Where to Go

[jim]

Where are the best Citys to go to in Brazil?

Can't afford it at the moment but hope to one day go there, for the 2014 world cup would be great but would take a lot of saving!

Is Porto Alegre good?

[azantinge]

First of all, Brazil is a big country. In fact, it is bigger geographically than the 48 contiguous States of the United States (less Alaska and Hawaii). That means. as in the US, there is a lot of regional cultures. It is, in part, the result of the history of immigration and development. The south tends to be more European-influenced and the northeast is more African/Caribbean-influenced in a general sense.

Again, because of geographic distance, big cities have developed their own cultural identity, and when you add differences in climate and geography, travelling in Brazil always brings surprises.

As for visiting Brazil on a budget, the best advice is to do your research first because the cost of travel can lock you into a region. Here are some general comments which I'm sure you can find elsewhere too.

1. Most popular tourist destination is Rio de Janeiro. It is geographically spectacular and has many popular beaches.

2. If you like the urban big city experience, Sao Paulo would be where you want to go. NY & London would come to mind. That's not because it is the same but because Sao Paulo offers such a diverse set of things to do.

3. Santos and area is worth a visit. It is Brazil's largest sea port. There are also many interesting beach communities along the coast. Ilha Bela is an island on the coast with great beaches and is also the centre of the sailing community in Brazil.

4. I've never been to the northeast; but, my wife has and she says the beaches are spectacular. There are also some interesting story lines for the history buff.

5. Porto Alegre / Curitiba / Blumenau are the main cities in the German immigration of the 19th & 20th centuries. Blumenau apparently has an awesome Oktoberfest. Soccer clubs like Gremio and Coritiba actually began as German sports clubs.

6. Belo Horizonte also has its own personality and is more laid back.

Personally, we travel primarily to Sao Paulo and into the countryside of the State. Cities like Piracicaba and Ribeirao Preto are worth stopping by. Piracicaba has many places that serve grilled fish along the river and has historical roots in the sugar cane business. Ribeirao Preto also has connections to sugar cane and also has some great outdoor pubs. Another spot checking on is Campos do Jordao. Campos do Jordao is very alpine and gives you a glimse of what Switzerland might look like if it were farther south.

I've also travelled to southwestern Minas Gerais. Uberaba would be interesting for anyone interested in the Spiritist movement because the city was home to Chico Xavier. It is also a cattle capital.

[jim]

This was a very useful summary azantinge, thanks. Hope i can get to a couple of these places some day...