Impressions of Brazil
Brazil is the largest country in South America and the third largest in the Americas. In other words, it is huge and one could easily spend an eternity exploring it. However, we need to head south for the summer and so after having driven 6840 km and spent 58 days in Brazil we crossed the border into our next country: Uruguay.
Our impressions of Brazil are that it is a very rich and modern country. With an abundance of natural resources and farmland, it is well able to support its population. The people are very friendly and have gone out of their way to help us when we needed it. The borders were efficient and there were no police checks as we moved around.
Supermarkets are plentiful and we can buy most things; however, it’s not cheap – probably on par with the UK. The restaurants are very good. We have eaten at per kg/buffets (your plate is weighed), which is great for a lunch break, and in excellent a la carte restaurants. The meals have been consistently good and are meat-centric, though we particularly liked the rice and beans. Vegetables don’t get much of a look in and a “salad” consists of just lettuce.
Credit cards are accepted everywhere. Even street vendors have a point of sale machine in their pockets.
Low sulphur fuel (10ppm) is widely availably and reasonably priced at 96p/litre. There is a huge number of trucks on the road. Whilst this makes driving more of a challenge, truck drivers are well looked after here and to entice them in to buy fuel, “postos” (fuel stations) provide good facilities: ample parking (overnight), good food and WiFi. Many provide showers and washing machines.
Campsites are plentiful, but not many are on par with South African standards, and more expensive; typically £17/night. On the other hand, wild camping is easy and, if you can put up with the noise, the postos are very welcoming.
The roads on the whole are ok. Many of the better roads are tolled, but some expensively so.
From a safety point of view, we have had no problems at all.
On the negative side, distances are huge and we have done a lot of driving. More than Dave would like. Interacting with people has been difficult; Dave enjoys chatting to people and the language barrier has been a hindrance. For some reason, South America prefers to run its cable services above ground, which makes navigating around towns difficult. Getting connected on the cellular network was troublesome; one needs a Brazilian ‘CPF’ tax number to register. A helpful man at a phone stall used his CPF number to register us – but then we could never check how much balance we had left, as the account was in his name.
Really interesting to read your review of Brazil, as I will be spending a few days there next March.
Loved the food pictures, didn’t know that Francine had such a healthy appetite!
It makes a difference hearing the extent of development in a BRICS country from your perspective to merely imagining it as those of us – non-travellers, non-explorers – will do. Sharing your wonderful experiences is unimaginably indescribable. Thanks always.
The picture of the beach says BRASIL but you write BRAZIL. As one whose employer had a Brasilian branch I always write BRASIL. We constructed the Maricana Stadium, lots of Brasilia, an amazing lift tower from the seashore prom up a cliff to the town proper – I forget where and many ports and harbours, I request your discussion of the spelling
Hi Peter, it was in the sea, using stones, at Florianopolis. I just took a picture. Did not notice the spelling.
Brazil sounds so civilised, the food looks good, how are you staying so slim!!
It sounds better connected than we are, we don’t have any mobile cover here at all!!
Enjoy Uruguay, I’m sure you will, can’t wait for your next adventures and photos.
Lovely to share your experiences.
Thanks for the info. Very helpful. We should cross over to Brazil at end of month.
Is there any other way to get connected on the cellular network ?
Merca tor projection is to blame – Brazil is huge! I think that you were pretty brave to attempt a driving trip there. Most people don’t realise that it’s bigger than Australia. It’s well developed too – they have their own aircraft maker, Embraer. That trumps most European countries.
If you’re heading for Tierra del Fuego, then beware of the huge distances in Patagonia.
Hit return too soon…. In Patagonia you might be able to skip a lot of road miles by using the Magellan Straits ferry service (https://www.navimag.com/es/explora-la-patagonia-en-ferry-navimag)
Buen viaje