The city will host the opening of the event that will take place in Corinthians stadium in Itaquera on June 12, 2014.
São Paulo warming up for the 2014 World Cup
Official poster of São Paulo city for the 2014 FIFA World Cup, created by the artists Rômulo Castilho and Arnaldo Bastos, that represents the diversity and joy of its people.
The city will host the opening of the event that will take place in Corinthians stadium in Itaquera on June 12, 2014.
The city will host the opening of the event that will take place in Corinthians stadium in Itaquera on June 12, 2014.
São Paulo and the 2014 World Cup
Sao Paulo making progress inside and outside the stadium
(FIFA.com) Wednesday 28 November 2012
Just days before hosting the FIFA Confederations Cup Brazil 2013 draw, the city of Sao Paulo welcomed a delegation made up of representatives from FIFA, the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™ LOC Management Board and the Brazilian government.
The visiting officials were there to inspect the Arena de Sao Paulo, the venue for the Opening Match of the FIFA World Cup on 12 June 2014, when thousands of fans will flock to the stadium.
Comprising FIFA Secretary General Jerome Valcke, LOC Management Board members Bebeto and Ronaldo and Brazilian Minister of Sport Aldo Rebelo, the delegation took the train from Luz railway station in the city centre, out to Corinthians-Itaquera station, which serves the Arena de Sao Paulo. The stadium is the last to be visited by Valcke on his tour this year of the 12 Brazil 2014 Host Cities.
“It’s incredible in a city this size to be able to travel from the centre to the stadium in just 19 minutes, like we did,” said Valcke in reference to his journey on Line 11 of the CPTM (Sao Paulo Metropolitan Rail Company) network. “Everything worked perfectly. It’s a great stadium too, and an amazing project overall. My congratulations to Sao Paulo.”
The group met up with a number of other dignitaries at the stadium, among them LOC Chairman Jose Maria Marin and Sao Paulo Mayor Gilberto Kassab, and attended a meeting where the project was presented. A tour of the stadium site then followed.
“I’ve been to Itaquera a few times and I’m delighted to see just how much work has been done with a view to finishing the stadium by December 2013,” said a suitably impressed Rebelo. “Above all I’m pleased to see the progress that’s been made with the social projects, which have transformed the area around the stadium. I’m proud that we have a venue that will be up to the job of staging an event like the World Cup Opening Ceremony.”
Much more than a stadium
The fact that the Sao Paulo project has gone far beyond the building of the stadium was the talking point of the day. Consisting of urban mobility initiatives, new universities and a business park, the raft of improvements made in the suburb of Itaquera and the entire eastern side of Sao Paulo and its population of over four million is a clear example of the legacy that the FIFA World Cup can have for a major city.
The fact that the Sao Paulo project has gone far beyond the building of the stadium was the talking point of the day. Consisting of urban mobility initiatives, new universities and a business park, the raft of improvements made in the suburb of Itaquera and the entire eastern side of Sao Paulo and its population of over four million is a clear example of the legacy that the FIFA World Cup can have for a major city.
“This is one of the biggest reasons why we should be proud of what we’re doing: the difference that the World Cup project can make to such a large area, one that has been asking for more in the way of development for a long time now,” commented Marin.
“Like the stadium, the new infrastructure projects across the whole eastern area are all on schedule,” added Kassab. “Quite apart from this amazing stadium for staging big games, those projects are another part of the legacy the event will leave the city.”
World champs wow the workers
As far as the stadium workers were concerned, the high point of the visit was the chance to see Ronaldo and Bebeto in person. And for the man they call O Fenômeno, the feeling was most definitely mutual: “This is the last stadium on our 2012 tour and it’s the most special one for me personally. It was here in Sao Paulo where I spent the final years of my playing career.”
As far as the stadium workers were concerned, the high point of the visit was the chance to see Ronaldo and Bebeto in person. And for the man they call O Fenômeno, the feeling was most definitely mutual: “This is the last stadium on our 2012 tour and it’s the most special one for me personally. It was here in Sao Paulo where I spent the final years of my playing career.”
To the delight of the watching workers, he added: “I know just how passionate this city is about football and how happy local people are to see all these projects in the area around the stadium.”
“This is the nicest bit about these visits,” said fellow world champion Bebeto. “You can see how much of a difference the World Cup makes to people’s lives and how proud these workers feel to be playing a part in this great party. And it makes you even happier to come here and see how the party is going to spread to other areas away from the stadium.”
The object of desire named car
The streets of São Paulo city are full of cars, particularly during the rush time. A lot of people complained about the traffic jams however it seems very difficult for some of them to replace the personal car by another way of transportation.
It is not only a question of awareness about pollution, quality of life in contraposition with selfishness and egocentrism. According to psychologists and psychiatrists the car is related to power and speed, features easily linked to virility and consequently identified much more with the male universe. Disregarding the sense of independence and freedom, not by chance the car is humanized by the man who takes care of him like a precious object alike the beloved woman. It is not enough to observe and see it, it is necessary to listen to the sound of the engine, to smell the flavor of the new interior and to feel the power in your hands when you are driving.
Considering the woman´s independence and inclusion in the labor market, the profile of the drivers has changed. A raising number of women see the car with other eyes - not only as a way of transport that should be silent and safe, and some love to drive as well. Nowadays even the family has another weight in the decision of purchasing a new model.
All these trends and updated variations could be double-checked at the International Motor Trade Show that is taking place at Anhembi events pavilion in the north side of the city. About fifty international brands and almost five hundred cars should be exposed for trying to mess with the subconscious of the crazy fans. It is an evidence that Brazil plays a significant role and belongs to the elite of the automobile industry.
All the international and Brazilian manufacturers would show their new hits and concept cars. Audi will promote short test drives around the venue, GM will have a Stock Car simulator in its stand, Fiat will bring a special series with exclusive furnishings conceived by Gucci, Ford will award the best design for EcoSport with a Ka car, Volvo will show an app that can track and block the car, Volkswagen will bring the Fusca show with dancers and Djs, BMW will display all the motorcycles line, Toyota will stimulate visitors with football video games and the MMA fighters will be guests from Renault, amongst other attractions. However the cherry in the cake will be the elegant and supersport models from the Italian mythic brands Ferrari and Maserati. The convertible V-8 Ferrari 458 Spider of R$ 2,05 million will share the attention with the V-8 Maserati GranCabrio Sport, of R$ 900 thousand.
The analysts are predicting a hard traffic in the region as a huge number of visitors should be expected to admire and dream of the new toys, even considering the entrance tickets are expensive.
27º Salão Internacional do Automóvel de São Paulo - www.salaodoautomovel.com.br
From October 24th to November 4th, 2012
Pavilhão de Exposições do Anhembi - Av. Olavo Fontoura, 1.209 - Santana - São Paulo/SP
Tickets have different prices during the working days and the holidays & weekends
Adults
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Adults
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Children &
students
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Children &
students
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By anticipation
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Box office
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By anticipation
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Box office
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Working days
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R$ 50,00
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R$ 55,00
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R$ 25,00
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R$ 27,50
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Holidays & weekends
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R$ 70,00
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R$ 80,00
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R$ 35,00
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R$ 40,00
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The story of FABIANA PASSONI, Brazilian International Press Award 2012 as the Brazilian Female Singer living in USA - who will play a role in the upcoming musical show Loving the Silent Tears, in Los Angeles.
http://youtu.be/ar104EILa0c
3 Experts, and Many Tips for Visiting Brazil
By SETH KUGEL
To supplement my seven rules for lowering the cost of a trip to Brazil, I asked three Brazil-based colleagues to come up with their own tips. They are Ricardo Freire, widely regarded as the dean of Brazilian travel bloggers; Fábio Peixoto, the editor of a Brazilian travel guide; and Kevin Raub, a Lonely Planet author who lives in São Paulo.
I’ve condensed and edited their tips, and in the first two cases, translated them from Portuguese.
Mr. Freire blogs in Portuguese at viajenaviagem.com and is working on an English-language site for foreign visitors to Brazil. Follow his travels on Instagram (@riqfreire). Here are his tips:
TRAVEL WHEN BRAZILIANS DON’T
International travel to Brazil is relatively minimal; the country as a whole receives about as many visitors per year as Cancún. That means the tourism industry is dependent on the enormous domestic market, which has a particular quirk: Brazilians all seem to travel at the same time. That’s during January and June school vacations, Carnival (Feb. 9 to 12 next year), and on national holidays that become long weekends no matter on what day they fall.
For the rest of the year, a majority of Brazilian destinations (with the notable exception of Rio) are nearly empty — even though in many cases the climate is actually better during the off-season. So plan wisely.
WAIT FOR THE MAGIC DATE
Jan. 10 is the magic date that the Brazilian summer stops being so expensive. Families have emptied their bank accounts to be on the beach during New Year’s and must begin to save for Carnival. Prices drop appreciably, and innkeepers and small-hotel owners are open to negotiations.
The best place to be is in Bahia state, in beautiful coastal villages like Morro de São Paulo, Barra Grande, Itacaré, Santo André and others that aren’t as expensive as upscale spots like Trancoso. You can combine that trip with a great excursion to Chapada Diamantina National Park (seven hours by bus from Salvador, the state capital).
FALL IN RIO
Southern Hemisphere fall, that is. In winter (July and August), Rio de Janeiro can actually get cold, so the ideal time to visit is in autumn, after Easter. May, with hot, dry days and cool nights, is the perfect time, with only one Brazilian holiday (May 1) drawing visitors. It’s also the perfect time for a side trip to the colonial town of Paraty, where things get rainy in spring and summer.
TAKE THE BUS
Upper-middle-class Brazilians won’t tell you this, because they can’t imagine themselves on an intercity bus. But the fact is that the Brazilian bus system works well, especially if you are traveling less than 200 miles. Alas, there is little information about bus trips online (and practically none in English) so your best bet is to go to the bus station where each company’s ticket booth has clear signs listing destinations it serves. A key word in Portuguese is “direto” (gee-REH-tew), which refers to a route with fewer stops. Keep your valuables close at hand (and gadgets in your pockets) in the stations.
USE THE PANAMA CONNECTION
The most convenient airline from the United States to Brazil is probably Panama’s Copa, which has a code-share agreement with United, meaning a customer can buy a ticket with one airline but end up flying on a plane operated by the other. You can reach seven Brazilian destinations via a usually brief connection in Panama City, allowing you to, for example, arrive in Manaus in the Amazon and return from Recife in the northeast.
INTERNATIONAL SITES ARE GAINING HOLD
Booking.com has expanded rapidly in Brazil, registering pousadas (inns) and small hotels in remote places, saving foreigners from the complicated system of reservations Brazilians have invented (involving wiring deposits to innkeepers’ bank accounts). Hostelworld works well for hostels, and Airbnb is also making inroads for apartment rentals.
***
Fábio Peixoto is the editor of the Brazilian guidebook series “Guia Quatro Rodas” which publishes the Viajar Bem e Barato (“Travel Well, Travel Cheap”) guide. Here are his tips:
GO AGAINST THE FLOW
With Brazil’s strong economy, a new middle class has emerged with access to many modern comforts, including travel. That means that in season, destinations are more packed than ever. Hotel prices can triple over New Year’s and Carnival, and it doesn’t help much to book in advance. Weekends and holidays during summer (December to March) are usually hellish in terms of prices, availability and traffic. A good strategy if you’re here then is to go against the flow: spend the weekends in the big cities and weekdays on the beach. In the northeast, rains can be heavy from April to July, so September and October are great times to visit.
SNACK TRADITIONALLY
A good tip to eat for less is to focus on traditional quitutes or small, traditional dishes. In Salvador, there are dozens of street stands where baianas (women in traditional white dress) sell acarajé — a black-eyed pea fritter stuffed with shrimp, a sauce called vatapá and vegetables — for about 6 reais ($3 at 2 reais to the dollar).
In Amazonian cities you can get tacacá, a soup of shrimp and jambu, a slightly anesthetic herb, for 10 reais. In São Paulo, pastéis de feira are fried pockets of dough filled with meat, cheese or heart of palm and sold at street fairs for about 3 reais. No matter where you are, look out for the word “rodízio,” or “all you can eat.” There are all kinds of rodizios, including pizza, Japanese food or grilled meats, the latter usually accompanied by salads and side dishes. It might cost you $20, but it will be the only meal you’ll need that day.
TO RENT OR NOT TO RENT
Renting a car in the big cities is synonymous with expense and stress. Parking is complicated, and you can pay 12 reais for one hour in some places. And guys called flanelinhas will try to charge you almost as much for “taking care” of your car even if you find free street parking. Instead, find alternatives: Rio’s and São Paulo’s subway lines are small but clean and practical for getting to tourist attractions; in the northeast taxis are relatively cheap. But outside major cities, say along the coast or in national parks, being without a car means making yourself dependent on tour groups, making car rental the more cost-conscious option.
HIT THREE ISLANDS
To step outside the typical tourist trail, try these three reasonably-priced islands: Ilha Grande (reasonably close to Rio de Janeiro, with beautiful beaches and cheap lodging); Ilha de Boipeba (paradise on Earth, a 30-minute flight from Salvador, cheap as can be, and many foreign-owned inns where English is spoken); and Ilha de Marajó (an Amazonian island in Pará state, where water buffalo and tropical birds outnumber people).
***
Kevin Raub is the coordinating author for Brazil of Lonely Planet’s “South America on a Shoestring.” Follow him on Twitter @RaubOnTheRoad. Here are his tips:
HOSTELS OR BUST
If you’re on a really tight budget, it is hostels only, and even then you are going to pay more than you are accustomed to in North America or Europe. I’ve found some good value spots like Favela Chic in Foz de Iguaçu (Iguazu Falls), where you can sleep in a converted van with a double bed for 50 reais as a single traveler. It’s unique as well as affordable. In Rio, my favorite is a new place called Oztel in Botafogo, where it feels like you are sleeping in an art gallery curated by an Andy Warhol fan. Aside from the sleeping in a dorm part, you’re getting a boutique hotel for the price of a hostel.
CONSIDER THE CAPITAL
Though Brasília has a reputation of being about as friendly to budget-conscious travelers as a wasp-nest piñata, Brazil’s fascinating capital can actually be done affordably. Accommodations are expensive, but hotels slash prices on weekends. From there, it takes a little will but there is a way: buses comb the city, so you can get anywhere for two reais, flipping the script on a city that was designed for cars. Almost all the main attractions (including many monuments designed by modernist architect Oscar Niemeyer) are free, and restaurants serve all budgets.
WILDLIFE OUTSIDE THE AMAZON
The Pantanal is one of Brazil’s best-value spots to visit. Not only is it amazing in its own right, but it’s much more affordable than the Amazon and you will see much more wildlife for your money. After a one-day drive down the Transpantaneira highway, you’ll be sick of caimans, capybaras, macaws and toucans. In the Amazon you’ll pay five times the price and you’re lucky if a pink dolphin swims by once a week.
ORDER HALF
You’ll probably want to skip the traditional feijoada buffets, which are terribly good but always pricey, and go instead for the “por kilo” or pay-by-weight restaurants. Also look for PFs, or pratos feitos, homey set plates of a main course, rice, beans and juice for under 12 reais, or the slightly pricier and fancier pratos executivos or executive plates. Take advantage of the normally infuriating fact that restaurant dishes are priced and portioned generously for two. Single travelers ordering a half-portion (meia-porção) will pay 60 or 70 percent the price, but a party of three can beat Brazilian restaurants at their own illogical math game, ordering one dish and walking away with stomachs filled and wallets still stuffed.
AVOID AIRPORT TAXIS
Most big cities (including Rio, São Paulo and Brasília) offer direct and efficient airport shuttles for under 40 reais, which can offer considerable savings. I walk almost everywhere in Brazil — it’s free and you get a much better feel for Brazilian joie de vivre. Rio, São Paulo and Porto Alegre all have efficient metro systems that get you within striking distance of your destination; just leg it from there, and don’t forget about city buses. In São Paulo you can get accurate point-to-point bus directions from Google Maps, avoiding pricey taxis.
(Disclosure: Seth Kugel is speaking, unpaid, though his costs are covered, at a travel bloggers’ conference Mr. Freire has organized in Rio de Janeiro later this month.)
Follow Seth on Twitter @frugaltraveler, and at facebook.com/FrugalTraveler
This post has been revised to reflect the following correction:
Correction: September 17, 2012
An earlier version of this blog post included an incorrect description of the publishing schedule for the Viajar Bem e Barato (“Travel Well, Travel Cheap”) guide. It is published every two years, not annually. The post also included an incorrect cost for parking in some places. It is 12 reais, not $12.
I’ve condensed and edited their tips, and in the first two cases, translated them from Portuguese.
Mr. Freire blogs in Portuguese at viajenaviagem.com and is working on an English-language site for foreign visitors to Brazil. Follow his travels on Instagram (@riqfreire). Here are his tips:
TRAVEL WHEN BRAZILIANS DON’T
International travel to Brazil is relatively minimal; the country as a whole receives about as many visitors per year as Cancún. That means the tourism industry is dependent on the enormous domestic market, which has a particular quirk: Brazilians all seem to travel at the same time. That’s during January and June school vacations, Carnival (Feb. 9 to 12 next year), and on national holidays that become long weekends no matter on what day they fall.
For the rest of the year, a majority of Brazilian destinations (with the notable exception of Rio) are nearly empty — even though in many cases the climate is actually better during the off-season. So plan wisely.
WAIT FOR THE MAGIC DATE
Jan. 10 is the magic date that the Brazilian summer stops being so expensive. Families have emptied their bank accounts to be on the beach during New Year’s and must begin to save for Carnival. Prices drop appreciably, and innkeepers and small-hotel owners are open to negotiations.
The best place to be is in Bahia state, in beautiful coastal villages like Morro de São Paulo, Barra Grande, Itacaré, Santo André and others that aren’t as expensive as upscale spots like Trancoso. You can combine that trip with a great excursion to Chapada Diamantina National Park (seven hours by bus from Salvador, the state capital).
FALL IN RIO
Southern Hemisphere fall, that is. In winter (July and August), Rio de Janeiro can actually get cold, so the ideal time to visit is in autumn, after Easter. May, with hot, dry days and cool nights, is the perfect time, with only one Brazilian holiday (May 1) drawing visitors. It’s also the perfect time for a side trip to the colonial town of Paraty, where things get rainy in spring and summer.
TAKE THE BUS
Upper-middle-class Brazilians won’t tell you this, because they can’t imagine themselves on an intercity bus. But the fact is that the Brazilian bus system works well, especially if you are traveling less than 200 miles. Alas, there is little information about bus trips online (and practically none in English) so your best bet is to go to the bus station where each company’s ticket booth has clear signs listing destinations it serves. A key word in Portuguese is “direto” (gee-REH-tew), which refers to a route with fewer stops. Keep your valuables close at hand (and gadgets in your pockets) in the stations.
USE THE PANAMA CONNECTION
The most convenient airline from the United States to Brazil is probably Panama’s Copa, which has a code-share agreement with United, meaning a customer can buy a ticket with one airline but end up flying on a plane operated by the other. You can reach seven Brazilian destinations via a usually brief connection in Panama City, allowing you to, for example, arrive in Manaus in the Amazon and return from Recife in the northeast.
INTERNATIONAL SITES ARE GAINING HOLD
Booking.com has expanded rapidly in Brazil, registering pousadas (inns) and small hotels in remote places, saving foreigners from the complicated system of reservations Brazilians have invented (involving wiring deposits to innkeepers’ bank accounts). Hostelworld works well for hostels, and Airbnb is also making inroads for apartment rentals.
***
Fábio Peixoto is the editor of the Brazilian guidebook series “Guia Quatro Rodas” which publishes the Viajar Bem e Barato (“Travel Well, Travel Cheap”) guide. Here are his tips:
GO AGAINST THE FLOW
With Brazil’s strong economy, a new middle class has emerged with access to many modern comforts, including travel. That means that in season, destinations are more packed than ever. Hotel prices can triple over New Year’s and Carnival, and it doesn’t help much to book in advance. Weekends and holidays during summer (December to March) are usually hellish in terms of prices, availability and traffic. A good strategy if you’re here then is to go against the flow: spend the weekends in the big cities and weekdays on the beach. In the northeast, rains can be heavy from April to July, so September and October are great times to visit.
SNACK TRADITIONALLY
A good tip to eat for less is to focus on traditional quitutes or small, traditional dishes. In Salvador, there are dozens of street stands where baianas (women in traditional white dress) sell acarajé — a black-eyed pea fritter stuffed with shrimp, a sauce called vatapá and vegetables — for about 6 reais ($3 at 2 reais to the dollar).
In Amazonian cities you can get tacacá, a soup of shrimp and jambu, a slightly anesthetic herb, for 10 reais. In São Paulo, pastéis de feira are fried pockets of dough filled with meat, cheese or heart of palm and sold at street fairs for about 3 reais. No matter where you are, look out for the word “rodízio,” or “all you can eat.” There are all kinds of rodizios, including pizza, Japanese food or grilled meats, the latter usually accompanied by salads and side dishes. It might cost you $20, but it will be the only meal you’ll need that day.
TO RENT OR NOT TO RENT
Renting a car in the big cities is synonymous with expense and stress. Parking is complicated, and you can pay 12 reais for one hour in some places. And guys called flanelinhas will try to charge you almost as much for “taking care” of your car even if you find free street parking. Instead, find alternatives: Rio’s and São Paulo’s subway lines are small but clean and practical for getting to tourist attractions; in the northeast taxis are relatively cheap. But outside major cities, say along the coast or in national parks, being without a car means making yourself dependent on tour groups, making car rental the more cost-conscious option.
HIT THREE ISLANDS
To step outside the typical tourist trail, try these three reasonably-priced islands: Ilha Grande (reasonably close to Rio de Janeiro, with beautiful beaches and cheap lodging); Ilha de Boipeba (paradise on Earth, a 30-minute flight from Salvador, cheap as can be, and many foreign-owned inns where English is spoken); and Ilha de Marajó (an Amazonian island in Pará state, where water buffalo and tropical birds outnumber people).
***
Kevin Raub is the coordinating author for Brazil of Lonely Planet’s “South America on a Shoestring.” Follow him on Twitter @RaubOnTheRoad. Here are his tips:
HOSTELS OR BUST
If you’re on a really tight budget, it is hostels only, and even then you are going to pay more than you are accustomed to in North America or Europe. I’ve found some good value spots like Favela Chic in Foz de Iguaçu (Iguazu Falls), where you can sleep in a converted van with a double bed for 50 reais as a single traveler. It’s unique as well as affordable. In Rio, my favorite is a new place called Oztel in Botafogo, where it feels like you are sleeping in an art gallery curated by an Andy Warhol fan. Aside from the sleeping in a dorm part, you’re getting a boutique hotel for the price of a hostel.
CONSIDER THE CAPITAL
Though Brasília has a reputation of being about as friendly to budget-conscious travelers as a wasp-nest piñata, Brazil’s fascinating capital can actually be done affordably. Accommodations are expensive, but hotels slash prices on weekends. From there, it takes a little will but there is a way: buses comb the city, so you can get anywhere for two reais, flipping the script on a city that was designed for cars. Almost all the main attractions (including many monuments designed by modernist architect Oscar Niemeyer) are free, and restaurants serve all budgets.
WILDLIFE OUTSIDE THE AMAZON
The Pantanal is one of Brazil’s best-value spots to visit. Not only is it amazing in its own right, but it’s much more affordable than the Amazon and you will see much more wildlife for your money. After a one-day drive down the Transpantaneira highway, you’ll be sick of caimans, capybaras, macaws and toucans. In the Amazon you’ll pay five times the price and you’re lucky if a pink dolphin swims by once a week.
ORDER HALF
You’ll probably want to skip the traditional feijoada buffets, which are terribly good but always pricey, and go instead for the “por kilo” or pay-by-weight restaurants. Also look for PFs, or pratos feitos, homey set plates of a main course, rice, beans and juice for under 12 reais, or the slightly pricier and fancier pratos executivos or executive plates. Take advantage of the normally infuriating fact that restaurant dishes are priced and portioned generously for two. Single travelers ordering a half-portion (meia-porção) will pay 60 or 70 percent the price, but a party of three can beat Brazilian restaurants at their own illogical math game, ordering one dish and walking away with stomachs filled and wallets still stuffed.
AVOID AIRPORT TAXIS
Most big cities (including Rio, São Paulo and Brasília) offer direct and efficient airport shuttles for under 40 reais, which can offer considerable savings. I walk almost everywhere in Brazil — it’s free and you get a much better feel for Brazilian joie de vivre. Rio, São Paulo and Porto Alegre all have efficient metro systems that get you within striking distance of your destination; just leg it from there, and don’t forget about city buses. In São Paulo you can get accurate point-to-point bus directions from Google Maps, avoiding pricey taxis.
(Disclosure: Seth Kugel is speaking, unpaid, though his costs are covered, at a travel bloggers’ conference Mr. Freire has organized in Rio de Janeiro later this month.)
Follow Seth on Twitter @frugaltraveler, and at facebook.com/FrugalTraveler
This post has been revised to reflect the following correction:
Correction: September 17, 2012
An earlier version of this blog post included an incorrect description of the publishing schedule for the Viajar Bem e Barato (“Travel Well, Travel Cheap”) guide. It is published every two years, not annually. The post also included an incorrect cost for parking in some places. It is 12 reais, not $12.
Tourisme Brésil - São Paulo, mégapole en effervescence
Photo : Hélène Clément
São Paulo vue du toit, à 161 mètres, de l’édifice Art déco Altino Arantes, au centre-ville historique.
São Paulo - Quand on parle de São Paulo, on imagine une mégapole congestionnée, polluée, risquée. Sampa (son surnom) n’a-t-elle pas autre chose à offrir que cette triste image ? Que oui ! La cité de 20 millions d’habitants, entrée en 2009 dans le top 10 des villes les plus riches au monde, bouillonne d’activité. Pour l’apprivoiser, il faut prendre le temps de troquer cravate et talons hauts contre jeans et souliers de course et filer à sa rencontre. À pied ou en métro. Elle se révèle alors vivante, créative, énergisante, gourmande… et plutôt belle.
Sampa n’est pas une ville axée sur le tourisme. Mais on y travaille. Selon une étude statistique menée par le magazine São Paulo Outlook, les visiteurs internationaux ne représentent en effet que 10 % du tourisme de la ville, alors que 20 % provient des autres États du Brésil et que 70 % des touristes sont ici par affaires ou pour participer à des foires, des biennales, des congrès. Les journées au boulot sont longues, on accorde peu de temps aux loisirs. Le voyageur passe donc de l’hôtel au bureau et du bureau à l’hôtel, sans doute aux heures de pointe, plutôt allongées, merci.
Pas surprenant qu’il ne retienne de São Paulo que ces interminables bouchons de circulation qui enveniment le quotidien. Moment précis où tous envient les riches Brésiliens qui se rendent au travail par la voie des airs. À São Paulo, on compte presque autant d’hélicoptères privés (452 immatriculés) qu’à New York, qui circulent dans le ciel. C’est dans le centre historique de la ville, au sommet du bâtiment de style Art Déco Altino Arantes, à 161 mètres, que le point de vue sur les 2500 gratte-ciel de la mégapole est spectaculaire. De là, on aperçoit les pistes de décollage sur le toit des immeubles.
Heureusement, avec la venue de la Coupe du monde de la FIFA en 2014, des Jeux olympiques de Rio en 2016, et avec la possibilité d’accueillir l’Exposition universelle en 2020, la ville de São Paulo s’est lancée dans une politique de grands projets — dont la sécurité fait partie — et prévoit notamment la construction de quatre lignes supplémentaires d’autobus ainsi que la prolongation de 62,7 kilomètres de lignes de métro, dont la mise en service se fera sur quatre ans.
Bombardier Transport est chargé de concevoir et d’installer le nouveau système de monorail (Innovia Monorail 300) sur la ligne appelée Expresso Tirandes, le prolongement de la voie bleue entre Vila Prudente et Cidade Tiradentes. Les deux heures nécessaires pour parcourir ce trajet actuellement seront réduites à 50 minutes et le service desservira 500 000 voyageurs par jour.
« Le tourisme n’a jamais fait partie des priorités des Paulistas [les habitants de São Paulo] », explique Eliena R. S. Souza, propriétaire de Spin Brazil Tours, une entreprise de guides touristiques basée à São Paulo. « La préoccupation première, ici, est de faire de l’argent. Pour se payer autos, logement, vêtements et nourriture. La ville se développe très vite et la vie est chère. »
Et puis après, il y a les clichés qui collent à la peau du Brésil. À la simple évocation du nom, l’imagination baguenaude vers des images exotiques de danse, de musique, de sensualité, de langueur, de fête et de forêt tropicale. « São Paulo n’est ni Rio, ni l’Amazone », concède Eliena.
Non, c’est autre chose ! Pas exotique, la mégapole, mais fascinante.
Pas de front de mer ni de perroquets aras ou de singes-araignées. Par contre, on peut voir ces animaux au Jardin zoologique de São Paulo, le cinquième plus grand au monde, situé dans la zone sud de la ville. Ces espaces verts, d’une superficie de 900 000 mètres carrés et recouverts par la forêt tropicale atlantique, abritent 3200 animaux, 200 espèces d’oiseaux, 100 espèces de mammifères ainsi que 98 espèces de reptiles.
Sampa est née du labeur de chacune des communautés qui y ont élu domicile. D’abord les indigènes, les Portugais et les Africains. Ensuite les Italiens et les Japonais. C’est la troisième cité italienne en importance à l’extérieur de l’Italie et la plus grande ville japonaise hors du Japon. Puis, il y a les Allemands, les Anglais, les Français, les Coréens…
Le Paulistano est charmant, courtois (sauf l’automobiliste, qui n’a aucun respect pour le piéton) et surtout très fier de son monstre urbain, même s’il râle sans cesse contre la pollution, la désorganisation et la circulation.
Gastronomie et architecture
Un tel brassage démographique a conduit à une gastronomie prédominante. On mange bien dans la capitale économique brésilienne. Le São Paulo Outlook établit le nombre d’établissements à 15 000 bars, 500 churrascarias (restos de BBQ), 12 500 restaurants dont 250 japonais et 1500 pizzérias. De la lanchonete (comptoir-lunch) du coin au prato feito (plat du jour comprenant riz, haricot, viande et salade) dans un bar, via le botequim (restaurant ouvrier), le rodizio (buffet ou plat à volonté) de sushis, de pizza ou de viande grillée et le restaurant au kilo. Il y en a pour tous les goûts, toutes les bourses.
São Paulo ressemble à New York il y a 20 ans. Une ville hyperactive, un peu intimidante par sa dimension, mais stimulante car elle est traversée par une colossale énergie qui se ressent dès que l’on débarque de l’avion, à l’aéroport international de São Paulo-Guarulhos. Cette ville à la verticale peut paraître anarchique mais elle dissimule bon nombre d’audaces architecturales. Comme l’immeuble Copan — du nom d’une ville maya au Honduras — signé Oscar Niemeyer.
« L’édifice, haut de 115 mètres sur 32 étages, représente un symbole important pour São Paulo. Au moment de sa construction, dans les années 1950, Sampa était déjà sur le chemin de devenir l’une des grandes métropoles du monde, dit Eliana R. S. Souza. D’une surface construite de 120 000 mètres carrés, le Copan se divise en six bâtiments et compte 1160 appartements d’une à quatre chambres, ainsi que 70 commerces. On estime que 5000 personnes y habitent. Il comporte 20 ascenseurs, plus de 220 places de stationnement et, compte tenu du grand nombre de résidants, son propre code postal ! Sa forme sinueuse contraste avec les constructions linéaires du centre-ville de São Paulo. Elle porte la griffe de son créateur. »
Autre œuvre de génie : l’hôtel Unique conçu par l’architecte brésilien Ruy Ohtake. Sa forme de grand arc inversé, troué de fenêtres circulaires tels des hublots surdimensionnés, rappelle un bateau. L’hôtel-boutique, situé sur l’avenue Brigadeiro Luis Antonio, dans le quartier Jardim Paulista, vaut le détour. Pour siroter sur le toit une caipirinha (cocktail national officieux du Brésil composé de cachaça, alcool de canne à sucre très fort, d’un jus de citron vert, de sucre et de glace), ou pour y passer la nuit.
Mythique et astucieux avec ses grandes allées, ses centaines d’eucalyptus australiens, son importante plantation d’arbres tropicaux, ses trois lacs, son pavillon japonais, son planétarium, son musée d’art moderne et son stade de 20 000 places, le parc Ibirapuera, d’une superficie de 1584 kilomètres carrés, le deuxième plus grand de Sampa et le poumon de la ville, mérite qu’on lui consacre une journée entière. Conçu par l’architecte-paysagiste Roberto Burle Max et inauguré le 21 août 1954, c’est à la fois le Hyde Park de Londres, le Bois-de-Boulogne de Paris et le Central Park de New York.
Le parc Ibirapuera est un condensé du Brésil. Au moindre rayon de soleil, on y fait bronzette, discute pendant des heures aux terrasses des cafés, pratique le vélo, le patin à roulettes, le jogging ou la capoeira. Le dimanche, c’est sans doute l’endroit le plus fréquenté de la ville après la cathédrale de Sé et la Basilica de Nossa Senhora de Assunçao, au monastère de São Bento.
Une journée de plus à São Paulo
Derrière sa verticalité, le vrombissement de ses autos, les cris de joie des Paulistas à minuit, après une partie de foot opposant les Corinthians aux Palmeiras ou São Paulo aux Santos, la mégapole qui occupe le 7e rang des dix plus grandes villes au monde réserve encore bien des surprises. Elle captive les artistes et les musiciens, séduit les gens d’affaires. « Stay another day » proclame la publicité de São Paulo Turismo.
Le message s’adresse aux voyageurs d’affaires, nombreux à venir à São Paulo sans jamais pousser leur curiosité au-delà du travail et de la piscine de l’hôtel, explique le président de ce bureau de tourisme, Marcelo Rehder : « Pour les encourager à explorer la ville, nous avons créé sept circuits thématiques dans les régions de Paulista/Jardins (avenue Paulista), du Centro (centre-ville historique), de la zone sud (parc Ibirapuera), de la zone ouest (quartier Vila Madelena, le SoHo de São Paulo) et de la zone nord où se trouvent les grandes écoles de samba qui ouvrent leurs portes aux visiteurs les jours de pratique, en préparation pour le carnaval de la ville. »
Foot, panoramas citadins, architecture, arts, histoire afro-brésilienne, du café, de l’indépendance du Brésil… Sept itinéraires accompagnés d’une carte et d’une description des lieux. Le circuit football mène au stade Pacaembu et à son musée du foot, ainsi qu’au stade de Morumbi. Berceau du football brésilien, São Paulo sera l’hôte de la Coupe du monde de la FIFA en 2014.
São Paulo Turismo propose aussi Turismetrô, une tournée de la ville en métro, avec un guide. Il suffit de se rendre au métro Sé, dans le centre historique, pendant le week-end, à 9h ou à 14h. La visite des sites se fait en anglais et en portugais, au coût du titre de transport.
Et la sécurité à São Paulo ? Attribué en grande partie à une présence policière accrue (et plutôt sympathique) et à de nouvelles lois, le nombre de meurtres est passé en dix ans sous la barre de dix pour 100 000 habitants. « En 2009, on parlait de 51 homicides pour 100 000 habitants, aujourd’hui de neuf pour 100 000. Et le travail se poursuit », affirme Marcelo Rehder.
En vrac
Transport. Air Canada dessert São Paulo àpartir de Toronto.
Hébergement. Si vous êtes à São Paulo en touriste et non par affaires, considérez le fait de loger dans la région Paulistas/Jardins, à proximité de la ligne de métro et des Avenida Paulista et Oscar Freire (magasinage de luxe), afin de vous rapprocher du grand centre, nouveau et ancien, de la ville. Pour un bon rapport qualité-prix : le Quality Suites Imperial Hall; pour une auberge de charme à coût modique : la Pousada Zilah. Très luxueux, l’hôtel-boutique Fasano.
Restauration. Dans Jardins Paulista : Le Rodeio pour une picanha fatiada (morceau de bœuf coupé à la base supérieure de la queue et servi saignant, salé et grillé), un palmito assaso (tronc de palmier grillé servi avec une sauce aux câpres ; le fruit et non le bourgeon) et un plat de cebola tirolesa (oignons panés coupés très fins). rodeiosp.com.br/index.php. Et Figueira Rubaiyat, notamment pour son immense figuier au centre du restaurant. Dans Vila Olympia : Fogo de Chao, pour une churrascaria. Dans Moema : Badejo, pour une moqueca, un ragoût de fruits de mer ou de poisson, un classique de la cuisine bahianaise. Puis dans Vila Madalena : Feijoda de Lana, pour une feijoada (ragoût composé de haricots noirs mijotés avec une grande variété de viandes, notamment de la langue séchée et des parures de porc ; et San Cristovao, pour ses milliers de photos de football sur les murs, qui racontent l’histoire de ce sport roi à São Paulo.
Samba et carnaval. Le dimanche soir, l’école de samba Mocidade Alegre ouvre ses portes aux visiteurs qui souhaitent participer à la pratique (et danser avec eux) en vue du carnaval de São Paulo.
Guides. Comprendre le Brésil et Le brésilien pour mieux voyager, aux éditions Ulysse. Pour des adresses pratiques et de bonnes idées d’hébergement, Brésil, aux éditions Lonely Planet. Pour une bonne compréhension du Brésil, lire Tristes tropiques de Claude Lévi-Strauss, Les chemins de la faim et Cacao Jorge Amado.
Renseignements. Pour les services d’un guide urbain sur la thématique de votre choix (le guide fera tout pour vous accommoder, ainsi sont les Paulistas, des gens adorables), contacter Eliana R. S. Souza (qui parle anglais), + 55 11 99185-2623/5904-2269, contato@spintours.com.br. Pour télécharger ou obtenir les sept circuits thématiques (en anglais) et de l’information touristique sur la ville de São Paulo.
Collaboratrice
GBTA forecasts continued growth in Brazilian business
GBTA forecasts continued growth in Brazilian business
Business travel
SAO PAULO, BRAZIL - The Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) has released its second GBTA BTI Outlook report on Brazil as part of its semiannual series. The report, sponsored by Visa, includes the GBTA BTI, an index of business travel spending which provides a way to distill market performance over a period of time.
Key Highlights
Tad Fordyce, head of global commercial solutions at Visa Inc said: “Year after year Brazil has proven to be a formidable contributor to the global tourism economy. In 2011 global travelers spent more than $2.3 billion in Brazil on their Visa cards, an increase of 10 percent over 2010. This natural momentum combined with hosting the 2014 FIFA World Cup™ and the Rio 2016 Olympic Games is a tremendous opportunity for the burgeoning nation. Visa is committed to helping Brazil support the payment infrastructure necessary to capture this opportunity.”
Ripple Effect of the Global Economy
While the Brazilian economy has remained relatively resilient, it has not been immune to the recession in Europe, the slowdown in Chinese growth or the struggling recovery in the US. Despite these factors, GBTA forecasts that Brazil’s economy will improve slowly in the second half of 2012. Gathering economic momentum is projected to drive 4.1% GDP growth and 12.6% growth in business travel spending in 2013. However, this figure has been downgraded from GBTA’s spring forecast of 14.5% business travel spending growth.
Key Factors: Infrastructure Challenges and Domestic Demand
A lack of adequate capacity and infrastructure is the main drag on even higher rates of business travel growth in Brazil. Airport, hotel, and other travel infrastructure continues to lag increases in demand, particularly in Brazil’s major business hubs.
This may be set to change with 30,500 new hotel rooms either under construction or in advanced stages of planning – a 6% increase in capacity. However, the World Cup in 2014 and Olympics in 2016 will keep supply behind demand for the medium term.
In addition, the Brazilian government has introduced hugely popular policies to stimulate domestic demand and make up for a decline in exports. Household incomes should continue to expand in real terms in 2013 and beyond, and consumption has been further stimulated by a 14% increase in the minimum wage.
Costa continued, “The outlook for Brazil is encouraging for both the economy and business travel. The forthcoming elections in Brazil should create conditions for future growth as policies that stimulate domestic demand are set to continue. With travel spend growing in lockstep with this expansion in demand, GBTA is optimistic about the outlook for business travel and the economy as a whole.”
Brazil Set to Surpass South Korea in Business Travel Spending
If spending trends continue at current levels, this year Brazil is set to surpass South Korea to become the world’s eighth-largest market for business travel spending. Total business travel spending in Brazil should reach $30.1 billion in 2012, an increase of 9.3% from 2011.
Domestic business travel currently contributes 80% of this spending. However, in 2012 Brazilian international outbound business travel grew at twice the rate of domestic travel – indicating that as the global economic environment improves, the Brazilian business travel market should expand even more rapidly.
Business travel
GBTA forecasts continued growth in Brazilian business
Business travel spending in Brazil remains positive despite global economic ripple effect. Brazilian business travel spending will grow by 9.3% in 2012 to $30.1 billion and another 12.6% in 2013.
Key Highlights
- Brazilian business travel spending will grow by 9.3% in 2012 to $30.1 billion and another 12.6% in 2013
- Brazil is on track to overtake South Korea for 8th place in business travel spend world ranking this year
- Organic growth is forecast to drive a 6% increase in hotel capacity. Whilst future hotel construction will be incentivized further by the forthcoming World Cup and Olympics, demand will still exceed supply
- GBTA BTI is poised to return to a stronger upward trajectory in 2012-2013 on the rising strength of the domestic economy
- Overall Brazilian business travel spending should expand even more rapidly as the global economy recovers
- Brazilian business travel spending is heavily geared to domestic spend (c.80%) but in 2012 growth rates in international outbound travel are twice that of domestic travel
Tad Fordyce, head of global commercial solutions at Visa Inc said: “Year after year Brazil has proven to be a formidable contributor to the global tourism economy. In 2011 global travelers spent more than $2.3 billion in Brazil on their Visa cards, an increase of 10 percent over 2010. This natural momentum combined with hosting the 2014 FIFA World Cup™ and the Rio 2016 Olympic Games is a tremendous opportunity for the burgeoning nation. Visa is committed to helping Brazil support the payment infrastructure necessary to capture this opportunity.”
Ripple Effect of the Global Economy
While the Brazilian economy has remained relatively resilient, it has not been immune to the recession in Europe, the slowdown in Chinese growth or the struggling recovery in the US. Despite these factors, GBTA forecasts that Brazil’s economy will improve slowly in the second half of 2012. Gathering economic momentum is projected to drive 4.1% GDP growth and 12.6% growth in business travel spending in 2013. However, this figure has been downgraded from GBTA’s spring forecast of 14.5% business travel spending growth.
Key Factors: Infrastructure Challenges and Domestic Demand
A lack of adequate capacity and infrastructure is the main drag on even higher rates of business travel growth in Brazil. Airport, hotel, and other travel infrastructure continues to lag increases in demand, particularly in Brazil’s major business hubs.
This may be set to change with 30,500 new hotel rooms either under construction or in advanced stages of planning – a 6% increase in capacity. However, the World Cup in 2014 and Olympics in 2016 will keep supply behind demand for the medium term.
In addition, the Brazilian government has introduced hugely popular policies to stimulate domestic demand and make up for a decline in exports. Household incomes should continue to expand in real terms in 2013 and beyond, and consumption has been further stimulated by a 14% increase in the minimum wage.
Costa continued, “The outlook for Brazil is encouraging for both the economy and business travel. The forthcoming elections in Brazil should create conditions for future growth as policies that stimulate domestic demand are set to continue. With travel spend growing in lockstep with this expansion in demand, GBTA is optimistic about the outlook for business travel and the economy as a whole.”
Brazil Set to Surpass South Korea in Business Travel Spending
If spending trends continue at current levels, this year Brazil is set to surpass South Korea to become the world’s eighth-largest market for business travel spending. Total business travel spending in Brazil should reach $30.1 billion in 2012, an increase of 9.3% from 2011.
Domestic business travel currently contributes 80% of this spending. However, in 2012 Brazilian international outbound business travel grew at twice the rate of domestic travel – indicating that as the global economic environment improves, the Brazilian business travel market should expand even more rapidly.
CACHAÇA, THE PRECIOUS DRINK OF BRAZIL
It doesn´t matter the region or city you are in Brazil, caipirinha will be always the most popular cocktail that the Brazilians are crazy about and keep as a national treasure. Perhaps the reason is related to the simplicity of the ingredients or because the mix of them seems to blend so perfectly. Everybody has its own recipe. It all starts with the lime. We have four different types in Brazil, however the medium size Tahiti or the tiny Galego are the best ones. Then you should consider that the sugar is refined and comes from sugar cane. Lots of crushed ice is fundamental. However the secret touch is given by the cachaça, the authentic Brazilian drink.
Sold in every supermarket or tiny grocery store in Brazil, the cachaça can be found in hundred of labels and bought by a cheap price. However as higher is the quality, as better will be the final taste. Nowadays cachaça has reached another level economically and commercially. Nevertheless that was not the reality in the past. Introduced by the Portuguese colonizers in the sixteenth century when the sugar was the most important trading product, the drink was distilled by African and Brazilian-born slaves in sugar mills. This is why till now the most expressive distilleries are still located at the same regions where the production took place up to the 18th century. Paraty, in Rio de Janeiro State and several cities in the states of Minas Gerais and Pernambuco are references for the hand-made production and family businesses that devote their personal care to the whole process. For centuries the drink carried the burden of being consumed only by poor people. It took a long time to the locals to break the prejudice and leverage the cachaça to the level of a national icon.
In 2004 with the arrival of the Sagatiba brand and the further investment and promotion in the international market, the scenario started to change and helped the drink to be recognized domestically and abroad. The outcome was the sale of the Brazilian brand to the Italian group Campari in October of 2011.
The acquisition of another well-known Brazilian brand, Ypioca, by the British company Diageo made last June is an evidence that there are huge opportunities for the growth in emerging markets. Producer of Johnnie Walker whisky, Guinness beer and Smirnoff vodka, Diageo is the world´s leading manufacturer and distributor for premium alcoholic beverages. “Brazil is an attractive, fast-growing market for Diageo with favourable demographics and increasing disposable incomes,” Diageo chief executive officer Paul Walsh said in his statement.
The city of São Paulo has plenty options for cachaça tasting. If you are visiting the city and would like to taste a premium one - like the Salinas brand, or the caipirinha cocktail , include a break at Veloso Bar, located at Vila Mariana neighborhood, in your agenda. Tiny and constantly crowded, the place has been awarded as one of the best gastronomical options in the metropolis for several years.
Souza, the barman, is like a human machine of making a traditional caipirinha using lime. You can also try the other options made with tasty Brazilian fruits as passion fruit, jabuticaba (Brazilian berry that it is found only here), caju (the fruit that originates the cashew nuts) and mandarin with a local type of chili (pimenta dedo de moça).
Crédito: Gabriel Oliveira/ guia da semana
In a duo, we generally drink cachaça or caipirinha with yummy Brazilian appetizers. At Veloso it is difficult to choose among delicious options as the awarded creamy shredded chicken balls or the fried rice balls with a hint of peperoni sausage.
After coming back home, maybe you would like to share with your friends and relatives the Brazilian way of preparing the cocktail. So here is the basic recipe with some tips:
- Ingredients: one lime, 2 heaped spoon of cane sugar, crushed ice and a shot of good cachaça
- Wash the lime an roll it under a table or board to loosen the juices
- Some people peel the lime firstly, but it is not absolutely necessary
- Cut the lime into 4 quarters and slice out the white center bits to avoid bitterness
- Cut the quarters in the middle again, so you will have eight pieces
- Drop the lime into a glass and add the fine cane sugar
- Crush the lime and sugar together with a pestle to get an homogeneous mix – that is one of the secrets of the cocktail – never use other accessory to do it
- Add the crushed ice
- Fill with the cachaça and stir up. If you it is too strong for your taste, just add more ice.
Next September the Expocachaça 2012 will take place at the Food Market in the city of São Paulo. Beyond the development and expansion of business, the event will also promote the cities of Belo Horizonte and Terras Altas, in the State of Minas Gerais, as one of the great destinations in the country for ecological, historical and cultural tourism, including cachaça tours.
Veloso Bar – R. Conceição Veloso, 56 (close to Ana Rosa subway station)
www.velosobar.com.br – phone: 11 5572-0254
Tuesdays to Fridays – from 5:30pm to 12:30am
Saturdays– from 12:45 to 12:30am
Sundays – from 4:00 pm to 11:00pm
Expocachaça 2012 – www.expocachaca.com.br
INHOTIM, THE GOLDEN MINE OF ART, BUILT BY A BRAZILIAN
INHOTIM? What is that? Is that a name? Never heard of it. True for some people. For other ones a jewel kept in secret, when they have time to travel to the countryside of Minas Gerais State, at southeast of Brazil. If they like art, they won´t miss. If they enjoy nature, they know it will worth.
Imagine a huge park surrounded by astonishing nature with lakes and charmingly landscaped gardens, add several works of art - sculptures, paintings, installations, drawings, videos or photographs from significant international contemporary artists. Mix everything with a trained and committed team of co-workers and young native labor force, an efficient organizational structure and that it is. Is it?? Fortunately not, because I am talking about an endless experience, difficult to put into words if we consider its uniqueness.
View from one of the lakes with the installation of the Brazilian artist Helio Oiticica in the background
What differentiates INHOTIM from other galleries in the world is exactly the way the space is democratically conceived and meticulously designed to dazzle all kind of visitors, from the baby to the elder, from the student to the curator, from the housewife with kids to the businessman, from the easygoing fellow to the demanding customer.
Tunga, Cildo Meirelles, Helio Oiticica, Amilcar de Castro, Adriana Varejão - references in the history of Brazilian contemporary art, share the environment with renowned international artists like Zhang Huan from China, Chris Burden and Matthew Barney from USA, Cardiff & Miller from Canadá, Olafur Eliasson from Denmark, Guiseppe Penone from Italy, amongst others. Some of them came to INHOTIM to analyze, develop and produce the work of art specifically for the site.
"Viewing Machine" by the Danish artist Olafur Eliasson
The internal view through the work of art of Eliasson
Curious about something that you do not have a clue what represents? You will not feel lost in space. If you don´t have any theoretical background about art, stakes with trilingual technical explanation will help you to interact or even be inspired by the work.
"Troca-troca", by the Brazilian artist Jarbas Lopes
You won´t see people with the usual audio phones you see in other traditional museums. The philosophy is to promote the eye-to-eye experience. Sharing ideas and insights is the purpose of the trained guides who lead groups to explore the area considering the artistic or botanical approaches.
However art would never reach the highest standard and glamour here if we disregard the environment. Surrounded by a powerful nature, represented by hundreds of palm trees, pieces of the Atlantic forest mixed with the Brazilian savannah, you will feel involved by pleasant sensations of well-being and integration. Moreover it is inevitable to refresh your mind and soul or simply enjoy idleness in one of the several corners of INHOTIM. Strategically located they are furnished with the spectacular eco-friendly wooden pieces created by the Brazilian designer Hugo França, who has maximized the innate features of pequi trees, originating in Brazil´s Atlantic forest.
Tired of walking a lot? Golf carts can help you to reach the highest place or the art piece set up in the opposite side and also works as an unforgettable memory for kids.
Hungry? Fancy and modern restaurants with whimsical food offer buffet system or menu a la carte will compell you to complement the experience with the flavored Brazilian gastronomy. However considering all types of visitors - and budgets, the park also has a cafeteria where you can grab snacks with a premium coffee, a hot dog booth and even a pizza place.
Tamboril Restaurant
A general concern in open huge spaces, the restrooms are located all over the site, often supplied by toilet paper, soap and a delicate decoration ornament. Cleanliness and care that are not unnoticed by the visitors.
Behind the scenes, there is the mind, the heart, the hands and also the money of Bernardo Paz, a Brazilian former executive from the mining field and open-minded entrepreneur, who decided to transform his huge farm in a magic space in the 80’s. Influenced by his Brazilian friend and famous landscape architect Burle Marx, he started to improve the landscape design of the lush gardens. Next step was to follow the advice of Tunga, another close friend, by choosing art as the ultimate hook to instigate and surprise the visitors. The building of art pavilions, installations and the deep contact with artists was a consequence. Nowadays surrounded by a sharp team of curators, landscape architects, designers, engineers and devoted professionals, the INHOTIM INSTITUTE, that covers an area of 94 ha (about 232 acres), employs around 900 people and receives thousands of visitors monthly, being the majority of them students from public schools in the region.
Low profile, Paz can be found strolling in the middle of the gardens, welcoming his famous international guests or having lunch at one the good restaurants in INHOTIM. By talking to him personally, I got the confirmation that the boutique hotel for high-end guests should be finished in a year and a half. A hostel, a venue for events and an airport are also forecast for the future.
His personal dream of building an Art Disneyland, where people can spend three to five days, is not impossible to come true. By reconfirming the proverb that the eye and presence of the owner is crucial to get the engine working accurately, he pursues his goals of boosting art, of revering and preserving the biodiversity, of generating education and jobs for the local community and of showing a remarkable and innovative face of Brazil, that all of us are proud of.
MORE INFO:
INHOTIM is located in the city of Brumadinho, 60 km away from Belo Horizonte, capital of State of Minas Gerais, southeast of Brazil.
BY AIR: the offer of air flights from São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro cities to Belo Horizonte is huge and easy to book. From Belo Horizonte, you will need ground transportation to reach Brumadinho however the journey takes time, considering the traffic and the highways.
If you are taking an helicopter, you should contact INHOTIM firstly to land in its own path.
BY CAR:
São Paulo - Belo Horizonte - 586 km - about 8 hours
Rio de Janeiro - Belo Horizonte - 434 km - about 6 hours
Belo Horizonte - Brumadinho - 60 km - about 1,30h
HOTELS: With a population of 35.000 inhabitants, the city of Brumadinho has been changing since INHOTIM has been established in the region. Budget accommodations should be found in the city easily. Sophisticated hotel structures are 20 minutes to one hour distance by car. INHOTIM´s website - www.inhotim.org.br gives plenty of information concerning accommodations.
INHOTIM is also a fantastic complementary destination for the ones who have visited the historical cities of Ouro Preto, Diamantina or Tiradentes, in Minas Gerais State. The contrast between the eighteen century baroque art and architecture from these historical itineraries and the contemporary scenario and exuberant landscape of INHOTIM makes the trip a knowledgeable, intriguing and unprecedented destination in Brazil.
Eliana Souza, the Brazil Business Tourism Specialist for C Level executives. www.spintours.com.br eliana.souza@spintours.com.br
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