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Useful
Information
The
City
PORTO ALEGRE is a young and dynamic metropolis, capital of
Brazil’s southernmost state, Rio Grande do Sul. With
population of approximately 1.3 million, it is an important economic
and cultural center. The "porto alegrenses" pride themselves in their
quality of life, associated not only with vibrant cultural activity,
but also with an intimate and respectful relation with nature. City
streets are tree-lined, and the city has a long coastline on the
Guaíba estuary. Its topography is punctuated by 40 hills.
The porto alegrense’s way of life includes many parks and
other green areas.
Climate
- During spring, temperatures range from 15ºC (59º F)
to 30º C (86º F) sunset at 18h45;
Banks
- Are open from Monday to Friday from 10:00-16:00.
Currency
& Credit Cards
The Brazilian monetary unit is the real R$ (plural= reais). There are
100 centavos to 1 real. The US dollar is by far the most widely
accepted foreign currency in Brazil. There is also a network of cash
points at which foreign cash cards can be used, and all major credit
cards are accepted in Brazil. Traveller's checks and foreign bills may
be exchanged according to daily rates at the airport, banks and
currency exchange stores.
Electric
Current
In Porto Alegre, the current is 110 volts (60 cycles), although many of
the larger hotels also offer 220 volts. In case of doubt, check with
the front desk. Transformers to boost the current from 110 to 220 volts
are available in most good electrical supply stores. For most electric
appliances, Brazil uses a two-round-pinned socket.
Food
& Drink
Brazil’s cuisine is the product of tradition. Each region of
Brazil — depending on its indigenous culture, which European
group colonized it, proximity to rivers or the ocean, annual rain and
soil conditions— has developed its own very diverse cuisine.
If there is one dish that typifies Brazilian cooking it is probably
feijoada. It is a complex bean dish prepared with air-dried beef,
smoked sausage, pork, garlic, and pepper. It is customary to fill a
plate with white rice and spoon feijoada over the top, and farofa
(cassava flour) to thicken the sauce. The whole dish is garnished with
spring greens and slices of orange. The typical dish of Rio Grande do
Sul is churrasco, a barbecue of meats, mainly beef, grilled over
charcoal using skewers. It is popular throughout Brazil and
increasingly appreciated in different countries around the globe.
The national alcoholic beverage is cachaça, made from
crushed sugar cane, which is the basis of the popular caipirinha.
Cachaça is also used for batidas - a mix of
cachaça and fresh fruit juices. A wide variety of fruit
juices are frequent meal companions. Brazil’s own soft drink
is calledGuaraná, after the berry upon which it is based. As
for the coffee, no disappointment here - Brazil is the
world’s largest coffee producer. The typical beverage of Rio
Grande do Sul is chimarrão, a hot herbal tea drank from a
gourd using a metal straw, and passed among friends.
Internet
Most hotels in Brazil offer web access, and cyber cafés can
be found in many of the main shopping centers.
Telephone
Service and Mobile Phone Coverage
Brazil has a well-developed telephone network, and it is relatively
simple to direct dial to anywhere in Brazil or internationally.
Brazil’s country code is 55, the Porto Alegre area code 51.
To stimulate competition, long distance calls must add the operator
number. For a national call, after obtaining access, dial the operator
code, then the area code and number (e.g. to place a call to the
Epidemiology Program in Pelotas, dial 0 14 53 3271 2442, where 0 is for
access, 14 is the operator code and 53 is the area code; to place a
call to the International Journal of Epidemiology, dial 00 14 44 117
928 7370, where 00 is the international access code, 14 the operator
code, and 44 the country code.)
Mobile
phone coverage - Visitors
should check with service providers as to exactly what coverage to
expect because this does vary from state to state and from one service
provider to another - as does the cost. If your mobile phone is not
compatible and thus will not work in Brazil, handsets can be rented and
arranged to be delivered to your hotel or picked up at the airport.
Time
Zone
UTC/GMT Offset: Standard time zone UTC/GMT – 3 hours.
Tipping
Tips are usually 10% of the bill. Nearly all hotels automatically add a
service charge to the bill, usually 10%. Most bars and restaurants also
automatically add 10% or more to the total of the bill, but are obliged
to specify the amount. If service is not included, it will be stated at
the bottom of the bill: “Serviço não
incluso.” Brazilians don't normally tip taxi drivers,
although they may round up the total.
Travel
Insurance
A travel insurance policy to cover theft, loss and medical problems is
recommended.
Visa
As the Brazilian Foreign Office bases its actions on reciprocity,
visitors from many foreign countries will require a visa. Requesting
the visa several weeks before the Congress should minimize
inconvenience. Appication should be made to nearest Brazilian Embassy
or Consulate. More information can be provided by the travel agency.
• Brazilian Mission to the
European Community
• Brazilian
Embassies
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