Brazil
Capital: Brasilia Population: 201 million Language: Portuguese Time: GMT-3 (Brasilia and the coast), GMT-4 (Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do sul, Western Pará, Rondônia, Roraima), GMT-5 (Acre, Western Amazonas) International Dialling Code: +55 Money: Real R$
Visas: Not required by UK nationals Further Information: Brazilian Tourist Board
Brazilian embassy in London: +44 (0207) 747 4500 Further Reading: Brazil (Footprint, 2007)
When to go: The country is to be visited all the year round, but due to it’s enormous size (three time zones and 24 times the size of the UK) climactic variances do occur, but it essentially has a tropical climate for the most part.
Brazilian cultural icons: Seu Jorge, Gilberto Gil, Garrincha, Pelé, Oscar Niemeyer, Jorge Amado
Music: Samba, Bossa Nova, MPB (Música Popular Brasileira), Forró; The days of Carmen Miranda, Jackson do Pandeiro, Luiz Gonzaga and Pixinguinha have passed, but Gilberto Gil, Seu Jorge, Bebel Gilberto and a host of others keep the musical light shining on Copacabana and Pelourinho.
Brazil is a huge country and we at Globe at One can advise on which regions to try out whether you like Rio and its Carnival attractions or trekking through the North Eastern states or simply hanging out in Bahia by the sea. They like their football too, we can advise on hotels, time to spend at a certain location and whether you’ll need any jabs going into the jungles or not. Go on, mingle with the beautiful people!