PRACTICAL INFORMATION - Brazil - page 419

RELIGION The metro system in Rio has

electronic wheelchair ele-
vators, but these are not
always operational. For short
distances, buses are not the
best option for disabled
travelers to get around. Taxis
are better, and plentiful in
most cities. For long distances,
however, buses are generally
comfortable, with special
services offering fully reclining
seats. Wheelchairs are
available at all main airports.

Brazil is often called “the
largest Catholic country on
earth,” although, to be
accurate, one should probably
call it the “largest and least
devout” of Catholic nations.
Many Brazilians consider
themselves culturally Catholic,
without being regular church-
goers. In recent years, the
influence of the Church has
greatly diminished. Traditional
Afro-Brazilian religions are
still followed, especially in the
North and Northeast, with
the religious ceremonies
and practices gaining more
acceptance over the years.

Local tour guide with a group of
tourists in Cachoeira

TRAVELING WITH
CHILDREN

ETIQUETTE

Those traveling with small
children will find Brazilians
very child-friendly and
accommodating. There are
virtually no places that do not
welcome children. Brazilians
themselves think nothing of
bringing their children to
restaurants, theaters, cafés,
concerts, or other events.

Brazilians are very friendly
and outgoing, even when
meeting someone for the first
time. When introduced, men
will greet each other with a
handshake and a friendly slap
on the shoulder. Good friends
usually embrace. When
introduced to a woman, it
is customary to greet her with
a handshake and a kiss on
the cheek (one kiss in São
Paulo and the South, two
kisses in Rio, the North, and
Northeast). When introduced
to a group of people, every-
body has to kiss or shake
hands with everybody else.

TIME

Brazil has four time zones.
Most of the country is three
hours behind GMT (known as
the Brasília Time Zone). Both
Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo,
as well as all of Southern and
Northeast Brazil and Pará and
Amapá states are three hours
behind GMT. The island
group of Fernando de
Noronha is two hours behind
GMT. The states of Mato
Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul,
Amazônia, Rondônia, and
Roraima are four hours
behind GMT. The state of
Acre, in the far western
corner, is five hours behind
GMT. During daylight saving
hours it gets a little bit more
complicated. The southern
states set their clocks back an
hour, but the states in the
north and northeast do not.

PUBLIC TOILETS

Public toilets are not that
hard to find in Brazil, but
vary greatly in cleanliness.
Clean toilets can usually
be found in hotel lobbies,
shopping centers, and in
public locations such as bus
stations, parks, or beaches.
A fee is sometimes charged.
Note that toilet paper is
sometimes dispensed from
a central dispenser outside
the stalls. It is a good idea to
carry a roll of toilet paper.

WOMEN TRAVELERS

A woman alone, especially at
night, will attract some form of
attention. It usually depends
on where you are. Steer clear
of areas around train stations,
since it is likely to be a red-
light area at night. The trans-
port terminals themselves,
though, are usually policed
and fairly safe at all hours.

Directory
VISAS & PASSPORTS
Polícia Federal
Aeroporto Internacional Antonio
Carlos Jobim, Terminal 1,
Rio de Janeiro. Tel [phone]
3198 . www .dpf.gov.br

ELECTRICITY

There is no uniform voltage
across Brazil. Some states are
110 volts, others 220 volts.
Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo
are both 110 volts.
Brasília is 220 volts.
Hotels will often have
plugs for both volt-
ages and are good at
labeling the outlets.
Adapters for laptops
and cellphone
chargers can normally
handle the full range of
voltage, but it is always
better to check the
specifications of your
equipment to be sure.

SPECIAL NEEDS

Travelers with mobility
problems will find Brazil
a very challenging
country. Although it is
relatively easy to find
wheelchair-accessible
hotels and restaurants,
very few public places
are accessible or
wheelchair-friendly.
Older buildings may
still lack elevators or
ramps, and streets and
sidewalks are often
uneven or broken.

TOURIST INFORMATION
Embratur Overseas Offices
UNITED KINGDOM
18 Greyhound Rd, Hammersmith,
London. Tel [phone] .
www .braziltour.com
USA
5 Penn Plaza, 23rd floor, New
York. Tel [phone] .
www .braziltour.com

Wheelchair
parking sign