A BRIEF HISTORY

The Portuguese navigator Pedro Alvares Cabral discovered Brazil in 1500.   He  first sat foot on Brazilian soil in  Bahia on  the  beach  today  called  Cabrália  near   Porto Seguro.   From  then  on,  various  export  cycles  has  dominated  Brazil's  economic development and consequently  cultural  development.

The First of these cycles was based on the exportation of Brazil-wood, used to make dyes and paints. During the 17th century, Brazil became the world's largest  producer of sugar.  In this period, a large number  of  African slaves  were  brought  to  Brazil to work in the sugar cane plantations.  Gold and diamonds eventually replaced sugar as the country's major export product.  By the second half of the 19th century,  Brazil was deep into a new cycle with  coffee  as  the  major  export.  Today,  coffee is still one of Brazil's major sources of income.  The  late  19th-century  rubber  boom  also brought prosperity   and   development  to  the   north  of  Brazil,    previously   ignored  by  the international economy.

When  Napoleon  invaded  Portugal  in  the  early  1800's,    Dom  João  VI,    King  of Portugal, fled to Brazil where the Portuguese court continued to run the empire. Ports were  opened  to  international   (mostly British)  commerce,    and   the  colony  grew substantially.   In  1789,  one  of   Brazil's  first  movements   for   independence   from Portugal  was  crushed.  Its  hero,   Tiradentes,  became  a  national symbol of liberty. Independence was finally proclaimed by Dom Pedro I (Dom João's son) in 1822.  He became Brazil's first Emperor. His son, Dom Pedro II, reigned for 49 years until 1899 when  the  country  becomes  a  Republic.  In 1888,  slavery  was  abolished.

In 1940 Brazil  began  a  new  phase characterized by industrial development.  At the same time, agricultural technology advances  giving further  impetus  to  the industrial surge and accelerating financial expansion.   In  spite  of  a  large  and  ever  growing internal  domestic  market,  Brazil continues  to  be  a  major  exporter  of  agricultural products as well as manufactured items such as heavy  machinery,  shoes  and  steel products. 

 

PEOPLE
Brazil's inhabitants are descendants of  a  mixture  of  people. Portuguese colonizers mixed with the native Indians and African slaves (mostly  of  Yoruba  and  Quimbundu origin, corresponding to modern-day Nigeria / Benin and Angola).  Dutch and French colonization also took place in the Northeast.   In the 19th century,   waves of German, Italian,   Polish  and   Japanese   immigrants  added   new   elements  to  the  mixture. Brazilians  are   perhaps   one  of   the   most   racially   mixed  people  in   the   world.

 

LANGUAGE
Portuguese is the national  language,  but  Brazilian  Portuguese  is  very  different  in accent  and  intonation  from  the  language  spoken  in  Portugal  or  in  other   former Portuguese colonies. Some people suggest that Brazilians actually speak "Brazilian" much in the same way that Americans might be said to speak "American" rather than English.

 

RELIGION
Catholicism  is  Brazil's  largest  religion,    but  a  number  of  faiths  are  practiced  in Brazil.   Protestants,  Jews, Evangelical Christians and spiritualist religions of African origin  like  Macumba,  Candomblé  and  Umbanda  are  all  present  in  Brazil.

 

CLIMATE
Climate varies  according  to  latitude  and altitude. Seasons are the exact reverse of those in the  U.S.  and  Europe  (except in the North of Brazil - North of Equator!). The average  yearly  temperatures  are  about  82F  in  the  North  and  68F  in  the South.

 

OFFICIAL CURRENCY
Real ( R$)  and  Centavos.    1 R$ = 100 Centavos.    One  should  exchange  to  local currency. Some shops  in the  major  cities  might  accept  U$  Dollars,  but  the  great majority only accept the local currency.

 

POPULATION
Brazil has about 180 million inhabitants made up  predominately  of  the  white,  black and  native  Indian  races.  The  population  is  mostly  concentrated  along  the coast, mainly  in  the  southeastern region,  where  the  two  largest metropolises, São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro are located.

 

GOVERNMENT
Brazil  is  a  Federal  Republic  divided  into  26 states    with  the  Federal  District  of Brasilia,  it’s capital.

 

THE REGIONS
 North  -  The Amazon is the world's largest biological  reserve.  The  right  place  for ecological adventures and unique opportunities at the outer frontier of our civilization.

Northeast  - Is a yearlong continuous summer with a very agreeable climate and with the continent's  most  beautiful  beaches,  and a  strong  "easy going" popular culture.
  
Midwest  - Here,  one  will  find  the stark contrast  of  newborn  and the  timeless. On one hand,  Brasilia,  the  nation’s  Capital.  On  the  other  hand  the  Pantanal of Mato Grosso, a virtual ecological sanctuary. 
  
Southeast  -   Brazil's  urban  face  is  in  this  area;     Rio,    São Paulo,   the  largest metropolis in Latin America  and  the state of Minas Gerais with its architecture of the past.
  
South  -   This  part  of  the  country  presents  a  decidedly   European   atmosphere. South  was  colonized  mainly  by  German,  Italian and Polish    immigrants. Here are also  one  of  the  world’s  largest  and  most  beautiful  waterfalls,   The  Iguaçu  Falls.

 

TAXIS
Taxis are  plentiful  in  most  cities  throughout  Brazil.   Regular, metered taxis can be hailed on the street.  They  are  generally  of  one  color.  Ex. in Rio; Yellow with a blue stripe.  A  Taximeter  is  used.   Two  different  fare  rates  dominate   through  out  the country.  Rate I,  day-rate  from 7:00 am  to 9:00 pm  and the night rate (higher) for the remaining time.  Radio-dispatched  taxis  are  larger  and  air  conditioned,  but more expensive.  These  are  found  at airports  and hotels or can be summoned by phone.

 

TIPS
Taxi-drivers in Brazil do not normally receive tips from  Brazilians,  who generally only rounds the fare up to nearest round figure.  A 10% tip will be very  gratefully accepted at restaurants,  though most restaurants today include the tip in the bill.   An additional 5% does magic if one plans to return to the same restaurant.

 

MAIL
National  and international  postal  services  are operated by the National Post Office (EBCT).  (One of the best  in  the  world!).  Post  offices  are  open  Mondays  through Fridays from  8:00 AM to 5:00 PM  and  on  Saturdays  from 8:00 AM  to 12:00 noon.

 

TELEPHONES
There  are  telephone  booths  throughout  the  cities  and  suburbs.  Telephone cards available at almost  any  newsstand.  It  is  also  possible to rent  a  Cell  Phone  upon arrival in some of  the  major  airports.  Cell  phone  rental  is  available,  though  quite expensive.

 

WATER SUPPLY
Water is  suitable  for  human  consumption  in most cities. There are many brands of bottled mineral waters. Ice cubes served  in  most  restaurants  are  made  of  filtered water and can be consumed. 

 

BUSINESS HOURS
Most shops in  Brazil  are open from 9 am - 6:30 or 7 pm, weekdays, and from 9 am - 1 pm on Saturdays.  Some shops may close earlier, and many shopping centers stay open as late as 10 pm.  Banks open from 10 am - 4:00 pm, Monday - Friday, in most parts of the country with small regional variations.  In some  regions,  shops  may also close for lunch.

 

ELECTRICAL CURRENT
In Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, the current is an almost exclusively 110 or  120 volt, 60 cycles, AC.  Salvador and Manaus have 127-volt service.  The  Costa  do  Sauipe complex uses 220 volt.  Recife,  Brasilia  and a number of other cities  have  220-volt service.  Most  hotels  provide  110-volt  and  220-volt  outlets,  as  well  as  adapters.

 

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
A  visa  is  required  for  foreign  citizens  wishing  to visit Brazil. Passports should be valid for six months from the intended date of arrival in Brazil. Tourist and transit visas are generally processed within two working days.  They  can  be obtained through the nearest Brazilian consulate. One Passport-sized photograph along with a valid ticket and duly completed application form are required to apply for visa,  valid  for  90 days (tourist) or 10 days (transit).  Brazil  has  agreement  with  a  number  of  countries  for which  citizens  receive  a  tourist  visa  upon arrival, smoothly and without any hassle. Brazil's  policy  on  this  matter  is  strictly  reciprocally!  If  your  country  demands that Brazilians visiting  your  country  have a visa, you can be sure, you need a visa to visit Brazil.

 

CUSTOMS
Besides clothing and personal effects,  tourists entering Brazil may bring one of each of the following items: radio, tape player, typewriter, movie and still cameras, Tourists are allowed to buy for up to US$ 500  of  merchandise  in  the  local  duty  free shops.

 

TIME 
In most of the country,  the time is three hours earlier than Greenwich (London)  Mean Time.  This changes during the summer when daylight  savings time goes  into  effect (clocks move forward one hour).  The  time  in  Rio  is  two  hours  later than New York except when daylight savings time is in effect in either country.

 

NATIONAL HOLIDAYS 
January 1 - New Year's Day 
February (variable date) - Carnival (Mardi Gras)
March/April (variable date) - Good Friday
March/April (variable date) Easter
April 21 - Tiradentes Day 
May 1 - Labor Day
June (variable date) - Corpus Christi
September 7 - Independence Day
October 12 - Our Lady Of Aparecida Day
November 2 - All Souls’ Day 
November 15 - Proclamation of the Republic
December 25 - Christmas

 

CARNIVAL DATES
During Carnival,  most  hotels  in  Rio de Janeiro  and in Salvador require a minimum stay of  5-7 nights.   The beach resort hotels, where many Brazilians take a full week's holiday,  tend  to  require  a  minimum  stay of 9-10 nights.   Usually, special rates are charged.  (Higher!) 

CARNIVAL CALENDAR UNTIL YEAR 2010

2002 - Feb, 10th (Hotel-packages; Feb. 9-14)

2003 - Mar, 2nd (Hotel-packages; Mar. 1-6)

2004 - Feb, 22nd* (Hotel-packages; Feb. 21-26)

2005 - Feb, 6th (Hotel-packages; Feb. 5-10)

2006 - Feb, 26th (Hotel-packages; Feb. 25-Mar 2)

2007 - Feb, 18th (Hotel-packages; Feb. 17-22)

2008 - Feb, 3rd* (Hotel-packages; Feb. 2-7)

2009 - Feb, 22nd (Hotel-packages; Feb. 21-26)

2010 - Feb, 14th (Hotel-packages; Feb. 13 -18)
* bissextile year

The two great parade days (nights)  are always Sunday and Monday of Carnival!

CAR RENTAL 
Chauffeur driven or self-service rental cars are available at all  major  airports  and  in most large cities.  Look under  "auto locadoras" or "locadoras de automóveis"  in the phone book for Hertz, Avis, National, Localiza, Unidas, Nobre, lnterlocadora,  etc.  An international driver's license is required for foreigners.

 

SHOPPING
Shops are generally open Mondays through  Fridays  from  9:00 am  to  7:00 pm  and Saturdays  from  9:00 am  to  1:00 pm.  Many Shopping Centers are open until 10:00 pm. Every day, also national holidays. Shops might  not  be  open,  but  the restaurant section  will.   All  major  Credit  Cards  are  widely  accepted  all  over  the  country.

 

BANKING
Banks are open Mondays through Fridays from 10:00 am through 4:00 pm.  One  can exchange either in the banks or  at   the  "Casa do Câmbio"  specialized  in  currency exchange, only. One is best  off  with  U$ Dollars  in  cash.  Travelers  Checks  gets  a lower exchange rate, generally.