Tourist Attractions:
Christ Redeemer and Corcovado Mountain:
Atop Corcovado Mountain, a 700-meter peak, stands the Christ Redeemer statue, an Art Deco monument 39 meters tall, recognized as the fifth-largest representation of Jesus in the world. Built between 1922 and 1930, it is located in the Tijuca Forest and offers stunning panoramic views of the city.
Sugarloaf:
Sugarloaf is renowned for its imposing 396-meter height and is accessible by a cable car, originally built in 1912. The cable car transports 65 passengers on a 1,400-meter journey to the Morro da Urca, 220 meters above sea level, in about 20 minutes, providing spectacular views of Guanabara Bay.
Maracanã Stadium:
Known as Rio’s football temple, Maracanã Stadium was inaugurated for the 1950 World Cup and has hosted numerous important matches since. The stadium was renovated for the 2014 World Cup and again hosted the final of the tournament. Today, it remains an iconic venue for sports and cultural events in Rio de Janeiro.
Sea Shore
Rio de Janeiro is home to famous beaches where some of the city's wealthiest neighborhoods are located. Most are worth a visit. Starting from the city center southwards and then westwards, they are: Flamengo, Botafogo, Urca, Praia Vermelha, Leme, Copacabana, Ipanema, Leblon, São Conrado, and Barra da Tijuca. While in Ipanema, you can also stroll around the beautiful Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas and visit the Botanical Garden.
Botanical Garden:
Located near Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas, the Botanical Garden features a vast collection of tropical plants, including orchids, imperial palms, and century-old trees. It also has natural trails, lakes, and historical buildings.
Historic Center:
The city center is home to many buildings that have shaped Brazil's history and culture, concentrated around three main areas. The first is Praça XV, the main dock, featuring the Portuguese colonial-style Imperial Palace, the 1920s State Parliament, some 1930s fascist buildings, colonial churches, and the Centro Cultural Banco do Brasil, which hosts international exhibitions. The second area is Cinelândia, with the National Library, the Parisian-inspired Municipal Theatre, the National Museum of Fine Arts, many Art Deco buildings, the Modern Art Museum in concrete, and the 17th-century Monastery of São Bento. The third area is around the Arcos da Lapa, a bohemian hub with many 19th-century houses now converted into bars and dance clubs.
Sambadrome:
The Sambadrome is the epicenter of Rio de Janeiro’s Carnival. During the carnival, there are parties throughout the city in streets, clubs, and homes—but the parade in the Sambadrome is by far the largest, featuring three full nights for the top samba schools. The 700-meter-long runway near the city center was inaugurated for the 1984 carnival. Throughout the year, it also hosts music shows and major events; it was the finishing point for the marathon at the 2016 Olympics.
PRACTICAL INFORMATION
CURRENCY: Real (BRL)
Brazil uses the Real (BRL) as its official currency. The Real is divided into 100 centavos, and it's important to be familiar with the available notes and coins:
- Notes: 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, and 200 reais.
- Coins: 0.01, 0.05, 0.10, 0.25, 0.50 centavos, and 1 real.
Currency Exchange: It is advisable for travelers to exchange their money for reais before the trip or upon arrival in Vassouras. This can be done at banks, exchange bureaus, and some hotels. Be aware of exchange rates, which can vary!
Payments: Most establishments in Vassouras accept credit and debit cards, especially international ones like Visa, Mastercard, and Elo. However, it's always a good idea to carry some cash for small purchases, such as snacks or public transportation.
ATMs: Vassouras has several ATMs throughout the city where you can withdraw reais using your international card. Check with your bank about withdrawal fees and daily limits.
Additional Tips:- Beware of Frauds: Avoid exchanging money in unauthorized locations and always use ATMs located in well-lit and busy areas.
- Budgeting: Plan your budget considering expenses for food, transportation, and activities during the event.
EMERGENCY NUMBERS
The main emergency numbers are:- Police: 190
- Fire Department: 193
- Ambulance/SAMU (Mobile Emergency Care Service): 192
- Civil Defense: 199
These numbers are toll-free and can be called from any phone, whether landline or mobile.
PORTUGUESE CONVERSATION GUIDE
PronunciationThe basics of Portuguese pronunciation are not too different from Latin or other Romance languages.
There are five basic vowels — a, e, i, o, u — with very clear pronunciation, except at the end of words, where the pronunciation is more relaxed.
Diacritical marks can slightly alter the vowel. There are three main ones:
- Acute accent ( ´ ): In most cases, it marks the stressed syllable but can also indicate an open vowel ([ɛ], [ɔ]).
- Example: pé (foot) sounds [pɛ], avó (grandma) sounds [avɔ].
-
Circumflex accent ( ˆ ): It marks a closed vowel ([e], [o]).
- Exemple: você (you) sounds [voˈse], avô (grandpa) sounds [a’vo].
- Tilde ( ~ ): It marks the nasalization of the vowel. To mimic the nasalization, try adding an -m after the vowel.
The pronunciation of consonants is not always straightforward, but there are some regular irregularities:
- s: It is a voiceless sibilant, except when it is between vowels, where it becomes voiced (like z).
- Example: casa (house) sounds [ˈkaza], mesa (table) sounds [ˈmeza]. To ensure the normal s sound between vowels, "ss" is used.
- Exemple: massa (dough) sounds [ˈmasa].
- c: It is a redundant consonant. It sounds like [k] before a,
o, u, and like [s] before e and i. The letter k is normally used only in
foreign words. The cedilla (ç) makes the c sound like [s] in any position.
- Example: casa (house) sounds [ˈkaza], cidade (city) sounds [siˈdadʒi], coração (heart) sounds [koɾaˈsãw].
-
g: Another redundant consonant, as it sounds like [g] except before e
and i, where it sounds like [ʒ].
- Example: chuva (rain) sounds [ˈʃuva], xícara (cup) sounds [ˈʃikaɾa].
- The x can also be pronounced as [ks] (fixo) or [z] (exame).
- Example: fixo (fixed) sounds [ˈfiksu], exame (exam) sounds [eˈzami].
-
ch and x: Used for the palatal sibilant [ ʃ ], as in
the English "sh".
- Example: chuva (rain) sounds [ˈʃuva], xícara (cup) sounds [ˈʃikaɾa].
- The x can also be pronounced as [ks] (fixo) or [z] (exame).
- Example: fixo (fixed) sounds [ˈfiksu], exame (exam) sounds [eˈzami].
-
j: It is not the common consonant i in Germanic and Slavic languages;
instead, it is used as the voiced counterpart of [ ʃ ], the [ ʒ ] (as in the French
"jour").
- Example: jardim (garden) sounds [ʒaʁˈdʒĩ], jorge (George) sounds [ˈʒɔʁʒi].
-
h: It is usually silent, not pronounced. But it is used as a marker of
palatalization in nh [ɲ] (ninho) and lh [ʎ] (filho).
- Example: ninho (nest) sounds [ˈniɲu], filho (son) sounds [ˈfiʎu].
-
r: The pronunciation varies widely throughout the country, but a
common form is to pronounce it as [ɾ], except at the beginning of words or when doubled
(rr), where the sound is [ʁ] (as in the French "carré").
- Example: rato (rat) sounds [ˈʁatu], carro (car) sounds [ˈkaʁu].
Vocabulary
Useful Vocabulary in PortugueseFamiliarizing yourself with some words and expressions in Portuguese can make your experience in Vassouras more enjoyable and facilitate communication. Here are some essential words and phrases to help you:
Greetings
Common questions
Directions
Shopping
Transportation
Emergency
Useful sentences
Numbers
Time
Days of the week
Food
Peculiarities of Brazil
Every country has its peculiarities and habits that might seem strange to visitors. To have a complete experience, you cannot leave Brazil without first try our:
Food
Its name comes from "feijão" (beans). It is a traditional dish throughout the country, made with black beans and a mixture of different types of meat: fresh sausages, bacon, smoked sausage, dried meat, pork loin, etc.
The daily Brazilian meal. It is usually served with beef, salad, and French fries.
A very popular type of bread made with cheese and cassava flour. It is a typical recipe from Minas Gerais and Goiás.
Made with shredded chicken and seasonings, wrapped in dough and fried.
A typical Brazilian dish made with frozen and mashed açaí berries from the Amazonian açaí palm. It is very popular in Rio de Janeiro, where it is usually topped with guaraná syrup, granola, banana, and other fruits.
Sweets
There are several sweets you must try, such as:Beverages
Also known as aguardente or pinga, it is the most popular distilled beverage in Brazil. It is a product derived from sugarcane.
The national cocktail, made with lime, sugar, and cachaça.
Fruit juices are very popular in Brazil. They are made with tropical fruits such as açaí, passion fruit, guava, cacao, and cupuaçu. Also, try fruits from the Cerrado: murici, araçá, taperebá, and soursop.
Note: The minimum age for consuming alcoholic beverages in Brazil is 18 years.
Listen
Heitor Villa-Lobos (1887-1959)Samba and its Variations
Bossa Nova
Tropicália
