Lost Gringa

Things to bring (1)

4/06/09 •

Pack light, but pack smart. You do not need to bring a yearâ€™s supply of toothpaste, but you should be aware that certain items will be pricier and more elusive in Brazil than they were back home.

Recent Posts

Yo Toto, you definitely ain’t in Kansas anymore. These are the subtropics, my friend, so pack accordingly. SÃ£o Paulo’s climate is generally pleasant but plan for days that are hot and days that are not. And make sure your ruby red slippers are waterproofâ€”flash floods and torrential rains will make you long for a good old fashioned tornado.

CPF (0)

4/06/09 •

CPF stands for Cadastro de Pessoas FÃsicas. It is basically a Brazilian Social Security Number. You are under no obligation to apply for a CPFâ€”lots of gringos donâ€™t bother and they get along here just fine. However, if you are planning to live in Brazil for a while I recommend getting one.

Federal Police (1)

4/06/09 •

Registering with the PolicÃa Federal is a rite of passage you must go through if you plan to reside in Brazil for any length of time. (If you are here on a tourist visa this does not apply to you.) Travelers are given 30 days to register but I recommend taking care of this sooner rather than later. The task involves multiple trips to multiple places and, depending upon the alignment of the stars and the moon, your first adventure to the Federal Police may not be your last.

Public Transportation (0)

6/11/09 •

SÃ£o Paulo is a megalopolis with mega-traffic, mega-convoluted-public-transportation, and mega-pedestrian hazards. Transit here borders on chaos and the city is heavily car-centric. Not to fear thoughâ€”with a little bit of gringo grit you can successfully get around using buses, the metro, taxis, rides from friends, and your own two feet.