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Brazil
Research and Text by WebFantastics

Brazil itself is a surprise. As one goes through the healing experience at John of God's Spiritual center in Abadiânia, there is a growing feeling that somehow one is home. Most of us feel an enormous sense of gratitude and a burning desire to get to know the people, the culture and the country which created the environment in which all this could happen. Some of us are called to further explore this lush verdant sleeping giant called Brazil; there is a grounding call to ancient ties.

In Brazil they say that when God created the Earth, he came to Brazil to rest on the seventh day. Brazil and its people are truly connected Spiritually to something larger, magnificently generous and incredibly nurturing; more than most other populations on the planet. And, as creatures perfectly reflecting this grander presence, Brazilians have much to 'unlearn' us about love, feeling part of one another and honoring the presence of each person walking (casually or purposefully) in and out of our lives.

Brazil is an enigma. Full of 'Third World' problems related to the greed and avarice of a few, the country wallows in self pity and survives precariously on the edge of destruction. But, it is just this fragile reality which keep Brazilians alive and in touch with the Spirit within.

Without great dreams of material wealth, adequate healthcare and minimum security, Brazilians have to look inside to find peace, security and happiness. Everyday is a constant battle for survival in a world whose rules change every time the poor begin to raise their hopeful eyes. Flexibility in every aspect of daily life is the result.

The Brazilians call their very special kind of flexibility 'jogo de cinto' or 'extra play / movement in the waist area' (it sounds much better in Portuguese). You can see this action visually at the football (soccer) matches at the end of the day in every neighborhood vacant lot, public stadium and world championship and in the sensual dances of regional and national fame know only here.

Brazil is a land of heroes, a land of limited opportunity for material distraction and an immense reserve of all that is very remarkable about the human condition. Those who journey to John of God in Abadiânia get just a glimpse of this precious jewel called, Brazil.

Traveling in Brazil
Because of the long distances, Brazil has well-developed flight and bus connections between major cities. Brazil has three major airlines: Varig, TAM and Gol. These companies provide efficient services throughout the country. An air taxi service is available at most airports. Scheduled airline fares within Brazil are inexpensive compared to those in Western Europe and North America. For foreign visitors it is possible to buy a Brazil 'air pass' combined with the international flight, this allows an unlimited 'number' of flights within Brazil. Flights between Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo leave every 15 minutes from conveniently located downtown airports.

There are very few railway passenger services in Brazil. Instead, all major cities are linked by frequent and modern buses. For example during peak hours there are departures every 15 minutes between São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. Traveling by bus is cheap but usually time-consuming compared to flying. Meter taxis, identified by roof lights, are plentiful in urban areas. It is not necessary to tip.

A Modern and efficient underground rails system 'Metro' operates in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, a fast and inexpensive way to travel within these cities. Rental cars are available, especially at airports.

Business Hours
While office hours in Brazil are generally from 8:30 am. to 5:30 pm., most shops in Brazil are open from 9 am to 6:30 or 7 pm on weekdays and from 9 am to 1 pm on Saturdays. Shopping Malls are open on weekdays until 10 pm. Banks are open from 10 am to 4:30 pm from Monday to Friday.

Business Culture
The significance of personal contacts is remarkable when doing business in Brazil. It is said that business is done between people instead of companies. Quality is also considered important, and companies with ISO 9000 certification are highly respected. Doing business with a company which is present in Brazil is considered more reliable than buying from an agent or representative. This is mainly due to experiences of better availability of components and spare parts when a supplier is present in the country.

Money and Credit Cards
The US dollar is by far the most recognized foreign currency in Brazil. The exchange offices (Cambios in Portuguese) have the best exchange rates or just withdraw cash from ATM machines which are generally available within the lobby of banks. Traveler's checks are not as widely accepted as cash at business establishments. International credit cards (American Express, Diners Club, Mastercard and Visa) are widely accepted.

Safety
The same caution as in any major cities in the world should be exercised. In terms of personal safety, valuables like watches, jewelry, cameras and credit cards should not be kept visible in public places. Most offices in Brazil have private security guards controlling access to offices and plants. Other preventive measures like fences and video cameras are common.

Identification
According to the Brazilian law, an identification document should always be carried along. However, a paper copy of a passport is often a sufficient proof of identity.

Hotel Accommodations
All the major international hotel chains are well represented in the biggest cities. For a longer-term accommodation, apartments with hotel services or service flats are more comfortable because of cooking facilities and separate bedrooms. It is also possible to rent a furnished apartment. Standards of service are very high.

Food and Eating Out
Eating out is one of the great attractions of visiting Brazil, endless variety and excellent quality. Choose from Italian, French, Spanish, Arabic, Vegetarian and Oriental cuisines. Brazils Churrascarias or BBQ restaurants are a meat eaters paradise. A fixed price includes a salad buffet, side dishes with a selection of meats and cuts brought to your table. 'Kilos' offer a wide selection of meats, vegetable dishes and salads. Payment is 'per kilogram' so you can choose how much or how little you want. This is an excellent deal for vegetarians and light eaters.

The national dish is called “Feijoada” and is served on Wednesdays and Saturdays. An excellent place to sample a wide variety of Brazilian foods is the Hilton Hotel in central São Paulo.

Brazilians drink a lot of strong, black coffee with a lot of sugar in it. The coffee is normally served from small cups. A typical appetizer in Brazil is Caipirinha. It consists of sugar-cane spirit mixed with fresh lime and sugar. The local soda, Guaraná, can be recommended as a tasty refresher. Lunch is normally served between 11 am and 3 pm. Business negotiations are often held at restaurants and they usually last a long time. Tipping is not necessary as a 10% service charge will be added to the bill.

Electricity
In São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro the voltage is 110V or 220V, 60 Hz. Salvador and Manaus have 110V supply. Brasília, Recife and a number of other cities have 220 V supply. It is necessary to have an adapter in order to use European electric equipment because of the different plug. Besides the adapter a transformer can also be bought at local stores.

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Arriving in Rio de Janeiro?

Rio de Janeiro, snuggly located between sea and mountain, is one of the world's most beautiful travel postcard cities. Like any urban area with a population of over 8 million, the city is safe for those who use common sense. Accommodations and restaurants are reasonably priced and public transport is efficient, especially the subway system.

The city center is the business hub, as well as, one of the last strong holds of its turn-of-the-century architecture. Most airline offices, consulates, foreign exchange bureaus and museums are found downtown.

Rio's most famous beach is Copacabana. It is the most urban of the beaches loaded with small shops and good buys. It has tons of hotels and plenty of good restaurants, bars and entertainment.

Ipanema and Leblon beaches just down the way are quieter and more elegant. Most of the better restaurants and nightclubs are in Ipanema and the best place for sunset is at Arpoador rock.

From Downtown you can get a cable car to Santa Teresa, one of Rio's oldest neighborhoods, just under Christ the Redeemer on Corcovado Mountain with incredible views, museums and restaurants. Corcovado's peek with the statue of Christ provides tourists with the most fabulous 365 degree view of the city.

There's Ilha da Paqueta a resort island in the middle of the bay accessible by ferry and hydra foil from the Praça XV, downtown. Historically a weekend vacationing spot for all classes of Cariocas, today it's run-down charm attracts more of the working class and their children for loud picnics on the sand. The best part of this excursion is there are no cars on the island and you can take long undisturbed walks down cobbled streets through old weekend homes from another time. The worst part is that it is really hard to find something good to eat at lunchtime. But, the well-prepared tourist will find the adventure enchanting and worthwhile and will carry enough good food along to not have to depend on local fare.

Maracana stadium for the footballers is one of the world's largest and home of so many of soccer's greatest moments.

The suspended cable car ride to the top of Sugar Loaf mountain is another traditional tourist attraction for all ages.

The Jockey Club in Gávea was built in the early twenties and has horse races most everyday.

You can go hang gliding or parasailing off Pedra Bonita and sail over the Tijuca rain forest down to Sâo Conrado beach. Rio, in truth, is located in Tijuca Park, the world's largest urban park and preserve. There are countless trails, waterfalls and lookouts, which are well worth the effort to explore. Being in the forest in the summer is a beautiful way to beat the heat. It is not rare to see exotic wildlife, fruit and flowers. The Brazilian emperor, Dom Pedro II, left the the city with a splendid Botanical Gardens before stepping down to democracy. This home to an amazing collection of tropical flora from all over the world is alive and thriving with daily expositions and activities.

There are tours of the famous "favelas" which stretch and climb up the mountain slopes around the city. These are the poor neighborhoods which are growing uncontrollably and challenging the limits of structure and civilization. Filled with good families and hard-working people, this is a true look into the essence of Brazil of yesterday and today. It is a little emotionally conflicting to do this tour, because you often feel like you are staring into the eyes of misfortune. That is until you look at the views. Misfortune has never lived feasting on so much beauty. Sometimes you have to ask yourself who is the least fortunate.

Through tunnels and over coastal mountains is the newest part of Rio. It's long beach stretches over 12 km. This is the part of Rio that is the least foreign and business is moving more and more to this region.

There are many, many day and nighttime attractions in Rio for all tastes. It is prudent to have a guide. They are so reasonably priced and charming and will give you that extra inside look into what it means to be Brazilian and a Carioca.

Links

www.123-rio.com
General tourist information

www.rio.rj.gov.br/riotur/
In various languages providing general tourist information as well as Carnival.

Hotels

Vermont
Tel: (021) 2522-0057
Ipanema

Flamengo Palace
Tel: (021) 2557-7552
Flamengo

Santa Clara
Tel: (021) 2256-2650
Copacabana

Canadá
Tel: (021) 2257-1864
Copacabana

Astória Copacabana
Tel: (021) 2548-3838
Copacabana

Ducass Rio Hotel
Tel: (021) 2522-1191
Copacabana

Copacabana
Tel: (021) 2548-7212
Copcabana

Copacabana Rio Hotel
Tel: (021) 2267-9900
Copacabana

Praia Lido Copacabana
Tel: (021) 2541-1397
Copacabana

Mirassol Copacabana
Tel: (021) 2542-8787
Copacabana

Atlantis Copacabana
Tel: (021) 2521-1142
Copacabana

Copacabana Sol
Tel: (021) 2257-1840
Copacabana

Bandeirantes
Tel: (021) 2548-6252
Copacabana

Arpoador Inn
Tel: (021) 2523-0060
Ipanema

Ipanema Inn
Tel: (021) 2523-6092
Ipanema

Ibiza Copacabana Hotel
Tel: (021) 2295-7887
Copacabana

Rio Flat
Tel: (021) 2512-9922
Leblon

Atlântico Copacabana
Tel: (021) 2548-0011
Copacabana

Entremares Hotel
Tel: (021) 2494-3887
Barra da Tijuca

Augusto‘s Copacabana
Tel: (021) 2547-1800
Copacabana

Atlântico
Tel: (021) 2549-8090
Copacabana

Savoy Othon Travel
Tel: (021) 2522-0282
Copacabana

Majestic Rio Palace
Tel: (021) 2548-2030
Copacabana

Ipanema Sweet
Tel: (021) 2523-1015
Ipanema

Copa d‘Or
Tel: (021) 2548-6610
Copacabana

Royalty Copacabana
Tel: (021) 2548-5699
Copacabana

Real
Tel: (021) 2546-6565
Copacabana

Mirador Rio Hotel
Tel: (021) 2548-6446
Copacabana

Ipanema Tower
Tel: (021) 2522-1011
Ipanema

Benidorm Palace
Tel: (021) 2548-8880
Copacabana

Copacabana Praia Hotel
Tel: (021) 2522-5646
Copacabana

Windsor Palace Hotel
Tel: (021) 2548-0098
Copacabana

Top Leblon
Tel: (021) 2511-2442
Leblon

Everest Park Hotel
Tel: (021) 2525-2202
Ipanema

The Claridge
Tel: (021) 2511-2692
Leblon

Luxor Continental
Tel: (021) 2275-5252
Leme

Luxor Copacabana
Tel: (021) 2548-2245
Copacabana

Copacabana Mar Hotel
Tel: (021) 2542-5141
Copacabana

Leblon Inn
Tel: (021) 2259-9030
Leblon

Rio Copa Hotel
Tel: (021) 2275-6644
Copacabana

Flórida Hotel
Tel: (021) 2556-5242
Flamengo

Merlin Copacabana
Tel: (021) 2542-6239
Leme

Real Palace Hotel
Tel: (021) 2541-4387
Copacabana

Leblon Ocean
Tel: (021) 2512-9897
Leblon

Ritz
Tel: (021) 2239-2232
Leblon

Ocean Drive
Tel: (021) 2433-9000
Barra da Tijuca

Barra Leme
Tel: (021) 2389-3100
Barra da Tijuca

Praia Ipanema
Tel: (021) 2540-4949
Ipanema

Monsieur Le Blond
Tel: (021) 2529-3030
Leblon

Oceano Copacabana
Tel: (021) 2548-4260
Copacabana

Lancaster Othon Travel
Tel: (021) 2541-1887
Copacabana

Marina Palace Hotel
Tel: (021) 2540-5212
Leblon

Country
Tel: (021) 2511-5252
Ipanema

Excelsior Copacabana
Tel: (021) 2257-1950
Copacabana

Rio Internacional
Tel: (021) 2543-1555
Copacabana

Le Meridien
Tel: (021) 2275-9922
Copacabana

Rio Othon Palace Hotel
Tel: (021) 2522-1522
Copacabana

Caesar Park Hotel
Tel: (021) 2525-2525
Ipanema

Sofitel Rio Palace
Tel: (021) 2522-1232
Copacabana

Copacabana Palace
Tel: (021) 2548-7070
Copacabana

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