If you are going to be in São Paulo on the dates previous to the carnival and want to feel what the carnival atmosphere is like you might well attend one of the numerous rehearsals of the samba schools. Its importance has grown in recent years as they have become an additional source of income for the schools.

To avoid disappointment it should be made clear that a samba school rehearsal is more of a party than a rehearsal as such. There are no giant floats or wonderful costumes involved. It’s all about dancing and drinking and singing non-stop.

Local newspaper Folha de São Paulo published recently a full schedule of rehearsals with the name of the school, address, times and entry prices: Escolas de samba de SP promovem ensaios nas quadras; programe-se.

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Over the last few years the Rio carnaval de rua, the carnival on streets, has experienced booming popularity. Admittedly, the carnival on the street lacks the sumptuous visuals of the Sambadrome parades. But it is no match when it comes to force, energy, espontaneity and popular participation. To take part in the street carnival, after all, no purchase of expensive tickets is required. Actually, you don’t need to purchase any tickets at all.

The official website of the Rio tourism authorities has just launched the official guide to the Carnaval de Rua Rio 2012 where you will find the dates and locations of the street parties. The core of the party are the blocos, carnival groups parading throughout town.

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Welcome to the Brazil Travel Blog and our special report on the 2011 Brazilian Formula 1 Grand Prix at Interlagos.

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1. THE DATES

GP Brasil Formula 1 will be held at the Interlagos circuit on Sunday 27 November 2010 (training sessions on days 25 and 26). Full schedule of events at the GP’s official website (it has an English-language version).

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2. HOW TO GET TO INTERLAGOS

Do avoid getting to Interlagos circuit on your own car. During the celebration of the GP, the traffic jams on the region of the circuit are horrendous.

1. Shuttle buses.

Every year the local transport authority runs shuttle buses from five different points in the city of São Paulo:

• Shopping Interlagos
• terminal Jabaquara (subway, line 1, blue)
• Praça da República
• Shopping SP Market
• Congonhas airport (domestic flights, shuttle bus operating from 7 am).

The Praça da República option is good for those staying in the area of Avenida Paulista.

Longer but much faster is the Jabaquara option. Take the subway till the end of the blue line and hop in one of the shuttle buses.

2. Suburban train (CPTM)

This is an option of interest for those staying near the Pinheiros river (mainly in the Avenida Berrini area). Take the train (line 9, direction Grajaú) and get off at the Interlagos station. There is no direct access to the circuit from the station, you will have to find your way around. Follow the crowds.

3. Private transfers

Most hotels hire their own fleet of vans. Do find out.

4. Taxi

It is impossible to figure out the cost of a trip to Interlagos, but due to the horrendous traffic it can set you back anything between R$60 and way more than R$100.

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3. WHAT TO DO IN SÃO PAULO

At São Paulo’s top ten I pointed out a few outstanding highlights in the city. If you have a few days to spare, you have plenty of interesting ideas at São Paulo getaways.

If you read Spanish, you might be interested on my very own 142-page Guía de São Paulo.

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Between 12 and 14 November 2011 the city of Paulínia, in the state of São Paulo, will be host to the second edition of the SWU festival, the Brazilian Woodstock. Among the bands lined-up for this year, The Black Eyed Peas, Snoop Dog, Peter Gabriel, Duran Duran, Faith no More, Alice in Chains and Sonic Youth. Read all the information on the festival at its English-version official website.

Between 7 and 8 April 2012 São Paulo’s Jockey Club will be the venue for the debut of the Brazilian edition of the veteran festival Lollapalooza. Find all the information at the festival’s official website.

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Florianópolis is proud to have its own micareta, the Portuguese word for a carnival taking place outside the traditional dates for the carnival. Folianópolis is its name and this year it will take place between 12 and 14 November. Check out the line-up at the party’s website. The presence of usual suspects such as Ivete Sangalo, Chiclete con Banana or Banda Eva is confirmed. The venue for Folianópolis is the Passarela do Samba in the city of Florianópolis.

Destination: Florianópolis is our main blog post on this popular destination in Southern Brazil.

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After two editions of the Cow Parade, it is the turn now for rhinos to take the streets of São Paulo through Rino Mania.

From 20 September till 20 October 60 fiberglass rhinos (no fear of uncontrolled beasts charging against innocent by-standers) will occupy public and private spaces in the city of São Paulo, mainly in the center, Avenida Paulista and Jardins areas.

At the official website of the event there is a map with the location of the rhinos.

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how to go from Guarulhos international airport in São Paulo to town
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taxis from Congonhas domestic airport in São Paulo
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If you couldn’t make it to see the return of Rock in Rio to its origins, YouTube brings you the chance to watch some of the shows live. Turn to Rock in Rio’s YouTube channel. Today’s the first day, so don’t miss it. Great initiative.

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destination: Rio de Janeiro

We’ve been informing for quite a while on the celebration of Rock in Rio in the city of Rio de Janeiro (the 2011 edition of the Rock in Rio festival will take place… in Rio de Janeiro!, tickets for the Rock in Rio festival are sold out). This is a final reminder for those heading to Rio at the end of the month. It is a bit early to be able to tell what the real impact of the festival on hotel occupancy and prices in general will be.

Rock in Rio will take place between 23 September and 2 October.

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Rio bus station: Terminal Novo Rio

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There are no tickets left for the giant music festival that will take place in Rio in September (the 2011 edition of the Rock in Rio festival will take place… in Rio de Janeiro!).

We are told that four days it was all that it took for the 600,000 tickets to be sold out ( Rock in Rio anuncia ter vendido todos os 600 mil ingressos para o festival).

A sizeable number of those tickets are now in the hands of ticket touts, unashamedly announcing the sale of those tickets on the internet (Cambistas virtuais já anunciam ingressos para o Rock in Rio com ágio de até 480%). Be careful if you approach ticket touts (an illegal activity in Brazil), you might end up paying up to 480% more for a forged ticket that won’t get you anywhere near the music stage.
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As I’ve received a fair share of enquiries on travel packages for the World Cup 2014, I have written a blog post on the topic with the title packages for the World Cup 2014. You will find it at our the World Cup Brazil 2014 website, where we deal with all things related to one of the biggest sporting events of the decade.

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