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guest
5/11/2001 16:28 EST
" Hi Flink, I read your questions about a long stay in Brazil. I am from Santos, SP but live in the U.S. I keep in touch with my relatives there, and have subscription to Brazilian Globo Internacional satellite tv here in Newark NJ, read Brazilian papers in the Net, and keep in touch with friends from there via email, so I think I am up-to-date as far as Brazil is concerned. Their currency has been pretty much stable for about 10 years, (R$2,30 to each Dollar right now) with slight periodic devaluations, so I feel that U$1,500.00 a month is a good amount, if you do not want luxury. I don''t know if you need handicapped faciliies there, but Brazil is not well set-up for that yet. Automatic transmission cars are easily available there lately. A steering ball should not hard to install. I suggest you check-out the Northeast Region to live in, since the crime rate is less than for example, that of Rio. The region has 9 States and is the most beautiful one I think. Beaches are more gorgeous tham most, if not all of the Caribbean ones. The tourist business there is booming, especially in and around the capitals of certains States, such as Rio Grande do Norte, Ceara, Alagoas, Maranhao. Many Europeans have chosen to live and some have opened businesses such as inns and restaurants there. I keep in touch with a friend of Natal, the capital of R.G. do N. an although I have never been there, I know it is gorgeous and cheap to live. His name is Karl Leite. If you want to drop a word to him he is at kml@digi.com.br He speaks relatively good English. Sometimes he comes to visit me and his next visit will be in August. Rent and food is low, in the Northeast. Good doctors are plentiful in the capitals and are cheap by U.S. standards. Have you ever heard about ""dune skyiing?"" Well those places have it and it is a local creation, an much more, such as dune buggy and dromedary rides by the beaches. The seaside restaurants are excellent and much lively entertainment all year. The local culture is nothing like you have seen. There''s everything a developed country has as long as you do not earn their low wages. So, the amount you talk about is good. Air travel is high, but I have a tip: If you want to hop around Brazil by air, there is a cheap way: first, you''ll have to buy a r/ticket to Brazil with a Brazilian Airline and ask the agent to sell you an Air Pass. The going rate is about U$400.00 and gives you 4 to 6 confirmed stops within a period of 21 days, anywhere that company flies in Brazil. Those passes can only be vought outside Brazil. Once you start on your first domestic Air Pass leg, you must go on. But you can plan it with the agent in advance here choosing which cities you want to visit and for how long. ere are the Brazilian airlines from the U.S.: Varig from NY, Transbrasil, Vasp and TAM airlines from Miami. An american travel agent probably will not have good ticket prices to Brazil, so you should go to one that has a good ""seating block"" to Brazil, such as www.costamar.com These are used to sell large amounts of tickets to Brazil. Last, but not least, try to learn some Portuguese. The main tourist areas have people who speak English but you do not want to be retricted to that. I reccomend you settle just outside capitals like Natal and Fortaleza, since the prices will go down and you''l find peace and quiet like you said you wanted, and still near the main spots. Roads around the capitals are good. Setting up an account there is easy and ATMs are all over the country but I think the money will be automatically converted to Reals. Take some old bank and utility bill documents with you. I don''t know how you can get a long stay visa, but they can grant you an extension well before the 90 days allowed on your tourist visa. One idea is to return to the U.S. after the maximum allowed and go right back to Brazil with a cheap fare such as Continental or American Airlines low season ticket, but be sure to reserve those tickets months in advance. In 1999 I paid U$430, r/t on American. I don''t think they have an Air Pass for Brazil. I hope I could help. Good luck! "
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