Brazil - The Rough Guide to South America on a Budget - page 231

5, 10, 25 and 50 centavos, and 1 real.
At the time of writing, US$1 = R$2,
£1 = R$3 and €1 = R$2.60. AT M s are
available all over Brazil, though not all
accept foreign cards and many
non-airport ATMs are inactive after 8pm
or 10pm for security reasons. Banco do
Brasil offer the most reliable network of
machines, while Bradesco and HSBC
also accept foreign cards.

down to some of the most serious
partying in the world. The most familiar
and most spectacular celebration is in
Rio (see p.237), one of the world's great
sights, televised live to the whole country.
Salvador is Carnaval (see p.276) is now
almost as commercialized, with big
headline performers, and a reputation for
being even wilder than Rio's. Olinda and
its winding colonial hilltop streets next to
Recife make for a fun and perhaps less
frenzied experience, while Fortaleza ,
and Diamantina in Minas Gerais, also
host great parties.
Reveillon New Year's Eve. Major cities along the coast
compete with fireworks displays. Rio's is nearly always the
biggest.
Celebration of Yemanjá February 2. Devotees make
offerings on beaches along the coast to celebrate the
goddess of the sea. Salvador's Praia Vermelha hosts one of
the largest.
Lavagem do Bonfim Second Thursday of January.
Hundreds of women in traditional Bahian garb clean the
steps of Salvador's beloved church with perfumed water
(food and music follow).
São Paulo Bienal Biennial in March (next in 2014). The
largest arts event in Latin America.
The Passion Play Ten days leading up to Easter. Latin
America's largest passion plays are enacted in Nova
Jerusalem, outside Recife.
Bumba-meu-boi June 13-29. The people of São Luis
re-enact the folk tale of a farmer who, having killed another
farmer's ox, must resurrect it or face his own death. Costumes,
dancing, capoeira , heckling and hilarity ensue.
São João June 13-24. Celebrations of Saint John happen
across Brazil, but Salvador, Pernambuco and cities in the
Northeast are the most raucous. Forró , drinking and eating.
Paraty International Literary Festival (FLIP) Early
August. Some of Brazil's and the world's best authors
converge on Paraty, with events and talks in Portuguese
and English, and performances by top Brazilian musicians.
W paraty.com.br/flip.
Rio International Film Festival October. The country's
biggest film festival, showcasing 200 mainstream and
independent releases.
Cirio de Nazaré Second Sunday in October. An e gy of
the Virgin of Nazaré is carried across the water from Vila
de Icoaraci to the port of Belém.
Oktoberfest October 10-27. German-settled Blumenau
has all the beer-swilling, German food and traditional garb
you'd expect. W oktoberfestblumenau.com.br.
Grand Prix November. Brazil's Interlagos circuit near São
Paulo is one of the most atmospheric Grand Prix venues.
W gpbrasil.com.

OPENING HOURS AND HOLIDAYS
Basic opening hours for shops and
businesses are weekdays from 9am
until 6pm and Saturday 9am to 1pm.
Shopping centres are usually open 10am
to 10pm, with larger ones also open
Sundays from 3-9pm. Banks generally
open weekdays from 10am to 4pm.
Museums and historic monuments
generally cost just a few reais and follow
regular business hours, though many are
closed on Mondays. In addition to the
public holidays listed, there are plenty of
local and state holidays when you'll also
find everything closed.

3

FESTIVALS AND CELEBRATIONS
Carnaval is by far the most important
festival in Brazil, and when it comes,
the country comes to a halt as it gets

PUBLIC HOLIDAYS
In addition to those below, between 1 and
3 further days are offered by each state.
January 1 New Year's Day
February/March (varies) Carnaval. Takes
place on the five days leading up to Ash
Wednesday
March/April (varies) Good Friday
April 21 Remembrance of Tiradentes
May 1 Labour Day
June 11 Corpus Christi
September 7 Independence Day
October 12 Nossa Senhora Aparecida
November 2 Dia dos Finados (Day of
the Dead)
November 15 Proclamation of the
Republic
December 25 Christmas Day