Brazil, Much More than Samba and Football

When people think of Brazil, two things surely come to mind: Carnival and Football. But Brazil is way much more than that. It has wonderful places spread all over its varied geography. Porto Alegre, Belo Horizonte and Bahia are some of these hidden jewels.

Many of us are ready to pack and go. COLORS went ahead of you and asked our readers in Brazil for the best tips to enjoy your stay to the max.
It's like having your own personal guide!

First things first

Brazil is a very large country and the cities where the matches are taking place might be very distant one from another. For instance, Salvador and São Paolo, two of the cities where the Netherlands will play in the first round, are 1450 Km apart.

It's important hence, that before setting out to plan your itineraries you are aware of the distances.

The country is rich in contrasts, from region to region, city to city. Climate, geography, people and food, change immensely from North to South. While Salvador delights us with beaches, Porto Alegre is cowboy country with no palm trees but the best meat.

Brazil is pretty liberal and tolerant. People party and drink on the streets and step in the public transport wearing only a bathing suit. Brazilians enjoy cultural and religious freedom and there are no restrictions between genders. Drugs are not allowed.

Football

It's the most popular sport in the country. Wherever you are in Brazil you will see people playing football, even with improvised materials. Kids make balls out of cardboard, paper and adhesive or old socks. And any piece of land will do. The long standing football tradition in the country, plus the success of many well-known Brazilian players have elevated this sport to almost religious adoration. And to many, is also a secure and honest way to raise from poverty.

Joining the locals?

Brazilians are a joyful and open pack. Always ready to celebrate, laugh and enjoy life. While there, try to find "rodas de samba e chorinho", usually at bars and casual dining places. These Rodas are informal and unpredictable events, where musicians gather in a circle around a table to improvise samba and chorinho, combining personal and collective flair. This is guarantee of good music, great atmosphere and entertainment.

Even in the case Brazil is not playing or has been disqualified, Brazilians enjoy football. You will find that bars and other places broadcasting the matches, will be full of local patrons celebrating in joy, and you will be invited to take part in the celebrations.

Check communities on Facebook with a large number of members and make a friend before you leave. This virtual friend can provide you with great tips.

As with everything else, use your common sense, and trust your gut. If you do not feel safe, or harbor doubts, do not make commitments or provide personal information.

Food

The Brazilian cuisine is as rich as it is varied. In Brazil you might experience food being served in different ways than what we are traditionally used to. Here some of the places and dishes you should enjoy while in Brazil:

Rodízios

Those entering a Rodizio-style restaurant for the first time can find the unusual service a bit confusing. Diners are typically charged a flat fee and menus consist only of side dishes and drinks. Rodizio-style servers walk through the restaurant offering different cuts of meat to diners, who can have as much as they want and signal when they're finished, at which point they pay the flat fee and any extra charges for drinks and side dishes.

Restaurante por Quilo

Brazilian Kilo Restaurant is where you help yourself from a buffet and weigh your plate. You just pay for the weight of the portions you chose. The kilo price is the same for everything, so the terms "light" and "heavy" have a literal meaning here - a heaping serving of lettuce will probably be cheaper than a small serving of steak or potato salad. Drinks are paid separately and brought to your table by a waiter. A tip of 10% over the amount of the bill, and not just the drinks, is fine.

Meat

If you savour a really good piece of meat, arrange to have dinner at a Churrascaria. This is a type of Brazilian steakhouse popular for its unique serving method. The meat is placed on a display skewer to be carried around by the passadores, or waiters who carve out portions by request (rodizio style).

Fish and shell fish

Highly recommended at sea side cities. Bolinho de bacalhau (cod fritters), muqueca de peixe (fish stew), muqueca de camarao (shrimp stew), casquinha de siri (stuffed crab Shell) are among the most popular preparations.

National Dish:
Feijoada

Stew of black beans with pork or other meat and vegetables, served with rice.

Tourist Traps

Tourists, in general, will pay more than locals. The temptation to take a short cut to save a buck can be strong. Do not fall in this trap as you might end up regretting it.
Settle for services and stores that have a price list or prices are shown on items, i.e. taxis, stores. If you are buying handicrafts on the street check more than one place for prices, and try offering a lower pay.
Avoid buying entrance tickets from the so called "Cambistas". These are informal brokers with connections, and the origin and validity of the tickets they are trying to sell to you might be questionable.

Personal Safety

In general it's recommended that you keep a low profile.
Avoid wearing jewelry and leave all your valuables in the safety box at the hotel, including your passport.
Keep a photocopy of your passport in your wallet.
Favor taxis, metro and other organized forms of public transport, instead of a rental car, as the navigation system can lead you to unsafe places, like favelas (shantytowns).
At the beach, do not lose sight of your valuables (handbag, phone, camera etc).
Avoid getting mixed among the manifesting crowds. The police will be on alert, but exalted crowds can run out of control.
If you need information, ask at your hotel, a police officer or enter a store. Avoid asking people on the road.