Things change fast in the world of tourism and travel, so it's no doubt that many of the listings in the book will go out of date. Prices change due to inflation and economic issues, hotels remodel or change owners and eating establishments often just go out of business or change hands. And web sites and email addresses change like the wind. Following is a list of some of the changes I've discovered or been told about. Naturally, future new editions of the book will contain all of these updates and more.
Thanks for checking out this page and please send me any suggestions for other changes or updates.
All the best,
Christopher Van Buren
RIO DE JANEIRO FOOD: In
Ipanema, the upscale restaurant Satyricon and the popular
pizzaria Capricciosa, both owned by the same group, were
closed down after federal police discovered that the
restaurants were exporting beef, stuffed with cocaine, to
Europe.
RECIFE AND OLINDA: I recently heard that Recife has implemented a curfew throughout the city. All establishments are now closing at 11p.m., including the old city center and Boa Viagem. This is aparently due to a recent outbreak of violence in the city. If you are heading directly to Porto de Galinhas when you get to Recife, then you will likely not notice any difference. Stay tuned here and on the News page for updates.
SOUTHERN BAHIA: ARRAIAL D'AJUDA: ACCOMMODATIONS: The Pousada Agua Marinha has a new phone number, 73-3575-2763.
NATAL AND FORTALEZA: THE CITY OF FORTALEZA: BEACHES NEAR FORTALEZA: The groupings of beaches listed under "East of Fortaleza" and "West of Fortaleza" are reversed. In fact, Copanga, Morro Branco and Canoa Quebrada are to the east of Fortaleza and Cambucu, Lagoinha and Jeriquaquara are to the west. It's important to actually look on a map because the horizontal (east-west) coastline can be confusing when you are actually there, looking at the landscape.
KNOW BRAZIL: GETTING THERE: Bryan Harris of Go Cruise Travel (www.gocruisetravel.com) wrote me with the following corrections and additions to the flight information on Brazil: "I'm delighted with Moon Handbooks Brazil. Regarding the section on Getting There on page 630, I would like to update with a current list of airlines and routes flown from the USA..."
1. VASP no longer exists.
2. Varig goes from New York to São Paulo continuing to
Rio, Miami to São Paulo and Miami to Rio, Los Angeles to
São Paulo continuing to Rio.
3. TAM goes from Miami to São Paulo and New York to São
Paulo.
4. American flies Dallas to São Paulo, New York to São
Paulo continuing to Rio, Miami to São Paulo and Miami to
Rio.
5. United flies Chicago to São Paulo continuing to Rio,
Washington Dulles to São Paulo continuing to Rio.
6. Continental flies Newark to São Paulo and Houston to
São Paulo continuing to Rio.
7. Delta flies New York to São Paulo, Atlanta to São
Paulo, and Atlanta to Rio.
8. Varig flies from Brazil to Europe and Tokyo plus
domestic Brazil.
9. TAM flies to Paris and domestic Brazil.
10. GOL is the Brazilian equivalent of Southwest
airlines.
CENTRAL MINAS: OURO PRETO: GETTING AROUND: The cities of Ouro Preto and Mariana have recently inaugurated their very own Maria Fumaça train ride between the two towns. The train, which is a replica of a 19th century locomotive, takes about 20 minutes to make the trip and leaves from the Ouro Preto Estação do Trem in the lower part of town. It passes through the mountainous region between the towns and provides some spectacular views of the hills and small towns of Central Minas. The cost, for now, is a bit high at R$30 per person, but it opens up Mariana as a real option for an excursion while you are staying in Ouro Preto. Previously, one had to take a bus between the two (an increasingly dangerous proposition), pay for a taxi (about R$40 round trip), or get a ride with a packaged tour.
June is the month of the great coffee harvest in Brazil. The principal coffee growing regions are in Southern Minas Gerais and Northern São Paulo states. The area between Minas and Rio is also abundant wth the bean. You can partake in the harvest by staying at one of the many hotel fazendas in the region. Harvest time activities include bean picking, horseback riding, and of course, lots of coffee roasting and tasting.
The adventure starts in São Paulo, where much of Brazil's rich history during the coffee boom are based. You learn about the myths and legends of the coffee trade and how Brazil became the largest producer of coffee in the world. You then journey to various coffee plantations of different sizes, from the interior of São Paulo to Southern Minas Gerais, to the hills of Espirito Santo and Rio de Janeiro. You stay overnight at different working ranches and learn about coffee growing, cultivating and processing. The countryside is magical and the hosts are traditional folks from the region..
Trancoso in southern Bahia
View from the São Francisco
Church in Ouro Preto (Acrilic on Canvas)
Go to art portfolio.