Planet "Brazil, a survival kit" c. The Real Guide "Brazil" ** 4.7 Travel agencies and Tour companies that deal with travel to Brazil **** Here are some numbers of travel agencies specializing in service to Brazil. We don't vouch for any of them. New York Agents Brazilian American Cultural Center: 800-222-2746 BasBrasil (Marcela) 212-682-5310 800-GOTO-RIO Brazilian American Systems (Monica) 212-730 1010 Brazilian Vacation Center 212-840 3733 Argentinia Worldwide Travel (Cristina) 212-481 0111 Marco Polo 800-421-5276 World Destination Travel 212-977-7402 800-292-9382 Glaizer Travel Inc. 212-265-0247 West Coast Agents rioroma travel 800-2-brasil or 415-921-3353 Brazilian Fiesta Tours Angelo 415-986-1134 Midwest Agents Travel Corner 312-726-2668, 800-554-6342 Minneapolis Paul 612-788-6288 Florida Agents AP Travel 305-565-3481 800-525-9112 Fredson Travel 305-577-8422 800-626-8422 Sky Express Charters (Marcia) 305-358-0444 EUROAMERICA (Marcia) 305-358-3003 Travel Globo 813-547-8446 Brazilian Wave 800-682-3315 305-568-1521 FAX Discover Brasil 800-524-3666, 305-382-9443 Miami Int'l Travel 305-441-0808 NEW PORT TOURS 800-551-1059, 305-372-5007 Via Brasil Travel 305-866-7580 ******************* 4.7 International Travel Information ******************** International Air access NOTE: For up to date phone numbers of airlines check on ftp.cc.umanitoba.ca in the directory /pub/rec-travel as tourism-offices or on rtfm.mit.edu as /pub/usenet/news.answers/travel/tourism-offices Airlines that fly to Brazil: Aeroperu, Aerolineas Argentinas, Air Aruba, Air France, Alitalia, American Airlines, Avianca, British Airways, Canadian Airlines International, Iberia, Japan Airlines, KLM, Korean Air, Ladeco, Lan-Chile, LAP - Lineas Aereas Paraguay, Lloyd Aereo Boliviano LAB, Lufthansa, Maimi Air International, Pluna, Royal Air Maroc, SAS, South African Airways, Surinam Airways, Swissair, TAM, TAP Air Portugal, Tower Air, TransBrasil, TTAG Angola, Varig, Vasp, VIASA, World Airways. International airports: Belem-Val de Cans (BEL), 12 km from city; Belo Horizonte-Pampulha (BHZ), 9 km north of city, restaurant, buffet; Brasilia-International (BSB), 11 km from city, duty-free shop, bar, restaurant, buffet, bank, post office, shops, hotel reservations, car hire; Confins Internacional (CNF), 45 km north of city; Manaus-Eduardo Gomes International (MAO), 18 km north of city, duty-free shop, bar, restaurant, buffet, bank, post office, shops, car hire; Porto Alegre-Salgado Filho (POA), 8 km from city, restaurant, buffet, bank; Rio de Janeiro (RIO), 12 km north of city, bar, hotel, taxi, duty-free shop, restaurant; International-Galeao (GIG), 20 km from Rio, bar, restaurant, buffet, bank, post office, shops, hotel reservations, car hire; Santos Dumont (SDU), in city centre (air shuttle to Sao Paulo every half hour at peak times); Salvador-Dois de Julho (SSA), 36 km from city, restaurant, buffet; Sao Paulo (SAO): Congonhas (CGH), 14 km south-west of city; Guarulhos (GRU), 26 km north-east of city, restaurant, bank, post office, shops; Viracopos (VCP), 96.5 km north-west of city, bar, restaurant, buffet, bank, post office, shops. AIR: Brazil's main international airline is Varig (RG). Approximate flight times: From London to Rio de Janeiro is 10 hours 50 minutes and to Sao Paulo is 11 hours. From Los Angeles to Rio de Janeiro is 13 hours 55 minutes. From New York to Rio de Janeiro is 10 hours 10 minutes. From Sydney to Rio de Janeiro is 19 hours 55 minutes. International airports: Rio de Janeiro (Galeao) (GIG), 20km (12.5 miles) northwest of city. There are regular bus services between the International and Santa Dumont airports, and into the city. Airport facilities include car parking, duty free shop, banking, restaurant. Sao Paulo (Guarulhos) (GRU) 25km (15 miles) northeast of the city. Regular bus and taxi services. Airport facilities include duty free shops and restaurants. Sao Paulo (Viracopos) (VCP), 96km (60 miles) southwest of the city. Airport facilities include banking, a duty free shop and a restaurant. Sao Paulo (Congonhas) (CGH), 14km (8 miles) from the city. Manaus (Internacional Eduardo Gomes) (MAO), 14km (9 miles) southeast of city. There are coach services into the city and to other destinations. Salvador (Dois de Julho) (SSA), 36km (22 miles) from the city. 24- hour taxi facilities are available. Airport facilities include banking, a duty-free shop and a restaurant. Note: Brasilia does not have an international airport. All connections are made via Rio de Janeiro. Bus and taxi services are available to all cities. Departure tax: US$10.00 is levied on international departures. SEA: Passenger cruises from Europe run by Lamport and Holt lines. Other cruise lines, some of which also organise cruises down the Amazon are Lindblad Travel, Delta, Costa, Society Expeditions. Main ports; Paranagua, Recife, Rio de Janeiro, Santos and Vitoria. Also numerous smaller ports including Belem, Tubarao, Santana, Maceio, Sao Sebastiao, Madre de Jesus, Areia Branca, Rio Grande. RAIL: Limited rail services link Brazil with Bolivia, Argentina, and Uruguay. For details contact Brazilian Tourist Office. ROAD: It is possible to drive or take a bus to Brazil from the USA but it is wise to check any changes in political status or requirements in Central America before travelling. TEPSA buses from Brazil connect through other Central American countries with the USA bus network. Pluma, based in Curitiba, operates the 4300km (2700 mile) route from Rio to Santiago de Chile, and Soletur operates other international routes from Rio. For further information contact the Brazilian Tourist Office. Documentation: International Driving Permit required. This must be validated by Automovel Club de Brazil. Overland access is possible by road from Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay (e.g. bus services Curitiba-Asuncion, Porto Alegre-Montevideo, Rio de Janeiro-Buenos Aires). ********************** 4.8 Internal Travel Information ********************** NOTE: There is a PC program that contains lots of info about tourism in Brazil: /ftp@math.berkeley.edu:/pub/Preprints/P_N_de_Souza/Images/Brazil/bratour.zip NOTE: When travelling between cities on public transport, visitors must carry passports, as proof of identity is required. BUS: Inter-urban transport is very much road based (accounting for 97% of travellers) compared with air (2.2%) and rail (less than 1%). High quality coaches have been increasingly introduced on the main routes, which are well served. Operators include: Cometa, which operates between Sao Paulo and Belo Horizonte; Penha (Sao Paulo-Porto Alegre); Reunidas (Sao Paulo- Aracatuba); Motta (Sao Paulo-Campo Grande); Garcia (Sao Paulo-Londrina); Real-Expresso (Sao Paulo-Rio-Brasilia); TransBrasiliana (Rio-Belem); Sulamericana (Curitiba-Foz do Iguazu); and Expresso Brasileiro (Sao Paulo-Rio). Services connect all inhabited parts of the country. Standards and time- tables vary, and the visitor must be prepared for overnight stops and long waits between connecting stages. Car hire: Available in all major centres. Traffic drives on the right. Parking in cities is very difficult and it is best to avoid driving through the often congested city areas if at all possible. ROAD: Brazil has 1,400,000km (900,000 miles) of roads. International driving licence required, which must be validated by Automovil Club do Brasil. Traffic is often congested in main cities. Petrol is of poor quality and expensive. Service stations are rare on some roads (e.g. Belo Horizonte-Brasilia) and often closed on Sundays. A foreign license is valid for six months, although a certificate of validity must be obtained from the Brazilian driving authorities. AIR: There is a shuttle service between Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, a regular service from Sao Paulo to Brasilia, and a shuttle service from Brasilia to Belo Horizonte. There are air services between all Brazilian cities, Brazil having one of the largest internal air networks in the world. At weekends it is advisable to book seats as the services are much used. Air taxis are available between all major centres. Advance booking not necessary for shuttle flights between Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo (about one hour). Main internal airlines are Varig, Cruzeiro, Transbrasil and Vasp. SEA/RIVER: Ferries serve all coastal ports. River transport is the most efficient method for the Amazon delta. Services on Sao Francisco River between Juazeiro and Pirapora and up the Amazon to Manaus. Hydrofoil service between Rio de Janeiro and Niteroi. RAIL: State and privately owned railways operate limited services to most main centres throughout country. Service is generally slower than bus and long-distance travelling can be uncomfortable. Good sleeper services with restaurant cars operate between Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Belo Horizonte. URBAN: There are extensive bus services in all the main centres, often with express 'executivo' at premium fares run by air- conditioned coaches. Rio and Sao Paulo both have two-line metros and local rail lines, and there are trolleybuses in Sao Paulo and a number of other cities. Trolleybuses are increasingly being introduced as an energy-saving measure. Fares are generally regulated with interchange possible between some bus and metro/rail lines, for instance on the feeder bus linking the Rio metro with Copacabana. Taxis: In most cities these are identified by red number plates, and are fitted with meters. Willingness immediately to accept a taxi-driver's advice on where to go or where to stay should be tempered by the knowledge that places to which he takes a visitor are more than likely to give him a commission - and the highest commissions will usually come from the most expensive places. Metro: Two-line service in Rio de Janeiro. Line one goes from Botafogo Station to Saenz Pena Station (Tijuca): (Mon-Sat) 0600 - 2300. Line two cuts across the city's centre, from Estacio Station to the Maria de Graca Station: (Mon-Sat) 0600 - 2000. Also two line network in Sao Paulo. Integrated bus/metro tickets available. Taxis: In Rio de Janeiro several types. So called 'common' taxi (yellow with checkered stripe), radio taxi (white, with a red and yellow stripe). Mostly metered and can be hailed. A 40 per cent surcharge operates between 2300 - 0600, on Sundays and public holidays. Tipping optional. HOTELS Graded from one to five stars. Wide range available in main towns but sometimes heavily booked (e.g. during Carnival) and advance booking advisable. Listings available from local tourist offices. Accommodation varies according to region. First class accommodation is, by and large, restricted to the cities of the south. The national hotel association is EMBRATUR. CAMPING/CARAVANNING: Cars may be hired, and camping arranged on safari tours or group 'exploration' trips in the Amazon region. The road network in Brazil is good and is being expanded, but since many parts of Brazil are wild, or semi- explored, it is wise to drive on main roads, to camp with organised groups under supervision and with official permits, or otherwise to stay in recognised hotels. The country is peaceful, but because it is so large there is a real danger of getting lost, or being injured or killed by natural accident or lack of local knowledge of survival. Those with an 'international camper's card' pay only half the rate of a non-member (about US$4 per person). The Camping Club do Brasil has 43 sites in 13 states. For those on a low budget, service stations can be used as camping sites. These are equipped with shower facilities and can supply food. FOOD & DRINK: Many regional variations which are very different from North American and European food. One example is Bahian cookery, derived from days when slaves had to cook scraps and anything that could be caught locally, together with coconut milk and palm oil. Specialities include vatapa (shrimps, fish oil and coconut milk, bread and rice), sarapatel (liver, heart, tomatoes, peppers, onion and gravy), caruru (shrimps, okra, onions and peppers). From Rio Grande do Sul comes churrasco (barbecued beef, tomato and onion sauce), galleto al primo canto (pieces of cockerel cooked on the spit with white wine and oil). From Amazon comes pato no tucupi (duck in rich wild green herb sauce), tacaca thick yellow soup with shrimps and garlic). In the northeast dried salted meat and beans are the staple diet. In Rio de Janeiro a favourite dish is feijoada (thick stew of black beans, chunks of beef, pork, sausage, chops, pigs' ears and tails on white rice, boiled green vegetables and orange slices). Types of establishments vary. Table service is usual in most restaurants and cafes. If resident in a hotel, drinks and meals can often be charged to account. Drink: All kinds of alcoholic drink are manufactured and available and there are no licensing hours or restrictions on drinking. Beer is particularly good and draught beer is called chopp. Local liqueur is cachaca, local equivalent of whisky popular with locals but not so much with visitors. Southern Brazilian wine is of a high quality. Some bars have waiters and table service. NIGHTLIFE: The best entertainment occurs in Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo. In Rio the major clubs do not present their main acts until after midnight and the daily paper gives current information; small clubs (boites) provide nightly entertainment throughout the city. Sao Paulo nightlife is more sophisticated, with greater choice; the shows tend to start earlier. SHOPPING: In Rio and Sao Paulo major shops and markets stay open quite late in the evening. Rio and Bahia specialise in antiques and jewellery. Special purchases include: gems (particularly emeralds), jewellery (particularly silver), souvenirs and permissible antiques, leather or snakeskin goods. Fashions and antiques, crystal and pottery is a speciality of Sao Paulo. Belem, the city of the Amazon valley, specialises in jungle items, but be careful that you are not purchasing objects that have been plundered from the jungle, contributing to the general destruction. Check for restrictions on import to your home country of goods made from skins of protected species. Shopping hours: 0900-1700 Monday to Friday; 0900-1230 Saturday. Most department stores close at 2200. All the above times are subject to local variations and many shops open until late in the evenings. SPORT: Association football is the national obsession, the national team having won the World Cup on four occasions. Ball games and athletics are also popular. Capoeira, a martial art, was developed by black slaves in colonial times disguised as a dance to an African musical rhythm. Mountain climbing, hang- gliding and racing are popular, and safari trips are available to the Mato Grosso or the Amazon jungle; big game hunting is, however, now illegal. Waterskiing and underwater diving clubs exist all along the coastline. Both deep sea and river fishing are available. SPECIAL EVENTS: There are a number of lavish festivals throughout the year in Brazil, the two most notable being Bahia's carnival just after Christmas (from December to March) and the carnival in Rio de Janeiro (February), widely regarded as the most spectacular and extravagant in the world. For details of exact dates, contact the Tourist Information Office. SOCIAL CONVENTIONS: Handshaking customary on meeting and taking one's leave, and normal European courtesies are observed. Frequent offers of coffee and tea are customary. Tipping: 10% is usual for most services not included on the bill. **************************** 4.8 Travel Warnings **************************** Large cities in Brazil, along with most of the large cities of the world, have experienced major crime problems. As such, when traveling to countries such as Brazil, you should be careful and observe common-sense rules. Don'ts: Don't wear jewelry, don't carry expensive items openly. Do's; Do dress like everyone else on the street, Do split your money up into 2 or 3 locations on your person, Do use a money belt, Do keep an eye or hand on your luggage at all times. ******************************* 5.0 Internet ******************************* Brazil's access to the Internet is increasing at great speed, here are some ways to access the information on it: If you're unable to post to or read the brasil.* hierarchy, talk to your system administrator about getting a feed. Since many people cannot get a feed for the brasil.* or br.* hierarchy, cross-postings to s.c.b. and brasil.* are welcome. 5.1 What are the addresses of www sites Brazil or having to do with Brazil? The root www server in Brazil is www.rnp.br; accordingly, thge FAQ should have a pointer to http://www.rnp.br/ . Many sites are in the process of installing http servers. The site rnp.br takes upon itself to be current in its list of Brazilian servers. http://www.inf.ufsc.br/ http://www.rnp.br/ For a more complete list, please see the file: whois/servicos.br, accessible via anonymous ftp at ftp.if.usp.br, or point your gopher server to uspif.if.usp.br and select "SERVICOS-BR - Available Services in the Brazilian Network (Port.)" There is an image of Manaus in the Jet Propulsion Laboratory's home page, http://www.jpl.nasa.gov. 5.2 What are the addresses of ftp and telnet sites in brasil? To find ftp sites in Brasil just "gopher uspif.if.usp.br" and select "List of Brazilian Nodes (Lista dos nodes brasileiros) (English)." /ftp@math.berkeley.edu:/pub/Preprints/P_N_de_Souza/Images/Brazil Has pictures of people/places in Brazil. To get cia fact file on Brazil: gopher://info.umd.edu:901/11/info/Government/Factbook92/Countries/brazil or /ftp@info.umd.edu:/info/Government/Factbook92/Countries/brazil 5.3 Is there a list of BBS's that have Internet access in Brazil? Ask sysop%luca@ibase.org.br for his latest list "nacional.lst" Here are some well known sites: di.ufpe.br ftp.cr-df.rnp.br bdt.ftpt.br ftp.rnp.br ftp.unicamp.br ftp.if.usp.br telnet sites: secom.ufpa.br 5.4 Are there other newsgroups that have discussions about Brazil? This is a list of newsgroups that may have Brazilian items on them: br.pc-l br.listas.ct-radiobras br.ysn br.pg-net br.comp-net br.oracle br.colmeia br.masoch br.rnptec-l br.letras-l br.on-this-day br.ipct-l br.sbm-l br.cnpq-l br.big-lan br.civil-l br.fisica-l br.astro br.listas.enecomp-l br.piadas br.newsletters br.opera br.optica br.listas.sbis-l br.redes br.bras-net br.sbnc-l brasil.anuncios brasil.esportes.voleibol brasil.ciencia.computacao brasil.esportes.futebol brasil.ecologia brasil.esportes.formula1 brasil.geral brasil.ciencia.matematica brasil.unix brasil.ciencia.fisica brasil.noticias brasil.ciencia.cnpq brasil.teste brasil.ciencia.capes brasil.politica soc.culture.brazil 5.5 How do I get info about "Bras-net"? For Bras-net info just "gopher uspif.if.usp.br" and select "Bras-net", here is some basic info: Solicitacoes ---> bras-net-request@fpsp.fapesp.ansp.br Endereco Mensagens para bras-eua-oeste@cs.ucla.edu Bras-eua-oeste bras-eua-leste@cs.columbia.edu Bras-eua-leste bras-euro@doc.ic.ac.uk Bras-euro bras-net-brasil@fpsp.fapesp.ansp.br Bras-net-brasil bras-con@frors12.bitnet Bras-con bruk-net@doc.ic.ac.uk Bruk-net (bras-uk) bras-pacific@itakura.nuee.nagoya-u.ac.jp Bras-pacific ***************************** 5.0 Contributors ****************************** The following people (listed in no particular order) have made substantial contributions to this FAQ. If you have any corrections, suggestions, additions, subtractions, etc., please mail them to rick@mei.com Acknowledgments: izar@cs.huji.ac.il i.sanches@ic.ac.uk andre@lri.jur.uva.nl (Andre Valente) Ciro Ribeiro CIRO@Jetson.UH.EDU Rick Bronson rick@mei.com Christian.Kuehnke@ARBI.INFORMATIK.UNI-OLDENBURG.DE ricardo@isr.uni-stuttgart.de lrs7@psuvm.psu.edu Evandro.Gouvea@DB1.SPEECH.CS.CMU.EDU