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Officially
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Porto Alegre Tourism, is
official tourism authority visitor Assistance centers
are located at the Salgado Filho airport and inside the Farroupilha
park, and also by phone.
Official
portoalegre
.rs.gov.br
PORTO ALEGRE TURISMO - ESCRITÓRIO MUNICIPAL
Rua dos Andradas, 680 - 3º andar - 90020-004 Fone: 212.1734 - 212.0721
Fax: 212.2432 Located at the junction of five rivers, the city is
also known as "Porto do Sol" (Port of the Sun) and "Cidade
Sorriso" (Smile City). |
Leftist Agenda
Forum
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The city has been an important
convergence zone for left-wing parties and their
ideas, this lead to the city being the location of
the annual World Social Forum [wiki/
WorldSocialForum] in 2001. Participation
in each of the first three forums, which were held
exclusively in Poro Alegre, has been estimated to be
in excess of one hundred thousand people.
The World
Social Forum is an open meeting place where groups
and movements of civil society opposed to
neo-liberalism and a world dominated by capital or
by any form of imperialism, but engaged in building
a planetary society centred on the human person,
come together to pursue their thinking, to debate
ideas democratically, for formulate proposals, share
their experiences freely and network for effective
action
more at wiki
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SAFETY
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190emergency
number from any phone.
In downtown Porto Alegre, you will find lots of
pickpockets, so be aware! specifically in the dos Andradas street
(commonly known as Rua da Praia) In other areas of the city, too.
Don't look too much like a tourist or you will
attract the attention of young cute thugs.
Pronto-Socorro Municipal hospital
is on Av. Osvaldo Aranha at the intersection with Venâncio Aires (tel
051/231-5900).
Santa Teresa hill,
about 10mins from the centre, has an excellent view over all the
city, but has at times been a hot-spot for assaults and robbery.
Av. Osvaldo
Aranha, though very populated during the day also becomes an
area to avoid after sunset, especially close to Redencao.
At night take a taxi,
as it does not cost too much, and it is safer. This advice seems to
be practiced by the natives as well as streets can seem very empty
at night
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FAST
FACTS:
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AREA CODE: 51
MAINS VOLTAGE: 110 w
Education: It is the Brazilian capital with the highest level of
education - 20% of family leaders have an university degree. There are two
important universities in Porto Alegre - Federal University of Rio Grande
do Sul (UFRGS) and the Catholic
University (PUCRS). UFRGS is among the
three main universities of the country for
post-graduation work In the Metro Region there are two other important
universities - ULBRA and
UNISINOS,
and many university centers
City
Population: 1,416,000 (2004)
Porto Alegre, one of the largest cities in southern Brazil, is the
capital of Rio Grande do Sul State. Population:
Metropolitan area: 3,500,000, the 4th largest of Brazil and
about the 10th in South America.
State Population :
9,163,200
Distances
From Brasília: 2,121 km
From Florianópolis: 469 km
From Curitiba: 711 km
From São Paulo: 1,123 km
From Rio de Janeiro: 1,578 km
From Belo Horizonte: 1,731 km
Neighborhoods:
There are more than 70 neighborhoods and 2/3 of the
population is concentrated in the Zona Norte
(Northern Zone), where most of the economic activity
is located.
Money: US Currency is accepted
in most hotels.
Post offices At Rua Siqueira
Campos 1100, Rua Sete de Setembro 1020 and Rua General Camara, near
the waterfront Avenida Mauá.
Symbol of the City
- The Manhattan of the Pampas (plains) – the row
of skyscrapers – can be seen from the Zona Sul
the gaúchos, the
cowboys of southern South America whose name is now used for all
inhabitants of the state, whatever their origins.
The Tallest Artificial Christmas Tree The tallest
Christmas tree covered with artificial leaves made of PVC was 52
meters high. The Peace Tree was built by the Sonae Group and stood
in the Moinhos de Vento Park in Porto Alegre from December 1, 2001
to January 5, 2002.
PER CAPITA INCOME US$ 5.9 thousand
ECONOMY Services:
64%; Commerce: 33%; Industry: 3%.
PORTO ALEGRE has the largest countryside among Brazilian capitals,
with an expressive production of fruits and vegetables
Among
the main business located in Porto Alegre we have
VARIG,
Gerdau, Ipiranga,
Zaffari
and RBS.
General Motors (GM)
is operating in Gravataí - located in the Metropolitan
Region. In Alvorada
Dell
Computers
is establishing a plant. In the health sector, there two hospitals
considered among the best in Latin America (Santa
Casa
and
HPCA).
Commerce is a very
important economic activity, vith
many malls (like
Rua
da Praia
and
Shopping Iguatemi)
Porto Alegre is the centre of Brazil's third largest
communications network, the Brazil South Network (Grupo RBS)
and one of the foremost education establishments, the Federal
University of Rio Grande do Sul.
Cattle: With a flock numbering 13.9 million head of cattle and
10 million head of sheep, the state is also a major meat producer.
Its beef - with which the Gaúchos make the best barbecues in the
world - is acclaimed both in Brazil and abroad. The leather and shoe
industries are spin-offs from cattle production
Port of Porto Alegre
lying on the eastern bank of the Rio Guaíba at the point where its waters
empty into the huge Lagoa dos Patos is one of Brazil's largest port. Located
near the main access roads to Porto Alegre, is 4 km away from the Salgado
Fillho International Airport and has access to the railway station,
through the docks of Mauá and Navegantes
.
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WEBCAMS |
Port
Alegre by webcams
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"In the Cidade Baixa area,
if you don't want to drink and party at night, I suggest a very
great restaurant: Fofa. I did not put this tip in the Restaurant tip
because it is a bohemian tip. This restaurant is at the very central
area of the Cidade Baixa. The owners of this restaurant are two
Uruguayans, Costantino (Costa) and Dario (the cooker). ...good
plates with meat, a lot of delicious olive oil, garlic, rice, bread,
salad, and the Uruguayan typical spice: 'chemichurri'. Amazing."
cwo at virtualtourist |
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Porto
Alegre, [state of
Rio Grande do Sul] the
largest city in southern Brazil and capital
of the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre has emerged as the closest
thing to the capital city of
MERCOSUR, or the the Southern Cone’s focal point
for growing business between the four country trade block of Brazil,
Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay. This is the most important
cultural centre and literary centers south of São Paulo with two fine universities."
However Porto Alegre is not known as a tourist city so it helps to do some
advance research
The city, located on the
Guaiba River, was founded in 1742 by immigrants from the Azores.
The City was largely built in the 20th century by European immigrants,
particularly from Germany, Poland, and Italy. Situated on the shores of huge, deep fresh
water lagoon called Lago dos Patos, it
is a modern city and also the gaúcho capital of Brazil,
An important port of entry to the region,
it has an airport which is one of the countries busiest airports, with
connecting flights to all major national cities. Porto Alegre is
predominantly an industrial city in which the country’s main food,
textile and shipping industries are located, the landscape of this
beautiful city is considered to have the greatest concentration of trees
in Brazil
Don't miss the Porto Alegre sunset over its main river,
Guaíba. Best enjoyable at western places like Gasômetro and Ipanema.
Getting There
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Rio Grande do Sul ,
bordering Argentina and Uruguay, is their first or last experience
of Brazil. By air from Sao Paulo its 1.5 hours versus 18 by bus.
AIR: Aeroporto
Internacional Salgado Filho
(POA)
Av. Severo Dulius 90010; Bairro São João
Porto Alegre - RS CEP:90.200-310
PABX:(51) 3358-2000 FAX:(51) 3358-2549
located 4.3 miles (7km) from downtown built in 2001
Aeroporto de Porto Alegre by infraero.gov.br
AIRLINES |
all major brazilian airlines (VARIG, TAM, GOL, BRA,
Webjet) and some foreign ones (AEROLINEAS ARGENTINAS,
OCEANAIR, PLUNA, UAIR).
pt./wiki/
Aeroporto_Internacional_de_Porto_Alegre
gives a nice list with links of Airlines serving
this airport |
TAM
Linhas
Aéreas |
Av.
Jurandir, 856/ 3º andar
Aeroporto - 04072-000 - São Paulo/SP
Fone: 11 5582-9424 - 11 55828811 Fax: 11 5582-9425
Celular: 11 99775386 Fone /Direto: 11 31735403
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TMFC
SERVIÇOS AUXILIARES DE TRANSPORTE AÉREO LTDA |
Rua 24 de
Outubro,525
90510-000 - Porto Alegre/RS.
Fone: 3323-3200 - 0800.123100 |
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Varig |
Rua dos Andradas,
1107
Porto Alegre/RS
Fone/Fax: 3210-3900
www.varig.com.br |
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The airline is 10km from the City Center and
has its own metro stop
"nicest airport, it's new, it's not very far from the subway to the
airport terminal, and it's clean. ...many airport sleepers on
connecting flights from and to Argentina and Paraguay are among
them. The heating system during the cold winters is just great, you couldn´t care less about the +3°C outside. There is a McDonalds
restaurant and a couple of good cafes, with cheap snacks. They even
have 3 movie theatres at the brand new terminal"
Porto Alegre Airport by sleeping
in airports.net |
BUS:
The long distance bus station
rodoviaria-poa.com.br
/)") is located downtown and is served by several
national and international lines (UNESUL, TTL, EGA, PLUMA, FLECHABUS,
CHILEBUS). It is also connected to a trensurb station and
several municipal bus lines. Going North you
have all good bus connection allover Brazil,, but be sure to take an
express bus if you go to Uruguay or to Argentina and avoid the
constant stopping enroute
CAB: the nearby
trensurb station is not exactly close to the airport facility
and the available buses don't take you that close to your downtown
hotel and the cab rides
are not very expensive.
By car Porto Alegre is served by two major highways:
BR-116, crossing it North-South and BR-290, crossing it East-West.
The first can be used to visit destinations like (Gramado & Camelo
both North); the latter gives access to/from
Rio Grande do Sul's litoral (East) and to/from
Argentina (West).
Be advised that some of these roads are dangerous,
for they have poor signaling/conditions and lots of trucks. Keep
your travels by car on these roads to the duplicated ones and, if
possible, during the day. |
Getting Around
There
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Since 1999, the largest road work ever, the
Terceira Perimetral (Third Perimetral) has been under construction
throughout the city. The Terceira Perimetral is 12 km long,
connecting the North and the South of the city
Metro: one-line metro called
Trensurb with 15 stations
inc. , central station by the port (called Estação Mercado Modelo),
the rodoviária (which is the next stop) and the airport (three
stops further on). However its not so good for seeing the City as it
primarily connects the big city with the suburbs..
Bus: go to the Public Market:
where all the buses of Porto Alegre stops, so you can go to anywhere
and from anywhere to here. If you want to take the train to de
cities of the metropolitan region of Porto Alegre that is where you
will have to go
CAR: |
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Avis Rent A Car
Av. Ceará, 444
90240510 Porto Alegre RS
Fone: 51 33424400 Fax: 51 33425542 |
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Europcar -
Locadora de Veículos
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Av. Carlos Gomes, 152
Cep.: 90480-000 - Porto Alegre/RS
Fone: (51) 2101-3876 / 334 |
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Maps
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Visit
our Map & Guide Section in the Image Server
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Downtown Section of grid map. Click
through for rest of sections provided by Convention &
visitor's bureau
poaconvention.com.br |
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Multi-map gives good roads between cities
detail using a zoom interface |
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Large map with street name detail and
highlights in 3-d by City of Porto Alegre |
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Food & Drink
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Food: Churrasco or
Brazilian style barbecue is the food most associated with Porto Alegre and the
whole south region. The grilled meat should be prepared just with a
special kind of salt (sal grosso) often with just manioc flour as the side
dish. The cattle ribs is one of the most popular meat but a wide variety of
meats is available. Restaurants all over the
state and especially in the capital, serve up myriad of cuts
and varieties of tender beef from massive skewers brought round to
your table.
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Chimarrão
is a typica beverage of the goucho |
The traditional beverage
is the "erva mate" (a kind of tea).
Chalet of the XV de Novembro Plaza
Located along the Glênio Peres Square, it is one of the most
traditional bar-draft beer-restaurants in the city, where the last
“lambe-lambe” photographs of the region work. [“Lambe-lambes” are
photographers who develop pictures outdoor using the oldest method
known.] In the Bavarian style, with art nouveau traits, the
centenary Chalet was built up on a demountable steel structure,
keeping its original chandeliers and tiles even nowadays. It is
located at XV de Novembro Plaza, Downtown.
Directory fo Bars & Restaurant by
poaconvention.com.br [ 16 members w/
contact & 5 websites] |
Nightlife
BOITES =nightclubs |
Porto Alegre has a rich welcoming night
life. There are 3 neighborhoods to know which are full of bars and
places to dance.
Cidade
Baixa
The corner between Gal Lima e Silva Street and República
Street is the center of the neighboorhood's nightlife. In the
weekends, it's streets gets crowded of people drinking and having a
good time. Cavanhas, Pingüim, Copão, Cotiporã, Panorama (most cheap
beer) are some of the bars where you can drink beer and grab some
french fries. To dance MPB (brazilian popular music), historical
street João Alfredo has many excellent options.
Small bars on 'Republica' street are
great.
Calçada da Fama
Padre Chagas Street is full of more fashionable bars, like
Lilliput and Dado Pub.
Goethe
Goethe Avenue has a
concentration of bars (Tri Bar, Arsenal,
Dolphin's), great hotdog called 'Bagé Dog' and dance clubs, like
Manara.
Rua Fernando Gomes has a nice concentration of pubs, cafes, bars
Avenida Osvaldo
Aranha, alongside the Parque Farroupilha and near the Federal University
has Bars with live music and most with a predominantly young
and trendy clientele,

DANCING
-In Cidade Baixa the historical
street João Alfredo has many excellent options. Discos
include Dado Bier, Manara, & Venezza,
Manara: The place has
different environments and a variety of patrons on different floors
The Sundays well popular. Live music to dance 'coladinho' & very
forró university sound of. Convenient parking
PIPE [Rua
Tobias da Silva, 241
Phone:(51)3346 2033] has live music every day, jazz, BPM and blues. There
are people to take care of your car.
Manara. [Av.
Goethe] "I particularly like Sunday evenings, when you can
listen and dance to forró. If you like some blues and jazz,
you have to go to Music Hall [Vasco da Gama st.] It's
a kind of pub, where you can listen to great live music.
Both are quite close, in Moinhos de Vento area" |
Dress for Girls: If you want to dance some forró,
it's not a good idea to wear long and/or tight skirts. It's
not comfortable to dance. A good pair of trousers is the
best choice. General: Some places don't accept sneakers.... |
---
RaquelMac on 26AUG02 at virtualtourist.com |
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Speak English
Start Talking Café [Avenida Maryland 1587 CEP 90440-191
Tel:(051) 388453] Take the T9 bus from the Praça Dom
Feliciano in the centre, ask the driver for the 'segunda parada da
Maryland' (second stop) and you're there.]
"If you'd like to meet other travelers, ex-pats or someone who you
can speak English to, go to 'Start Talking', run by Armÿn, a
Dutch friend of mine and is specifically for Brazilian students who
want to practice English, ex-pats to meet up and chat in English or
travelers to meet people." ---apfear
on Aug-2002 at virtualtourist
Score |
Porto Alegre Guide to Sex
Food and sex a lotcheaper than
in Rio,Porto Alegre is in the far South of Brazil,
with a much colder climate...The good tourist office at the airport makes
your hotel reservation |
Vermelho 27, Rua Pelotas 160,
228 3227
Madrigal Av Farrapos 1351 222 9820
Swing Night Club Av. Farrapos 1312; 346 2647
Gruta Azul Av Farrapos 1274; 2229380
Caleche Av Farrapos 508 226 3281
Kymball Av Farrapos 1092 221 6080
Erectus Av Farrapos 837
Bordo, Av Getulio Vargas 668
Bar Sauna 168, Av Cristovao Colombo 168; 221 4938
Sauna Gaucha Av Cristovao Colombo 378
Regina Av Erico Verissimo 472; 223 3314
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Weather
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The climate is
subtropical, with hot summers and mild winters and wet all year.
There are 4 seasons with
a
distinct winter between June and September
Temperature: 25°C to 35°C (77°F to 95°F) during summer and 2°C to
15°C (35°F to 59°F) during winter The average temperature in January
is 24,5°C and in July 14,3°C, with record temperatures being 40,7°
in 1943 and -4,0° in 1918. Thunderstorms are very common.
The coldest part – in fact the
only part of Brazil which ever gets really cold – is the South and
Southeast, the region roughly from central Minas Gerais to Rio
Grande do Sul, which includes Belo Horizonte, São Paulo and Porto
Alegre. |
Shopping
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Mercado Público Central
- Central Market This neoclassical architecture
building was opened in 1869. From 1995 to 1996 suffered a major
restauration process, which modified its origianl structure. With
over 100 shops and stores, there is great variety of options:
restaurants, fruit and fish stores, and a famous ice cream parlor.
Open from Monday to Friday from 11:00 to 23:30, Saturdays from 11:00
to 20:00.
- Brique da Redenção:
Large popular street fair/flea market near
Parque da Redenção. Find lots of authentic
gaúcho art, crafts, furniture and
hand-made stuff. There's a lively atmosphere,
with street performers and thronging bars and
restaurants. It happens every Sunday, from 9am
to 6pm.
- Iguatemi: In north
zone of the city, Av João Wallig 1800,
the biggest Shopping Center of Porto Alegre.
ww2.iguatemiportoalegre.com.br
(in portuguese)
- Bourbon Shopping Country:
One of the biggest Shopping Centers in town,
near the airport on Av Tulio de Rose, 100.
It have a large variety of stores and
restaurants.
- Other big malls: DA PRAIA STREET & PRAIA DE BELAS SHOPPING
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