Renting a Car in Brazil

Brazil is a beautiful country with many friendly people. You will need some sort of dependable transportation when traveling in Brazil. Renting a car is a good option for transportation. When traveling in Brazil there are a few things that you should know when it comes to renting a car. When you are vacationing in Brazil you may want to consider renting a car to have a way to get back and forth where you are going. There are many different car rental agencies in Brazil with some located at the airport for making reservations to rent a car. You can also contact your personal travel agent and have them to make a reservation for you in advance. If you are traveling in Brazil you will need a driver's license with you and if you are a member of AAA you may also want to obtain an International Driving Permit License from them in order to drive in Brazil.

Normally when you go to rent a car in Brazil you will receive a five speed with a manual transmission rental car. This seems to be what the vast majority is of all the rental cars in Brazil. So don't count on getting an automatic transmission when you go to rent a car. It is a smart thing to know that when you get a rental car to sign up for full insurance. This way if you are in an accident you will have the right insurance to back you up and this will give you a piece of mind. Gas prices have been known to be very expensive in Brazil. Some Brazilian cars will run on either gasoline or alcohol. Alcohol also known as methanol can cost less then gasoline. Alcohol is known to provide more horsepower and less mileage per liter. Almost all the gas stations in Brazil will offer alcohol, gasoline and diesel fuel for your car.

Brazil is known to have many toll roads on the highways. You will most likely have to stop about every thirty minutes when traveling on these highways. There are many gas stations on the highways and restaurants that are attached in with the gas stations. This will give you a good opportunity along the way to stop and gas your car up and have something to eat. They are also good places to get out and stretch your legs and give your self a break along the way when you are traveling. Brazilians drive differently then people in the United States and sometimes they look at road signs as just being suggestions.

Sometimes while driving on the highways or streets in Brazil you will be stopped by the police to check your identity and the cars registration papers. There are also speed bumps in various locations on the streets, highways and roads in Brazil close to cities and towns. These speed bumps are meant to slow the traffic down. There are different size speed bumps so you should watch not going over them to fast in order to keep your car in good working condition.

Travel in Parana

This Brazilian state is located in the southern part of the country. It borders the countries Paraguay and Argentina. This state has the Tropic of Capricorn running through it and houses what is left of the araucarias forest which is one of the most important subtropical forests of the world. Parana attracts nearly seven thousand tourists per year with its many attractions. At the border of Argentina lies the National Park of Iguacu which is recognized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. Twenty four miles from here, at the border of Paraguay is the largest dam in the world, the Hidroeletrica de Itaipu, which is another great tourist attraction of Parana. Also, the National Park of Vila Velha near the city of Ponta Grossa is yet another attraction of this Brazilian state for the eco tourists out there.

The capital city of Curitiba is the largest financial center of southern Brazil. This city has an enormous population of nearly two million people and is the largest population in southern Brazil. Curitiba is the most important city in southern Brazil with a rich cultural history, and large political and economic centers. It also houses the most modern of Brazilian airport terminals and is by far the most important airport in Southern Brazil. Any traveler to this area should feel safe coming into a terminal such as this. Curitiba was named after the many Brazilian Pines that encompass the area in and around the city. It is a most beautiful city and a must visit.

There is quite a variety of things to do in Curitiba. Not far outside of Curitiba is the state park Vila Velha. One of the main attractions of this state park is the Stone City. You can even take a bus from the city which runs regularly to this park. Another beautiful and trademark structure you can visit while in this lovely city is the Opera de Arame. This structure is constructed with glass and metal tubes complete with a waterfall and garden park. A vast botanical garden was also added as an attraction here in the city of Curitiba. Even as a newer attraction, it has quickly become very popular to the locals and the tourists here.

There are several architectural sites in this city worth visiting. There are the museums for modern architecture, which house a lot of the works of Oscar Niemeyer. Along with the architectural sites there are also city parks which have been local and tourist favorites for years. Barigui Park is one of the oldest parks in the city, and is known for its peacefulness. The city itself is also known for its general cleanliness, but not well known worldwide even though many visitors compare its cleanliness to places like Singapore and the like.

Curitiba is also known as the Christmas capital of Brazil. So for those travelers coming down in the Christmas months, you are in for a wonderful surprise. Here they have the annual Children's Christmas Show. Children line up in the windows of the HSBC building in Centro and sing carols. It is well worth going out of your way to see this spectacle at Christmas time.

Museums in Germany

There are over 3,000 museums in Germany with many different themes. There are private, state, and municipal museums. More than 100 million people visit the museums throughout the year. In the larger cities the museums are in close range from each other. This is perfect when you are visiting and want to see a few museums throughout your trip.

In Berlin there is the Museum Island which is located in the northern part of Spreeinsel. It is an island in the Spree River that is located in the center of Berlin. The name came about since there are a few museums that call the island home. The Old Museum was completed in 1830 and is the oldest of all. Behind the Old Museum was built The New Museum in 1859. It was almost completely destroyed in World War II. It is currently being rebuilt and is expected to be completed in 2009. It will showcase collections of Pre History and Egyptian artifacts. One of the largest 19th century painting and sculpture collections in Germany can be found at the Old National Gallery which is also on the island. It is worth spending a day or two to see all the treasures that the museums hold.

If you are visiting Munich and have children the Deutsches Museum is an ideal stop. Children and adults will be able to do experiements that are centered on nature and physics. Most of the exhibits are in small rooms where you can push buttons and see what happens. This museum is near the area where Oktoberfest is held. It is open daily and makes for a fun time of learning and discovering.

Autostadt is the car lovers dream come true. The museum focuses on automobiles in the area of the Volkswagen factory in Wolfsburg, Germany. There are also seven pavilions that are dedicated to the care makers. Some of these pavilions include Bentley, and Audi. Over 1.2 million people visit Autostadt each year. A reason it is such an attraction is for all of the modern architecture.

The Lbeck Museum of Theatre Puppets is located in the city of Lbeck and exhibits a wide selection of puppets from over three centuries. These puppets are from Europe, Asia, and Africa and come in many different styles. Some of the items on display include marionettes, glove puppets, finger puppets, costumes, and even entire puppet theaters. There is a shop and caf inside the museum for its guests to take a break and be amongst the puppets at the same time. This is an interesting museum for both children and adults.

Germany has many museums to discover. It all depends on what interests you. Doing research on the area you will be staying at will help you decide if there is a museum you would like to visit. You will be able to see exhibits you have never been able to before. It is worth your time and should definitely be part of your plans when traveling through the country.

The Climate in Niagara Falls

Niagara Falls and the surrounding area is an area that is exposed to a variety of weather. All four seasons occur in Niagara Falls because the area is roughly equal distance from the equator as is the city of Boston, Massachusetts. Thus, Niagara Falls experiences cold winters, and balmy springs and equally warm summers. Finally, autumn is a fantastic time to tour the Niagara Falls region the landscape and changing leaves make for a truly memorable experience.

The coldest temperatures in Niagara Falls occur during the months of early November to late March: in November the temperature ranges from 22 degrees Fahrenheit to 47 degrees Fahrenheit, while the month of March displays similar temperatures anywhere from 30 degrees Fahrenheit to nearly 43 degrees Fahrenheit. January is typically the coldest of all months, with low temperatures averaging around 15 degrees Fahrenheit and highs peaking right around 30 degrees Fahrenheit. Snow is typical and abundant during the winter months in Niagara Falls.

Spring, especially in the time period between late March and mid May, offers a mixture of mild to brisk temperature changes, as does the months of September through October. In striking contrast, the summers are comfortable enough in Niagara Falls that tourists can feel comfortable in casual shorts and short sleeved shirts. In late May temperatures begin to warm considerably, averaging just about 55 degrees Fahrenheit and the months of June through August offer temperatures between 65 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit.

No matter what the weather in Niagara Falls, no matter what the season, it is imperative that tourists are prepared for the weather. If tourists plan on visiting the falls, they should also make sure they have a change of clothing or they may even want to bring some rain gear along. Windy days can move the splashing water about and tourists often get wet while viewing the falls.

The Brazilian Climate

Ninety percent of Brazil is within the tropical zone. So this means that when traveling to this warm and humid climate that your attire should be fitting to the summer styles of attire. However, the Brazilian climate varies quite considerably from the tropical north, where the equator cuts through the Amazon, to the temperate zones below the Tropic of Capricorn. The Tropic of Capricorn crosses through Brazil at the point of Sao, Paulo, so there may be some need to pack warm attire if you are venturing farther south. Amazingly Brazil has five different climatic zones within the country, tropical, semi arid, highland tropical, subtropical, and equatorial. So when traveling to Brazil make sure you pack the right attire for the right region where you will be traveling.

Temperatures along the equator in Brazil are actually quite nice, there is very little seasonal variation near the equator. There are times that it can get cool enough to wear a jacket here in these regions near the equator, especially in a rain, so when packing for a trip here to Brazil you may want to remember your jacket. Temperatures do not reach summer extremes as you might think they would, rather they stay in the mild region of the seventies. In the temperate zones, however, the temperatures do often reach the humid summer extremes of one hundred plus. In the other extreme of the countries climate, there are frosty regions south of the Tropic of Capricorn during the winter, which happens between the months of June and August. Some years they even see snow in the mountainous areas like Rio Grande do Sul and Santa Catarina. When traveling to these parts of Brazil you may want to dress very warmly. Especially if you find yourself here in the winter months. Places like Sao Paulo, Brasilia, and Belo Horizonte are a moderate type, with temperatures falling between fifty nine and eighty seven degrees, despite their low latitude. Coastal cities like Rio de Janeiro, Recife, and Salvador have warm climates as well, with temperatures ranging from seventy three to eighty one degrees with the enjoyment of the trade winds. The subtropical cities in the southern part of Brazil, such as Porto Alegre and Curitiba, have a climate type that is similar to those in parts of the United States and Europe. In these places temperatures can fall below freezing in the wintertime.

Precipitation in Brazil can vary widely from region to region. Most of Brazil has a moderate rainfall between forty and sixty inches in a year, with most of it falling in the summer time. Brazilian summer falls in the months of December and April south of the equator. The region of the Amazon is known for its humidity with rainfall of eighty inches or more per year. In some parts of the western Amazon and close to Belem, it is closer to one hundred and twenty inches per year. The Amazon rainforest actually has a three to five month dry season each year, but this also varies in accordance to the region being above or below the equator.