Brazzil

- The transportation systems are some of the best, efficient, safe and on time.

And later a full paragraph on the Fligh Safety issue....saying the exact opposite, but missing on purpose ALL the flights delays
and cancellations.
Funny too talking about Varig....near bankruptcy....when it is already in full bankruptcy since 2005.
As to the Brazilian drivers they are considered as very bad and dangerous. One of the worst in the world.


- Their cellphones only charge for outgoing calls. If someone calls you, it's free.

I know of no country in the EU or in Asia that charge for an incoming call. Is it the case in the USA ? Hmmmm

- Bring plenty of suntan lotion and oil. Most of it in Brazil comes from the USA and is very expensive; double or triple that of the US.

looks like they dont have the "high" technology to produce these low tech products. Laugh...laugh...laugh

- One mandatory thing you need to bring is a good can opener. You know, the type you can buy at Target for US$ 4.00? In fact, buy two.
These will cost you US$ 25 each in Brazil. Sell a Brazilian one for US$ 15.

It is self explanatory. Considered as "luxiours" item ! Laugh...laugh...laugh. Ohhh and also as high tech....of course !
Laugh...laugh...laugh

- Brazilian telephone cards are cheap and easy to use.

and then.....Get one in the area you plan to be in most of the time because it's expensive call across state borders.

- Another story from Brazil. Some Brits flew in and paid 750,000 reais (US$ 419,000) for a property worth something like 300,000 reais (US$ 168,000). Last I heard was that the Federal Police were investigating the many cases of this kind. My guess is that if these people are caught, they will either go to jail or end up being deported.

Rather strange that the one who has been screwed...will end up in jail or will be deported

- Brazil has all kinds of pain relievers but they are pricey

and next line.......In Brazil you can buy an excellent pain pill called Dipirona. It's cheap and very effective.

-Most of them are European models you don't see in the US: Renault, Peugeot, certain models of VW's and Fords. You can buy just about anything Japanese too. They cost more here than in the US depending on the model.

But...but....all these cars are built in......BRAZIL ! Hope one understand the meaning of it .....TAX TAX TAX TAX !!!!!!

- Gasoline is about US$ 6.00 per gallon here so it pays to get an economical vehicle.

Great prices for an "apparent" oil self sufficient country, and a country with a minimum wage of US$ 200.- (knowing that at least 20 % dont even make that minimum....despite the law). Also curious that this "great favorable" price is much much lower in the neighbouring or other emerging countries.....NOT OIL SELF SUFFICIENT !

- No one gets a paper paycheck, their money goes directly into their bank accounts.
Sorry....but in my country.....this is the case for "ONLY OVER" the last 30 years. Yesss.... OVER THIRTY.....YEARS !

- In some ways Brazil is more high tech than the US.

Ohhh sure ! and why then write......."Most people cannot afford a computer at home". And in countries with many Internet Café, the reasons is simply due to the lack of ADSL at homes and/or their prices, and/or the the price of the PC.

-

These were just a few remarks within many others.

I would be glad to have others making their comments, notably from Joao on the food and restaurant prices.

Finally I cant stop laughing when I read this expert idiot stating : " The ethanol is made from sugar cane, much of it grows in the northern part of Brazil." when in fact the largest producing state is......SAO PAULO....that is NOT in the North....to my knowledge....unless I am a junkie like this guyGuy !!!!!!. laugh...laugh....laugh !

No doubt this guyGuy had only a basic USA education and was thus jobless in his country, explaining why he went to Brazil where he could finally be considered as educated.

-



-

.
This is not happening by chance – you can bet on that.

China, Brazil hold first strategic dialogue on November 29, 2007

You can read about it at the following website:


The Smartest Thing China Could Do Right Now: Invest US$ 200 Billion in Brazil.

http://www.elitetrader.com/vb/...genumber=7

.

I would be glad to have others making their comments, notably from Joao on the food and restaurant prices.

Since I have been to many places in the South that were cited by the authors, I think that they are talking about off-season daily rates in the hotels and the prices at the restaurants. Starting 26th of December, when the tourists start coming to these places, the prices go sky rocketing.Even in the super markets, they increase the prices for the food items and it is not only my observation,but also that of my other family members and friends. For the past 5 years, many Brazilians who live in the cities in the South prefer not to have tourists, because of this reason and also due to the congested traffic they have to face while driving.

While the authors have high lighted the cities like Camboriú (too many match box constructions and totally unruly during the summer months) , Blumenau (Oktoberfest has become a pain in the butt for the local residents),etc; they have not mentioned the fact that there are other beautiful places in the interior of Brasil, such as Foz, Amazon,etc; In general, the cities in the interior of the South are much more prettier,cheaper to live and more hospitable.

About their comments about nonavailability of items such as cold pasteurized milk, can openers,special kind of batteries,etc; Mr.Hamilton reminds me of Rip Van Winkle, only in the case of Mr.Hamilton he has not waken up! These are available in abundance in any well stocked super market, provided one can AFFORD them. Once when he wakes up, re learn his Portuguese, he will be able to ask the store clerks for help. I had a big laugh that he is recommending to buy Parmalatt, when this brand is being under government scrutiny for marketing contaminated milk!!

Some how I get an impression that this article was written for the old well to do American retirees so that they can come to Brazil and spend their money. But not for those adventurous kids who come with their back packs and are on a budget visit.

Finally, a request to the Americans who decide to settle down in Brazil at the advice of the authors of this article. After coming to live here, please do not bitch about Brasil or the Brasilians

"Brazil is best described as two distinct countries, the Nordeste (Northeast) and the Sul (South). The climate and people are completely different. Some say the "real" Brazil is the Nordeste and the south of Brazil is more like Europe. There is a lot of truth to it."
This statemente is ridiculus, the culture in the northeastern brazil is hevily influenced by africa its just as un-brazilian as the european south. In fact the gaucho culture of southern brasil is far more authentically Brazilian & South American than anything found in the northeast which came from across the Atlantic. If the real Brazil is to be found anywhere it would be in the Central states of Minas Gerais, Goias, Mato Grosso, Tocantins and the interior of Sao Paulo where there is the rich and strong Mineiro and Caipira cultures . Miniero culture, cuisine and architecture is authentically brazilian unlike the northeast which was influenced by many foreign sources (Portuguese, Dutch, & African).

P.S. TAM airlines sucks. They overbook and leave many passengers stranded. Your better off just flying in on AA or Delta.
P.S.S Don't fly in to Congonhas ! ! ! ! !

People,how we can trust a guy LAUGH.. LAUGH.. LAUGH..That don´t know if he is ITALIAN..FRENCH..OUR GERMAN?? LAUGH.. LAUGH.. LAUGH..

You was in Campo Grande? The first capital from Brasil..without favelas? We are growing..and having much more conditions to do this programs..compare to other developing countrys.By the way..forget my question if you know Campo Grande..because you don´t know Brazil. I was reading you comments about..Brazilian cousine be limited.And your ignorant mask follow down HERE WE GO: state of Bahia: Abará / Aberém / Arroz de auça/ ilê Ayê/ Mocotó/ Carimbó/ Acaçá/ Acarajé/ Vatapá/ Moqueca de aratú/ Moqueca de peixe/ Moqueca de camarão/ Moqueca de maturi/ Moqueca de mapé/ Sarapatel/ Xinxim de galinha/ Efó/ Manicoba/ Zembê/ Muganga/ Sarrabulho de vaca/ Mininico de carneiro/ Bobó/ Siri mole/ HERE WE GO: State of Minas Gerais: The state of Juscelino Kubitschek.../ Galinhada caipira/ Pão de Queijo/ Frango de caçarola/ Pururuca/ Rabada/ Vaca atolada/ linguiça frita com arroz/ HERE WE GO... NORTH BRAZIL..WHERE LIVE THE MOST VARIETY OF SWEET WATER FISH: / Calderada de Tambaqui/ Pato no Tucupi/ Tacacá/ Maniçoba/ Mujica/ HERE WE GO:NORTHEAST BRAZIL..BUT OF CORSE EXCLUDING BAHIA STATE: Let´s go: / Carne de sol a moda/ Paçoca/ Arroz de leite/ Tapioca/ Feijão de corda/ Carangueijada/ farofa d´ agua/ Manteiga de garrafa/HERE WE GO:State of Paraná: / Barriado / HERE WE GO: State of Rio Grande do Sul: Getúlio Vargas state:Arroz carreteiro/ Churrasco with much more variety of meat..tham the Argentines and Uruguay people...Simple.. go to Buenos Aires ..Montevideo
best restaurants and after go to São Paulos best ones...PICANHA...LINGUIÇAS..ETC ETC ETC HERE WE GO:State of Mato grosso do Sul..my state: Macarrão frito charqueado/ Arroz Pantaneiro/ Do you know means all this foods????????????????? CULTURE..CULTURE ..you can´t take this from the Brazilian people.SO DO ME A FAVOR.. GO EAT Italian..French..and German food...By the way, they are very good Laugh..Laugh..Laugh...

LAND yes some land is cheep , BUT there is no dead of trust just about any brasilian can come in and show fals papers or real papers
and take the land in court and you loose all you have put into it as the last owner and the broker are not to be found ,
or just say we did not know .

then you have to worrie about the land grabers whitch is a political party moving in on your land ,
on the beach some fisherman puting up some stick and palm fran hut on the beach in front of your new home to kill your view .

or having to pay the last owners workers to leave the land you now own and you are the party that has to get rid of them .
then being taken to court by the workers you paid to build your house and want more money , or mthe builder contractor does not
pay his crew and you get stuck with the bill court laywer

then the payoffs to any body with a public office that sells permits

FOOD , is almost the same as the sothern US beans rice ,meat , fruit vegies best buy is at farmers markets
but you have to soak the beans for ever and wash out the rice .but all in all love the food if you are not poor food is good
no just drive buy MC donalds , jack in the box whatabuger or kfc yet but will be coming all are a bit pricy or will be

finer resturants and road food all you can eat are good to get fat off of .

LAW WELL NOT SO GOOD AS YOU ARE THE ESTRANGO
most police and thoes robers without badges will take you to the cleaners as often as they can

from the police at the end of the road wanting to inspect your car for money and ask for a present for beer or smokes
geting your pockets picked on the buss
over charged for just about any thing you buy
thoes cameras on the road 125 reals for 1kl over the speed limit in all the tourtist earys in the south
robed on the beach in rio and the police wanting money to open a case
police have the athorty to tell you something but dont have the right to back up what they tell you

this part could go on for ever about the feds taking what they want with out giving you an anwser till you go to court
and open up a case and going through several laywers as they are put at risk by the people they are trying to get your life back from

It is often qouted - predominately by non Brazilians or non Portuguese people that Portuguese is difficult to understand for Brazilains. What complete nonsense. There might be some small differences in accents and grammer but generally I have never heard of any Portuguese person in Brazil not being understood. I would love to meet just one Brazilian that does not understand Portuguese (from Portugal).

To comments by ch.c. - Brazil does produce high tech products - Embraer (Aerospace comglomerate) also worlds largest and most advanced producer of Ethanol , etc

One thing that puzzles me- Portugal has really good food - but I was disappointed with Brazil? What happened?

Stop saying the northeast is the "real Brazil". There's no such thing.

"White" Americans and "White" Brazilians have much in common. President Fernando Enrique Cardoso is a "WHITE" Brazilian, and "WHITE" is the exclusive and only racial "identity" that he affirms. Moreover, as you can glean from the fact that he became "president of Brazil" he "identifies with and is loyal to white Brazilians" which is why he was able to become "president of Brazil". He could not have done so otherwise. Yes, he may be a polite man and will speak to other people as a matter pf polite curtisy, but at the end of the day, he never forgets that he is a "pure" white man. By "pure-white", I mean to say that his mother is a white skinned, European women.... and his father is a white skinned, Euopean. There are "NO" non-European features on either parent. Ergo, White skin, white nose, white lips, strait hair, amoung other features, that [w]ere derived from the "WHITE RACE". More importantly, it is his white brothers and sisters that he loves. One wiseman once said, "even enemies can be civil to one and other". White American do business in Brazil, and Brazilians can do business in the United States. I pay taxes to the U.S. government.

"White" Americans and "White" Brazilians have much in common. President Fernando Enrique Cardoso is a "WHITE" Brazilian, and "WHITE" is the exclusive and only racial "identity" that he affirms. Moreover, as you can glean from the fact that he became "president of Brazil" he "identifies with and is loyal to white Brazilians" which is why he was able to become "president of Brazil". He could not have done so otherwise. Yes, he may be a polite man and will speak to other people, as a matter pf polite courtesy, but at the end of the day, he never forgets that he is a "pure" white man. By "pure-white", I mean to say that his mother is a white skinned, European women.... and his father is a white skinned, Euopean. There are "NO" non-European features on either parent. Ergo, white skin, white nose, white lips, strait hair, among other features, that [w]ere derived from the "WHITE RACE". More importantly, it is his white brothers and sisters that he loves. One wise man once said, "Even enemies can be civil to one and other". As for the relationship between the United States and Brazil: White Americans do business in Brazil, and Brazilians can do business in the United States. I pay taxes to the U.S. government, and I’m thankful to be a WHITE AMERICAN of Anglo-Saxon blood and descent. "WHITE" is the exclusive and only racial "identity" that I affirm, and “NO OTHER.”

I was there..and I know my friend..remember me ?? Where are the helicopter?? You eat..a lot of chiken...Go eat you junky food..like Mc Donald...By the way 130 pounds?? Laugh Laugh

American cuisine we can say it is limited..to junky things

Different sandwiches..and pies...But just some of them.On the South Chiken ..Chiken..Chiken..mybe some fish..but limited...Come on Mr.Allen

Don´t believe everything the womens say

There is no Chinatown in Brazil. Liberdade is the JAPANESE district in Sao Paulo. So it's more equal to a Little Tokyo or a Japantown.

How ignorant can you be? Brazil has the LARGEST Japanese population outisde Japan! There are Koreans and Chinese but that's about it.

I once found the real Brazil, way back in 1984. It was in a little informal barracão outside of the Ribeirão Preto and it was on sale for Crz$ 350,00. I didn't but it, however, because I was down to my last 500 Crz$ note and I was hungry. So I bought some popcorn instead.

How ignorant can you be? Brazil has the LARGEST Japanese population outisde Japan!

Spot on. Our Nisseis and Sanseis (and não seis) are doing extremely well and it is an honor to have them with us. You can still shake hands with them and close a deal.Great people and thanks for reminding us about them.They still have code of honor and I appreciate them very much.

To Insight:

Mr. Cardoso may have white features, white man hair, etc. But looking at him you can also tell that he is not totally white, he may call himnself that, but looking at him & his color you know that he's mixed somewhere fromthe beginning f his family bloodline.
I read his last book in which he talks about the color issue of brazil including his own.

not just c hicken

go to Sp state on iliheblla island before you get the the boat there it a place called tin top well a ton of meat

pizza , fish pork along with the beans and rice and as we call them black eyed peas
in fortalaza you have parcque a very fine outside dinning restaurant stakes to 24onces backed patatoes , you got it there ,
japanese food in all the malls .

it just takes time and money to find them my advice to you is get away from the whores and look at the real brasil
away from all the crooks come up north to PB BE rio grande de norte all the wayh up to the amazon for some fine monkey and tahyper

if you know me then send me an email at my address
look at ti this way
jesus fed the poor fish and bread
what have you done

YES, you´re right about the Japanese in Sao Paulo.
If I could have written about EVERYTHING and EVERY CITY, the article would have beem 50 pages long !
I wrote mostly MY experiences, yours may be different.

VARIG indeed was bought out by GOL.Check the news....
I just came through GRU and did not experience ANY delays. The problem does exist occasionally in heavily travelled airports.

BRASIL is a strange combo of low tech poor and high tech. A R$50 can opener tells ME someone is robbing someone. I say it´s the seller because he considers a good quality can opener a luxury. (Typical middle class robbing the lower classes).

My articles are NEVER written for fat rich egotistical foreigners. I live like many Brasilians.
I appreciate a nice out of the way beach with NO tourists.
TOURISM has ruined some of my previously favorite places in Brasil.

Sure, there is something wrong when the class gap is so large.
LULA is trying to help the less than fortunate in Brasil. Maybe someday things will be better.
Surely it´s better now than it was 10 years ago !

Who the hell is Eduardo C ? Entertaining anyway !

GUY

What a jurk..egocentric a s s h o l e! Progress is for all.Go back to U.S. and take you northeat wife together..one less her for us

R$50 does not = the seller is robbing. Free market dictates a seller tries to get as much profit as he can while the buyer tries to get the lowest price. If the seller was really making extreme profit then other companies that made can openers would soon enter the market and the price would be lowered. The problem in Brazil is Taxes are so high that a company that is paying all its taxes or even most of its taxes has to charge high prices to even make a profit. (Brazil collects 44% of its GDP in taxes). This would be all fine if we had the services of Sweden and didn't have to pay for health care, schools ect. you could then afford a fifty dollar can opener. Brazil has the taxes of a socialist state but not the services. Please, please take and economics course, it should be required by anyone living in Brazil.

LULA is trying to help the less than fortunate in Brasil.

Oh really, How? By taxing the middle class high and dry?

Maybe someday things will be better.

In 100 years?

Surely it´s better now than it was 10 years ago !

Please prove with statistical data.

A R$50 can opener tells ME someone is robbing someone.

Have you ever gone shopping for a can opener in Brazil, instead of trying to smuggle them in?

Typical middle class robbing the lower classes).

Great news. I am enchanted with the Rich who are doing charitable work for the poor, while the middle class is robbing the poor. Sandra must be running for some elected post next year and this will make a great slogan. Hopefully, you guys will be able to buy votes by distributing Chinese made can openers free.

My articles are NEVER written for fat rich egotistical foreigners.

So it is written for the skinny ,poor and homeless foreigners?

I live like many Brasilians.

What is the name of the favela?

I appreciate a nice out of the way beach with NO tourists.

Camboriú?

TOURISM has ruined some of my previously favorite places in Brasil.

Was your previous favorite place Fortaleza?

Who the hell is Eduardo C ?

Eduardo is a nice kid from MS who is proud of his state and the attraction it offers to foreign tourists. Of course, he belongs to "Typical middle class robbing the lower classes".Last time I heard,Can openers are available in MS also.

Entertaining anyway !

Not as much as you are!

BTW, have you found the cold pasteurized milk in your neighborhood supermarket yet ? Or do you intend to advise the foreign tourists to carry gallons of it in refrigerated containers when they visit Brazil?

Ah, Guy, in your article you forgot to advise the foreign tourists to bring Titanium shields to protect themselves from poisonous arrows shot by the Native Indians while landing in GRU. I just wanted to help.

Anyway, it was a hilarious article without much substance.No wonder Ch.c thought it was a great one

. . . forgot to advise the foreign tourists to bring Titanium shields to protect themselves from . . .

Titanium is unnecessary, too expensive and depending on the projectile wholly inadequate / subject to shatter catastrophically. Better you advise they come very hardened and don the locally available preservativa. Costs little or is free and it's the only way to protect their cold cash and soft parts - but alas, even that's not a guarantee. You can never be certain who your friends are or aren't when butter flies.

Better you advise they come very hardened and don the locally available preservativa. Costs little or is free and it's the only way to protect their cold cash and soft parts - but alas, even that's not a guarantee.

Adm.Forrest has already given a sane advice in this respect:

it just takes time and money to find them my advice to you is get away from the whores and look at the real brasil

Yes you are right..about middle class robbing the lower classes. But i don´t thing like them

Que ridículo!! Tem que punb na sua cabecinha pequena e retardada

The Guy is a total dumbass. Can't help but feel sorry for him, including the fact that he married a brazilian Program girl.

The Guy is a total dumbass.

He sounds like one. Just read what he said in his article:

Unless you take some serious language courses, it will be tough for you to learn. It took me a couple of years before I started to understand conversations on the street.

It means that for a couple of years, he had shut himself in his den (God knows where he lives in Brasil), refusing to learn Portuguese with the "Natives"!. If this GUY really wanted to integrate into the Brasilian society, he would have a) Taken "Some serious language Courses" b)Or gone and mingled with the "Commoners" on the street.

I agree that he is a Dumbass for taking a couple of YEARS to talk to people on the street, considering that the Brasilians are very tolerant to foreigners that massacre Portuguese.

It is unbelievable that this GUY has appointed himself as a "Tourism Consultant" to the foreigners who want to visit Brasil. Oh,BTW, I hope the foreigners bring can openers and their OWN COWS to have fresh milk, as cold pasteurized milk is not available in Brasil.

This Guy is really hilarious.

brasil is what you make of it
it will rob you and could kill you ,
but so can any other country

i have had most all done to me but
you learn the best way to get back at the ones that did it too you
do it back to them but harder and longer

most brasilians are good people it is just the low lifes from the goverment to the crooks
you have to watch for

I mean, the women are nice and not fat like most American women (I met a really nice one at Aguas de Lindoia), but what else is so special that I don't know about?

Why doesn't someone contrast the "standard of living" with the "cost of living"? I lived in Sao Jose dos Campos for over four years and found that if you want to maintain a standard of living equivalent to that of the US, it was even more expensive to do so -- at least in the area in which I lived. On the other hand, if you are willing to lower your standards then you can live very cheaply. This shouldn't surprise anyone, as the vast majority of Brazilians don't have nearly the economic resources of the average American; consequently they make do with much less.

For example, you won't find central air conditioning in homes or apartments even though it does get hot and humid during the summer. You won't find many houses or apartments with running hot water either -- only an electrical heating element on the shower head, which I found a little disconcerting too, since it was 220 volts.

There is very little variety in restaurants with those featuring Italian food by far the largest group. Brazilian barbeque and a mix of fast food places comprises out most of the remaining choices. Be careful about going to a Chinese or Mexican restaurant. There are very few and after eating in a few you’ll understand why. The food is awful and the waiter’s knowledge of the menu items is absent. If you like Thai or Indian, then forget it. Part of the problem is that the ingredients for other than mainstream dishes are not available or are very difficult to find. Want to bake a meringue pie? Good luck since there is no crème of tartar in the spice sections of the grocery stores. Baked goods in Brazil leave a lot to be desired.

The article mentioned that cars are more expensive, which is a bit of an understatement. Check the price of a Honda or Toyota and you’ll be in for a shock. The prices are nearly double. Having said that, from a practical standpoint you’ll need at least something like a Rav 4, since the roads, with the exception of the freeways, are very poorly maintained and you’ll need a car that can take the pounding. Be ready though to shell out close to US$ 50,000.00.

The author didn’t mention that if you can afford it, it is a very wise idea to have an armored car with run flat tires if you going to spend any time driving in the larger cities such as Sao Paulo or Rio de Janeiro, which, by the way, will nearly double the cost of the vehicle. To say that crime there is high is a bit of an understatement as the violent crime rate there are among the highest in the world.

Speaking of crime, gun ownership in Brazil is very low around 2 or 3 per cent. It is also very difficult to buy a gin legally and even then you choices are limited. On the other hand, the gun-related crime rate is sky high as many of the assailants have illegally obtained weapons. Criminals often have more fire power that the local police, who are under paid, under trained, and under equipped.

As far as the authors comments on real estate, just remember there are no escrow companies and no title insurance. There is no multiple listing service and many real estate agents are working without a license. Don’t put too much faith in lawyers either, since getting law license in Brazil is much easier that in the US. Standards are low and are not uniformly enforced. To illustrate his reference to “Sand Castles”, a few years ago an entire high-rise apartment building collapsed due to an improper mix of concrete, killing many of the residents.

If you think that you can live in Brazil with US standards and that you’ll be able to do it for less money -- forget it. You’ll be money ahead by staying put. Remember you’ll need a big chunk of up front cash to buy a house and car – don’t expect financing to be available. If you are willing to lower your standards and live more like a Brazilian you can do that too, but the cost of living won’t be much different than you are paying now but it will be less comfortable. If you’re willing to lower your standards to that of the average Brazilian (for example an elementary or high school teacher earns a little less than US$4.00 an hour or about half of what a US teenager flipping burgers earns). If you can do that without complaining about having to do without the things that you’re accustomed as well as the frustration of being in Brazil and dealing with Brazilians, well then, welcome to Brazil. A person on welfare in the US has a higher standard of living than that.

Damn, well come on then man, tell it like it really is and quit blowing sunshine up my ass not to mention misinformation.

Come on Guy, I've been living here for a decade, everyday, and started travelling here around 13 years ago. Brazil being cheap is a fallacy. Brazil is actually MORE expensive than the U.S. weighing all things, and that's not an opinion, that's a fact.

The poster above succinctly hit the "nail on the head" with every single thing he said. One should be reminded as well that when/if one does choose to accept "help" from the bank in the form of financing, whether for a car or apartment, be prepared to finance it for no more than 5-6 years at interest rates from 1% to 3% per month....and in many instances higher, although they do have longer terms, but these terms are literally worse than doing business with the Gambino family in Brooklyn....and that's not too far of a stretch.

I know of no country in the EU or in Asia that charge for an incoming call. Is it the case in the USA ? Hmmmm

it IS the USA...but do you know what our informative author neglected to tell us? That in the U.S. today, and for many years, one can spend a maximum of $100, and in many cases today $50, and get either unlimited or around 2000-3000 minutes/month anywhere in the U.S.!! In other words, DDD is included in those minutes! Here in Brazil I was forced to REDUCE the number of minutes I spend, and the locations/people I call because I was spending approximately 1500-2500 reais per month with Telemar, Embratel, and Tim and/or Vivo!!! That's insane!! Nearly everything in this country is MORE expensive or as expensive as the U.S. and has a minimum salary that ranks among the worst 5 in the world!!! When I see prices for many things, which are exhorbinantly high and of a lower quality, I have to shake my head and I think, "man, just how does a family making 500 reais, or hell, even 1500 reais per month, make it in this country?" And believe me, there are MILLIONS of people here making much less than 500 reais per month.....44 million making less than 2 dollars a day was the last count!


I've been saying it for years now and I'll continue to say it, Brazil being cheap is a fallacy. From gasoline, to cars, to land, to houses/apartments. And as has been mentioned....be prepared to lower your standard of living, because you're simply not going to have the comforts, infrastructure, and most importantly, masses of people with a high level of education/respect to deal with.

Thanks for the constructive criticisms.I am NOT disputing the facts you guys mentioned. They reflect the thoughts of many of my friends and relatives.

I've been saying it for years now and I'll continue to say it, Brazil being cheap is a fallacy.

It used to be,but no longer.

From gasoline, to cars, to land, to houses/apartments. And as has been mentioned....be prepared to lower your standard of living, because you're simply not going to have the comforts, infrastructure, and most importantly, masses of people with a high level of education/respect to deal with.

The middle class has already lowered their standards and there is nothing more they can sacrifice for the greater glory of the Republic and their honorable RULERS.

The article mentioned that cars are more expensive, which is a bit of an understatement. Check the price of a Honda or Toyota and you’ll be in for a shock. The prices are nearly double. Having said that, from a practical standpoint you’ll need at least something like a Rav 4, since the roads, with the exception of the freeways, are very poorly maintained and you’ll need a car that can take the pounding. Be ready though to shell out close to US$ 50,000.00.

Just thought I'd mention this since it still shocks me to this day. I actually was considering purchasing a Cadillac Escalade here in Brazil around 6 months ago. Started doing searches on the 'net for them and found a couple, one in Rio and the other in Sao Paulo. BOTH were used....the one in Rio had more than 60,000 kilometers on it, you know how much they were asking? 200,000 reais!! Do you know how much that is today in dollars? $110,000!!!!

The other one, in Sao Paulo, was virtually new, but wasn't. It has 8,000 kilometers on it. Do you know how much they were asking?? 400,000 reais!!! Do you know how much that is in dollars today? $220,000!!!!

Now, do you know how much you can buy a BRAND NEW (ZERO) Cadillac Escalade for in the U.S. right now at this moment?? Starting at $55,000!!!!

That is nearly 4X! the price for a USED car here in Brazil and a BRAND NEW one in the states....is that not absurd? And, as has been mentioned, forget about financing for a car like this. This kind of car here in brazil is ONLY for the ULTRA-RICH....in the U.S. any ole redneck making 45-55 K per year can afford one at around 3-4% interest per year and finance it over 6-7 years.

Brazil being cheap....yeah, you can get cheap, be prepared to live like s**t!

I actually was considering purchasing a Cadillac Escalade here in Brazil around 6 months ago.

After reading your comments, I came to a conclusion that Guy Hamilton gave a wrong advice to the Americans who want to visit (or settle down in) Brazil. Instead of advising them to bring in two CAN OPENERS, he should have asked them to bring TWO Cadillac Escalade ,one to be used for their personal use and the other to be sold in the black market!

Another advice he forgot to give is to bring in their own Plasma/LCD TVs so that they could watch the "Novelas" on "TV Digital"

Ever heard of Mr. Santos Dumont? He was a Brazilian who was supposed to be the first man to fly a powered aircraft - 3 years before the Wright Brothers. At an early age he went to France and that is where his flight took place. It's an interesting story to research. The regional airport in Rio is named for him.

Yeah....heard of him. My question is, why does every country on planet earth except Brazil give credit to the Wright Bros. for making the first flight....even France, the central location for aeronautics, and the very country where Santos Dumont made his flights.

No one gets a paper paycheck, their money goes directly into their bank accounts. Can you imagine how much paper that saves? You can pay most of your bills at the lottery office, grocery store or drug store.

And there's many reasons for that. Are you aware that people don't send checks in the mail? Are you aware of why? Also, where do you think this "new fangled" technology of "direct deposit" started? LOL.

Man, I was going to take statement by statement....but this "GUY" has the intelligence level of an 8th grader.


Gotta just love people that try and blow smoke up your ass....

Well folks, I guess it;s back to the Kilo restaurants for lunch and the Shopping D mall for buying your clothes by the Kilo.. I kid you not! The best time to come to Brazil is when you can exploit the Brazilians and the best time to leave is when you can see they are hot on your ass !!

"Ever heard of Mr. Santos Dumont? He was a Brazilian who was supposed to be the first man to fly a powered aircraft - 3 years before the Wright Brothers..."

Reminds me of muslims claiming they "invented algebra" when in fact any country or culture they took over, reduced that country to mediocrity. Examples: Egypt had a great civilization under the Pharoah's, so did the Persian empire, rencently examples are Lebanon and Afghanistan...Islam (the theocracy) has a knack of dumbing down the masses.

Dubai is doing extremely well because it embraces western the western lifestyle and freedoms.

I just had to take the opportunity to express my distaste for Islam and what it does to humanity!

Dubai is doing extremely well because it embraces western the western lifestyle and freedoms.

I just had to take the opportunity to express my distaste for Islam and what it does to humanity!

You seem to know a lot of Islamic culture and Dubai. You must have traveled quite a bit outside your country. My questions:

1) Do they sell good can openers in Dubai? 2) Is cold pasteurized milk available in that country? 3) What is the source of milk (cow,goat,buffalo,camel, etc 4) We all know that the main source of transportation of goods and people in Dubai is Camels. Do they have rent-a -camel service there?. If so, what is the name of a reliable company .

I am sure that all the bloggers in this site are very anxious to hear your positive views on Dubai as well as your negative ones on Islamic culture.

Also, they are wondering why you have to express your "distaste" for Islam in this thread as the article written by Guy Hamilton is talking about Brazil and has nothing to with any religion.

Yowser, I always thought you were an IDIOT, JUNKIE, RETARD and a big "BABACÃO". You prove it every time you comment. You are one of the most illogical and clueless bloggers I have ever come across in this site.

As to your question why American and European marry Brazilian women, you have answered the question. Today, after my Christmas shopping was done, I sat with my husband to have a coffee at our local Mall, man we counted, out of 10 women 1 or 2 was nice, dressed like a woman and was not fat. Also, I am speaking from my experience, women in general are high maintenance, but I asked my husband and he gave me a list: we know how to have fun, we are generally beautiful, are not with a guy for money (obviously some are), are good lovers, good wives, good mothers.

Anyway, if you probably know that Baghdad together with Toledo was once the cultural center of Islam, they produced more books and more literature than any other civilization. I have read some Jarchas, a mix of Hebrew, Arabic and early Spanish songs (literature like the early romance), and they are culturally rich. My in-laws lived in Bahrain, I have visited Dubai a couple of times, and both do not represent the Islamic culture. Go to Marrocco or Egypt. Islam is capable of dualism, before the Dutch invaded Indonesia, was an example of a pluralistic society and an example of democracy under Islam. Islam is capable of dualism, however some countries have chosen to be monolithic. If you want, read How Islam created the Modern World by Mark Graham, he studied medieval history and religious studies at Connecticut College and has a master's degree in English literature. It is a good starting point. Anyway, not only did they invent algebra, but also chemistry and "modern" medicine. They also introduced the guitar to Europe. Music and the arts in general was the very center of life. If you ever go to Spain, go to Cordoba, the Mesquita is an example of how their architecture and general art work was magnificent. Also, if you are a scientist, you should know that the way we use scientific methods, was given to us by them. From Averroes to Ibn Guzman, you will find that Islam has left a true cultural legacy.

"I just had to take the opportunity to express my distaste for Islam and what it does to humanity! "

Any religion, put in the hands of a few fanatics can be a distaste for humanity. Christianity has its shares of disgraceful behavior. Christians haver persecuted and expelled the Jewish from the Spanish territory in 1492, the Muslims and their own kind. Why do you think the Quaker crossed the Atlantic? Why do you think James Madison wrote the Memorial and Remonstrance Against Religious Assessments in 1785? Locke's Letter Concerning Toleration points out "to the repression of the Protestant Dissent in England under the penal laws which, until 1689, enforced conformity to the Church of England; and the persecution of the Protestants in France (Huguenots) culminating in their FORCED conversion". (from Philosophy, Religion, Politics, Genre: Treatise, Letter. Country: England).

As you can see, intolerance can be found and created by anyone at anytime at any given point. As I said, religion can be distorted to fit one's agenda, it has been so with Christianity, Islam, Judaism. I am not familiar with other religious expression.

Now, in Rio that is impossible. That is why I sent my old car to my dad. I tried to rent and it costs more than all of our airline tickets together!!! Plus, all the extra insurance that you have to put on top of the price, here in the US and Europe, renting is a breeze. Not the reality in Rio or Brazil for that matter. My folks live in Barra da Tijuca, not many by the Kilo restaurants or at least he didn't take me to one.

"Yeah....heard of him. My question is, why does every country on planet earth except Brazil give credit to the Wright Bros. for making the first flight....even France, the central location for aeronautics, and the very country where Santos Dumont made his flights."

In Brazil, kids in school learn about the Wright Bros. in American schools, Santos Dumont is not known. I had a conversation with a history teacher here, he didn't know who he was and didn't not know that after the Civil War, Brazil accepted many Americans in Sao Paulo, Amazonas, Rio and the South. Ignorance is found not only from Brazil, but also in America.

Great text, loved reading it

I lived in brasil for 12 years and had my car far before having a cpf (social security number) What you do need is a declaration of residence, from two brazilians, sothat the car can be put in your name.