TRAVEL AND GENERAL INFORMATIONS

 

Travel & General Information

Languages

The official language of the conference is English. There will be no simultaneous translation. In Brazil we speak Portuguese all over the country, maintaining our cultural identity.

Passport / VISA
Brazil has a "reciprocal visa policy," which means that it requires visas of citizens from countries that require visas of Brazilians. Thus, Passport and visa requirements vary from country to country. Delegates requiring a letter of invitation in order to attend the conference, may write to the administrative secretariat specifying the necessary details. Please note that this procedure aims explicitly at assisting delegates who need to obtain a visa or permission to attend the conference. It is not an official invitation covering fees and other expenses and does not imply any financial support from the conference organisers. The registration fee must be settled for delegates who wish to claim an invitation letter. PME34 cannot be held responsible for any matters related to obtaining visas.

Brazil requires all visitors to be vaccinated for yellow fever. It is recommended that visitors drink bottled water.

For details please visit the Ministry of Foreign Affairs: http://www.mre.gov.br/

Other useful links

Currency

The Brazilian currency is Real (R). A currency converter is available here.

 

Electrical Appliances.

The electricity supply in Brazil

Voltage: 110/220V*

Frequency: 60Hz

Plug: A & B, C

*127V found in states of Bahia, Paraná (including Curitiba), Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo and Minas Gerais (though 220V may be found in some hotels). Other areas are 220V only, with the exception of Fortaleza (240V). Outlets (click for more) are often a combination of type A and C and can accept either type plug.

Source of this information: http://www.exportbureau.com/telephone_codes/electric2.html.

Time Zone
There are 4 time zones in Brazil. The time in most of Brazil visited by foreign tourists is three hours behind Greenwich Mean Time (GMT-3). This is true of Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Brasilia, Bahia, Minas Gerais.

Amazonas, Roraima, Rondônia, Amapá,Pará, Mato Grosso, and Mato Grosso are a further one hour behind Brazilian Standard Time (GMT-4).

The north-east states of Rio Grande do Norte, Paraíba, Pernambuco, Alagoas and Sergipe are one hour ahead of Brazil Standard Time (GMT-2). Acre State is GMT-5.

Link: http://wwp.greenwichmeantime.com

Brazil Telephone Code

To call Belo Horizonte, Brazil, you will need to dial: International Access Code ++55 +31+ number

Shopping

Shops are open Monday through Friday from 08.00 am till 07.00 pm. On Saturdays shops stay open from 09.00 am till 2.00 pm, while they are closed on Sundays. Supermarkets and Shopping Centers may stay open till 10.00 pm.

Weather

Temperatures in the cities of São Paulo, Belo Horizonte, and Brasília are moderate (usually between 15°C / 59°F and 30°C / 86°F), despite their relatively low latitude, because of their elevation of approximately 1,000 meters. Winters in Belo Horizonte see average temperatures of 15 to 22 degrees Celsius, though temperatures over 25 degrees are not uncommon. Rainfall during the winter is minimal and infrequent, and days are in general sunny.

Usefull links: Brazilian National Meteorological Service- http://www.inmet.gov.br/

Liability and insurance

The Local Organizing Committee does not accept any liability for personal injuries, or for loss, or damage to property belonging to conference participants (or their accompanying persons) either during or as a result of the conference. Please, check the validity of your own insurance.