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The Road From Sao Paulo to Rio de Janeiro

Frequently Asked Questions

The road between Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo is one of Brazil’s most traveled tourist destinations. Called the Rio-Santos road, the trip is perfect for many visitors who want to see the big cities of Brazil, some excellent beaches and tropical islands (including some that are touristy and full of beautiful people and others that are remote and deserted), and also a touch of the interior. You can rent a car and take the trip at your own pace, visiting the highlights that you set for yourself. In this article, I’ll try to answer some of the most common questions about this trip. I’ll add more as they come in, so this will be a work-in-progress.

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What’s in a Name?

Who wants to be seen eating at a place called “Big Piggy?” Well, when you get a glimpse of what’s on the menu at this high-end, rodízio-style buffet restaurant, you won’t care what it’s called. Porcão is without a doubt Belo Horizonte’s most outstanding and impressive dining experience. Located in the hills of the city’s upscale, south-center district, Porcão offers one of the city’s most majestic views. Open at 11:30 for lunch, you can look out over the city and the Serra do Corral Mountains. At night, the city is a sea of sparkling lights below you.

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The Magical Pink River Dolphin

Among the strangest and most enchanting creatures of the Amazon is the beautiful and intelligent Pink River Dolphin, scientific name Inia geoffrensis, or peixe boto as they are known in Brazil. You can’t miss them as they play and perform acrobatics in the waters of the Central Amazon Region. They are often seen along the Rio Negro from the Meeting of the Waters to the Anavilhanas Archipelago up river, but they are also found in Venezuala, Peru, and throughout the Amazon Region…

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Catching a Train From Ouro Preto to Mariana

The cities of Ouro Preto and Mariana have recently inaugurated their very own Maria Fumaça train ride between the two towns. The train, which is a replica of a 19th century locomotive, takes about 20 minutes to make the trip and leaves from the Ouro Preto Estação do Trem in the lower part of town. It passes through the mountainous region between the towns and provides some spectacular views of the hills and small towns of Central Minas. The cost, for now, is a bit high at R$30 per person, but it opens up Mariana as a real option for an excursion while you are staying in Ouro Preto. Previously, one had to take a bus between the two (an increasingly dangerous proposition), pay for a taxi (about R$40 round trip), or get a ride with a packaged tour.

This and more trip ideas appear on thebraziltravelsite.com

Advice from Brazilian Students on Coming to Brazil

“When you come to Brazil you should be very happy because Brazilians are good people and receptive. You shouldn’t take warm clothes because on the beaches the weather is very hot and the sea is good for swimming. If you go to Rio de Janeiro you have to be careful with assaults. You should go to the beaches and the historical cities. You have to go to parties because they are very exciting.”
(Jefferson, age 15)

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Praia do Forte in Cabo Frio

On the coastline of the drab and unimpressive city of Cabo Frio, is one of the most stunningly beautiful stretches of white sand and blue water in the Americas. You’ll quickly see why this coastline became famous as a tourist destination. Whatever you may think of the town of Cabo Frio, that long stretch Cabo Frio beach remains an amazing piece of work by Mother Nature.

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Gondola to Pão de Açúcar in Rio de Janeiro

The best views of Rio de Janeiro and the entire coastline around it, are from the two view platforms of Urca and Pão de Açúcar, both part of the famous gondola ride. It’s worth going up once during the day and again after dark to see both aspects of the city.

More Brazil blog entries at thebraziltravelsite.com

Visitors Include Slums in their Tours of Rio

RIO DE JANEIRO–Over 4,000 European travelers were taken into “Rocinha,” Rio de Janeiro’s oldest slum, so far this year. And that’s just by one of several agencies specializing in the favela tour. Now, it seems, the city’s official tourism office, Riotur, is including the favela in their list of approved tours for international travelers. It seems visitors want to see “all” of Rio de Janeiro.

This story and other Brazil trip ideas at thebraziltravelsite.com

Brazil’s Coffee Region

Brazil has been producing its unique variety of coffee since the bean was introduced into the country in 1727. Since then coffee has become a national passion, not to mention an important export and once the driving force behind a great economic and cultural boom. Coffee is the principal reason why São Paulo grew into the most important financial center in Brazil and the third largest city in the world. At the end of the 19th century coffee overtook sugar as Brazil’s leading agricultural product. Today, Brazil produces over 25% of the world’s coffee…

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Visit Brazil as a Volunteer

Want to travel the world as a volunteer? Are you interested in environmental and social causes? Would you like to see Brazil while working as a volunteer? Check out Volunteer Adventures for information on volunteer opportunities all over the world.

Details here..

More Brazil blog entries at thebraziltravelsite.com

Pan American Games 2007 Schedule

Get the official timetable in English here
The Pan American Games are to begin in Rio de Janeiro in July of 2007. The city continues to publicize their participation as hosts in a continuing hope that their success with the games will help them win the olympics in 2016. Rio has continually been turned down as an olympic site because of its crime and security challenges. The city is literally surrounded by dangerous slums–areas into which police do not dare enter, except during massive raids. All major highways that enter the city go directly through these slums and the highways are often shut down by the crime lords.

Well, I’m sure the Pan American Games will go just fine. Most important national or international events have a way of escaping incident in Rio. But if you are going to watch the games on TV, then I’ve put together a little translation of the official Rio2007 schedule.

Boa Sorte (good luck) to all the athletes and may the games be safe and successful!

(photo courtesy of EMBRATUR)

Get your butt off Copacabana!

Rio de Janeiro no longer a haven for bunda
In an absurd, but valiant attempt to disassociate the Brazilian backside from Rio de Janeiro (specifically the near-naked female derriere so ubiquitous along Brazil’s coastline), city authorities voted to prohibit the sale of postcards that are endowed with portraits of this particular Brazilian national treasure. Yes, postcards have been identified as the culprits. Authorities feel that postcards featuring sexy, scantily-clad Brazilians…

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Those Brazilian Bikinis…

New fashions offer variety, economy and a touch of self-expression
Brazil’s bikini fashions are always out in front and what’s showing on the beaches of Brazil this summer is likely to appear in the northern hemisphere this June and July. So what’s Brazil up to this year in beach fashions? Apparently, the hit of the season is a mix-and-match, combine-and-clash kind of approach. It’s floral bottoms with checkered tops and unmatched colors. It’s last year’s bottoms with that top from three years ago that no longer has a bottom to match. It’s economical, for sure, and it offers a kind of…

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