Plugging into Brazil: Keeping it ‘Re-al’
By Mike Danna
Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation Public Relations Director
I trust you’ve all begun packing for the trip and, in some cases, picking up a few last minute items for Sunday’s departure for Brazil.
Like your leadership classes, this trip will be an adventure. It’s going to be hectic at times, but enjoyable and rewarding as well. For those of you traveling out of the country for the first time, you’ll get your “sea legs” and have many tales to tell for many years to come.
If you’re beginning to pack, pack light. Remember, the limit is 50 pounds and it doesn’t take too many pairs of jeans to reach a third of your allowed weigh. I’m bringing three pairs of jeans and two pairs of khakis. There will be laundry service. It will be summer in Brazil, so golf shirts and other short-sleeved apparel are a must.
It’s been raining in Brazil for the last two months. Throughout much of our trip the rain chance each day (depending on where we are) ranges from 40 t0 60 percent. Your shoes are likely to get muddy. (There goes the rest of the hotel washcloths. Housekeeping just loves that). Shoes will be the heaviest part of your attire, so two pairs should be plenty, one in the suitcase, one on your feet. Comfort is a must. We won’t be mountain climbing, so the lighter your shoe the better they’ll feel and the easier they’ll be to clean at the end of the day.
Electrical outlets
A few of you have contacted me regarding A/C outlets in Brazil. Electricity in Rio de Janeiro is 110V, 60Hz, as it is in most other parts of Brazil. An adapter is not needed for American appliances. (At least that’s what the travel website I visited said.) The most common electrical outlet allows for plugs with two round pins, as well as American style plugs that have two flat prongs. The outlets accept both round pins and flat prongs. Many hotels also offer 220V outlets to accommodate European travelers. These outlets will almost always be labeled as 220V, so don’t plug your 110V appliance into it.
Cash, credit cards and tipping
As Dr. Bobby pointed out, the max cash is $500 U.S. (Crisp $100s, remember?) Major credit cards are accepted at most restaurants, clubs, bars and stores in Rio. Visa and Master Card are most commonly accepted and American Express less so. It’s a good idea to call your credit card company to let them know you’ll be in Brazil the week of Jan. 25-Feb. 4. That way your purchase won’t be denied because it’s outside your normal spending habits. The currency in Brazil is the “real” (pronounced ray-all) or plural “Reais” (pronounced ray-eyes) and is denoted as R$. As of Jan. 19, the exchange rate was 1.78 Brazilian reais for every one U.S. dollar. Wages for many Brazilian service workers are low and tipping for several professions is customary and is always appreciated. The jobs in Brazil for which tipping is expected, is similar to most other western countries and include waiters, bartenders, tour guides, hotel bellmen and housekeepers.
Facts about Rio
Guanabara Bay was discovered by Amerigo Vespucci in January 1502, who mistook the bay for a river and named it “The River January.” It was the capital of Brazil until 1960, when the government moved to the planned interior city, Brasilia. Rio de Janeiro is the second largest city in Brazil, behind Sao Paulo and has a metropolitan area population of about 12 million. Demographically, it’s about 50 percent Caucasian, 33 percent brown, 15 percent lack (Moreno), with the balance being Asiatic. Rio natives refer to themselves as being “Carioca,” and the term embodies more than just the city of residence, but also an attitude and zest for life in a manner only possible in this city.