photo credit: Hanumann

Rio de Janeiro is the 2nd largest city of Brazil. It is a major tourist destination. However, there are things to consider when going to Rio.

Rio de Janeiro or “River of January” in English is Brazil’s 2nd largest and South America’s 3rd largest city. It is situated behind Buenos Aires and Sao Paulo. From the year 1763 up to the year 1822, it stood as Brazil’s capital city while under the Portuguese colony. It became an independent nation from the year 1822 up to the year 1960. Hence, from 1808 up to 1821 it was considered as the Portuguese Empire’s capital. It is also known as “A Cidade Maravilhosa” or “The Marvelous City” as its nickname.

Rio de Janeiro, or just Rio, is popular because of the vast natural settings, Samba and various other music as well as Carnival celebrations. There is also a wide array of tourist beaches like Ipanema and Copacabana paved with cream and black swirl-like pattern mosaic decorations or Pedra Portuguesa as it is most known for.

One of the most popular local attractions in Rio de Janeiro, apart from its unspoiled beaches, is the Christ the Redeemer or Cristo Redentor. It is Jesus Christ’s giant statue that lies on top of the Corcovado Mountain. Just recently, it was considered as part of the New Seven Wonders of the World. Other attractions include Sugarloaf Mountain’s cable cars or the Pao de Acucar, the Sambodromo, a permanent giant parade stand used during Carnivals and the Maracana Stadium deemed as the largest football stadium in the world.

Aside from all of these the Tijuca Forest or Floresta da Tijuca and the White Stone State Park or the Parque Estadual da Pedra Branca both the world’s largest as well as the 2nd largest urban forest also lies here in Rio de Janeiro. Going to other Brazilian cities is also no problem with the Galeao-Antonio Carlos Jobim International Airport because it connects various international flights to Rio de Janeiro.

Here are some useful travel tips to Rio de Janeiro:

Money Exchange

When bringing and exchanging money in Rio, you can bring cash, traveler’s checks or credit cards. When bringing some cash, it is wise to put it inside a money belt and keep it there until you reach the hotel. Of course, it is also safer to book in a hotel that provides a safety deposit box inside your room.

Traveler’s checks are good but the exchange rate is always a problem. However, it is good to bring some for emergency purposes. Carrying debit or credit cards is also very convenient in Rio. The most widely accepted are Visa, AmEx, Diner’s and MasterCard. This is best when going on shopping sprees, dining outside and paying your hotel bills. If your credit card falls under the Cirrus system, you can also use it to withdraw some cash.

For visa card holders, you can withdraw from Banco Itau, Banco do Brasil and Brandesco. Thus, if ever you plan to withdraw at any of the ATM machines in Rio, it is in Portuguese so make sure you ask for help from bank personnel only. This means that if you will be exchanging your money, you will lose money because of the exchange rate. This makes the ATM’s Cirrus system as your best option since they use the same rate as the one you use back home.

In Rio, currencies apart from Euros or US dollars are not that good. It is best to just bring either of the two, particularly the US$ which consecutively gets the best rate.

The Portuguese Language

When going to Brazil, it is best to brush up on some Portuguese language. A quick course would do about basic conversation. It is also advisable to buy translations book. It might be handy in your trip.

Brazilian Currency

The currency in Brazil is called Real. They have the R, R0, R, R, R, R and R bills. The exchange rate at current is R=US. There are also 2 varieties for every coin except for the coin R. The real can be divided in 100 centavos. These coins are handy for coffee, bus rides and gums.

Having a Visa

For Europeans, only a valid passport and return ticket is needed in order to enter Brazil. Upon entry, you also need to fill up an entry card, allowing you to stay for about 90 days. This will be attached to your passport. The other half is kept by immigration officials. Losing this will entail a delay in your departure.

For Canadians, Australians, US and New Zealand citizens, a visa is required. You can get this from your home country’s Brazilian embassy. Thus, make sure you also contact them prior to going to Brazil so that you are aware of the full entry requirements.

When you already have a tourist visa, you have the option of extending it for another 90 days. You only need to apply this at least 15 days prior to the expiration of the 1st one. However, you can only do this once. Afterwards, you need to leave the country and just reenter at another time.

Thus, for those who are from Uruguay, Argentina, Paraguay as well as other neighboring countries, you only need a photo ID to enter Rio. For countries that require a visa, the requirements for a visa include a copy of your round trip ticket, your passport that should be valid for another 6 months, 1 colored or black and white passport size photo, show money, vaccination certificates and the visa application form from the Brazilian embassy or consulate.

photo credit: Berto Garcia

Art Travel Destinations in Vogue

Make your summer chilling with memorable trips to art galleries situated in the most interesting travel destinations you have dreamed of visiting. If you are an art lover there are many places worth visiting, just waiting for you to come. Most of these interesting travel destinations are full of activities and other places worth visiting, in addition to the most incredible art galleries and museums.

Apart from international travel destinations, you can arrange an all-comprehensive package tour within your homeland. An interesting tour comprising the art gallery and the museum of great wonders are available in most of the places we usually stay. Perfect travel destinations for an art lover, for example, can be highly rewarding for the person living in the U.S.A. All of them are endowed with plentiful works of art from different natures and civilizations. Not only people from all parts of the continent, but also millions of others come to visit these art galleries and museums every year. In fact, places with the art gallery have become eminent travel destinations for many art lovers who are in practice of exploring art of diverse dimensions all around the globe.

photo credit: Reg LVL-50-EMP-PHOTO

Starting from U.S.A, Europe, and Asia to many other places in the world possess a healthy collection of art galleries. The art gallery for example, in America comprises a major subject of attraction as far as the travel destinations of various kinds are concerned. Even, small towns in America are rich in art collections of assorted natures. “The art gallery” term finds a full complement at such places where art is being highly acclaimed by people who come far across the world only to visit these unique pieces of art collections. To name a few; National Gallery of Art, Henry Art Gallery, Anchorage Museum of History and Art, and the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York City are top attractions.

The art gallery in each of the places is accompanied with other places of interest, making them favorite travel destinations. Another interesting fact worth revealing is the art galleries situated at these places of America not only contain art works of the continent, but arts of a range of regions are exhibited here at the art emporiums. For example, when you are at the art gallery of Florida, you can get a hint of both modern and traditional art forms.

photo credit: acaben

Ranging between modern and ancient arts, they are great combinations sufficient for bestowing nostalgia for any art lover. Again, if you are accompanied with a person not interested in the art gallery, do not worry. These travel destinations can equally be perfect for anyone, because of a host of happening places to visit. Including shopping malls or lustrous beauty of nature trails along with gardens and national parks are all there to entertain tourists of different flavor coming from remote parts of the world. Therefore, satisfy your quest for art by visiting these irresistible art galleries situated in most of the travel destinations of the earth you always cherish to visit.

In 2006 and 2007 I traveled around South America with a heavy
typewriter and a bag of film, intermittently working and settling in places I liked.

I came back with piles of papers and negatives, a strange Spanish accent, and a

slew of projects to do. One of these which I’m finally getting around to now is a
photo documentary project about the miners of Potosi, Bolivia.
A place of superlatives both exciting and terrifying – highest city in the world,
used to be richest city in the world, biggest silver deposit, poorest city in
Bolivia now – Potosi is a historical wonder struggling to stay afloat both in
reality and in our collective memories.

I want to tell its story as it stands now, keeping in mind its historical context
and its uncertain future. But I need some help! Please help fund this project
and get prints in exchange: you can find more information at Kickstarter.com.
Below are photos from my last trip.

1. Two women look on during an homage to La Paz in Tarija, Bolivia.
A giant military procession was led by a small Virgin Mary statuette
dressed in camouflage.

2.A woman looks on during the Homage to La Paz, Tarija, Bolivia

3.A miner rests outside his shaft at the Cerro Rico mine, in Potosi, Bolivia. Although there are rails, most ore-filled trolleys have to be pushed along them manually.

4.Kids play during sunset in Potosi, Bolivia.

5.A man talks to a departing bus (not seen) in front one of the ubiquitous snack stands found throughout Bolivia.

6.During Mother’s Day in Cusco, Peru, children put on shows for the extended family’s mothers during a cookout.

7.Andres, from Chile, in front of a restaurant in La Paz, Bolivia.

8.A hostel in Uyuni, Bolivia.

9.Every year this bridge, hanging over the Apurimac River, in Peru, is rebuilt during a festival dedicated to it. The technique and location is the same as those used by the Incas.

10.A boy stops to pray at one of the stations of the cross at a pilgrimage festival held at the base of Mount Ausangate

11.Horses and people mingle in the camp that sits at the base of Mount Ausangate, during a pilgrimage festival.

12.Jose Gabriel, from Lima, visits Machu Picchu for the first time. Peru.

13.A girl who attended a non-profit funded school, in Cusco, Peru.