Brazil World Cup travel tips #21 to 40 are here
Here are the first twenty Brazil World Cup travel tips that went out on my Twitter account @Pitacodogringo between 4th March and 31st March 2014.
I’ve lived in Brazil since 2002 and the ideas are based on my experiences – a few ex pats who know the country well, also chipped in. Some tips offer advice; others are observations on what it’s like living here as a gringo, and some are there just to poke a tiny bit of fun at the locals. Each is 140 characters or less.
The tips are in no particular order.
Brazil World Cup tips 1: Brazilians are very friendly. Expect invites to homes & parties. Just don’t expect to be given the address
Brazil World Cup tips 2: Socializing – Ask the locals why they love Pelé but don’t particularly like Edson Arantes do Nascimento
World Cup tips 3: Caipirinhas (photo) are stronger than you think. Three might put you under the table. They’re also expensive. Make your own
Brazil World Cup tips 4: The power often goes off when it rains heavily. Don’t leave home without a generator - bring your own generator
Brazil travel tips 5: Forget Samba. This is the kind of rubbish you’re more likely to hear in Brazil
Brazil World Cup tips 6: “Danger! Will Robinson. Danger!” Pedestrians take special care on the roads. There are some real dickheads about
Brazil World Cup tips 7: Some things are ridiculously expensive e.g. shaving foam, suntan oil, tea bags. Bring your own
Brazil World Cup tips 8: You may decide you want to live in Brazil. Your new Brazilian girlfriend/boyfriend will want to live in Europe/USA
Brazil World Cup tips 9: Getting a decent Wifi connection on your phone will be a pain in the arse
Brazil W Cup tips 10: Not a Utd, City, Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea or Spurs fan? Get used to being asked ‘But which big team do you like?’
Brazil World Cup tips 11: Some revellers/performers get near naked during carnaval. But going topless on the beaches is still frowned upon
Brazil World Cup tips 12: Football shirts are ridiculously expensive. Average price for a new one is around R$200. That’s £51 / €61 / U$85
Brazil World Cup tips 13: Making friends – Facebook is often pronounced ‘Facey booky’ or ‘Facey’. Twitter is ‘Twee ter’
Brazil World Cup tips 14: Brazilians will want to know what you think about their country/city. Marvellous, Fantastic, Paradise are the words they want to hear
Brazil World Cup tips 15: Draught beer (chopp – “shoppy”) is ice cold & excellent. But it’s served in small glasses and with a lot of froth
Brazil World Cup tips 16: Contrary to what you may have been told, the vast majority of people who live in favelas are law-abiding, hard-working people
Brazil World Cup tips 17: Average temperatures in June – Manaus 81F/27C, Belo Horizonte 65F/18C, São Paulo 64F/17C, Curitiba 55F/12C
Brazil World Cup tips 18: England fans -stun a Brazilian by telling them you don’t particularly like Queen, Pink Floyd or the Rolling Stones
Brazil World Cup tips 19: If you end up staying at a ‘motel’ on your trip, you may be in for a surprise or two
Brazil World Cup tips 20: If you drive to the games, be prepared to pay for the privilege of parking your car on the street
© Jon Cotterill and Pitacodogringo’s Brazilian football site, 2014. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Jon Cotterill and Pitacodogringo’s Brazilian football site with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.