[Rio-GEM] Logistical Information

Tue May 25 14:27:41 BST 2004

Hello all,

Here is the logistical information you'll need as you prepare for the
workshop!
You can also find all logistic information online:
http://www.apcwomen.org/rio/participants

General Information on Rio de Janeiro
======================================
Time Zone: GMT-3
Language:  Portuguese

Rio is widely known for its beautiful landscapes, historical buildings
and wonderful beaches. The visits to Corcovado Hill and Sugar Loaf are
usually the favourite choice of the great majority of tourists in the
town, but there are several other places that should be visited.

Rio is home to the largest forest within an urban area in the world -
Floresta da Tijuca -, and there are beautiful churches that were built
in the colonial period, during the 16th and 17th centuries.

See more here:
http://www.rioconventionbureau.com.br/rcvb_ingles/acidade/ci_frames.htm

Going out shopping is also a good alternative. Ipanema is the most
charming neighbourhood in the town, and it's really pleasing to walk in
Rua Visconde de Pirajá to go window-shopping, have a coffee (especially
in the bookshops, where there are always nice coffee shops). There are
some big shopping malls such as Rio Sul, in Botafogo, and several others
in Barra da Tijuca, although it's a bit far from Flamengo.

Safety
-------
Rio is like any other big city - New York, Paris, Rome... Going to
favelas ( illegal settlements or shanty towns ) or walking alone at
night is not recommended. It is also not good to carry too much money,
and you need to be careful about your bags.

Weather
-------
It is autumn in Rio, and the temperature ranges from 16 degrees to 26
degrees Celsius. It's a good time to go to the beach.

Ten Days Forecast: 
http://www.intellicast.com/Local/IntlLocalStd.asp?loc=sbgl&seg=LocalWeather&prodgrp=Forecast&product=Forecast&prodnav=none

General Information about Climateincluding Five Days Forecast):
http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/world/city_guides/city.shtml?tt=TT001730

How to Dress
------------
Rio is a very informal city. Even when you go out at night, people dress
informally - you can meet people in jeans, T shirts and sneakers even in
nightclubs. It's a good idea to bring a bikini and bermudas to stroll
around.

Currency
--------
The currency in Brazil is the Real, and 3 Reals are equal to 1 U$.

US Dollars are usually well accepted. It's easy to exchange money in
hotels and travel agencies. It is better to exchange money in travel
agencies in town, than at the airport, since the airport rates are quite
a bit higher.

Our hosts recommend using credit cards as much as you can. Credit cards
are widely accepted in hotels, shops, and restaurants. Master and Visa
are easier to use, many places accept Amex as well.

Site-seeing in Rio
-------------------
Corcovado Hill, Sugar Loaf, Copacabana and Ipanema beaches and the
Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon, are some of the most widely known touristic
points in the city. For people who are interested in spending a day
visiting some of these places, there will be a tour service available.

*EMERGENCY CONTACT INFORMATION!*
--------------------------------
/Please make sure you copy this information/!
In case of any emergency, you can contact Graciela Selaimen (phone
numbers: 2527 5494, 9619 5708, 3873 0624) or Rosanne Moraes Rego (2294
8172).

Arrivals
--------
Because the Forum consists of several smaller events, most participants
will be arriving either on May 31st (those attending the GEM
Practitioners Exchange as well as the Forum) or on June 3rd (those
attending the Forum and training sessions only). Try to arrive as early
as possible on June 3rd to join us for the Welcome Dinner.

There will be a shuttle service between the airport and the hotel. The
person in charge will be waiting at the airport, holding a big paper
with APC written on it. We will send you the shuttle service schedule
(days/hours) soon.

However, if someone arrives on a different date or time and we cannot
form a group, this person will have to take a taxi. There will be a taxi
service expecting for the guests who does not come in the shuttle
service - at the airport. People should look for the Aero Taxi - they
have a stand at the airport, in front of the exit of the arrivals. The
average price is about 30 reais - not more than 10 US dollars.

Please make sure you've given your flight information to the logistics
team <gem-cee at apcwomen.org>, to ensure coordination regarding
pick-ups!

Hotel
-----
The Forum venue is the Florida Hotel:

Rua Ferreira Viana, 81 - Flamengo
Tel: +55 21 2555 6000
WWW: http://www.windsorhoteis.com/florida/index.html

The Flórida Hotel combines the charm of the old side of Rio and the
facilities of a modern city. It is located in the residencial district
of Flamengo, only a few steps away from the beach. From there, it is
easy and fast to get anywhere in town: only five minutes away from the
city center and close to Copacabana and to most of the touristic
landmarks of Rio . The hotel's terrace has a magnificent view of
Flamengo Park, with its wonderful gardens designed by the
internationally famous landscape architect, Burle Max. The subway
station is just a few steps across the street.

Meal Plans/Welcome Dinner
-------------------------
Breakfast and lunches will be served in the Florida Hotel. For dinner,
there are several restaurants not far from the hotel, and a list of
suggestions will be delivered to the guests, with information regarding
costs and transportation. (For those participants whose expenditures are
being covered by the APC WNSP, a dinner per diem will be distributed.)

RITS, our host organization, will be organizing groups to go out at
night - to have dinner and listen to Brazilian popular music.

On June 3rd there will be opening dinner for all participants.

Internet Access
---------------
There will be a dial-up connection in the rooms, and a cyber café near
the conference room with two computers available and wireless connection
for people who bring their own computer (So please do not forget to
bring your laptops, if you would like to be connected.)

The voltage is 110 and the standard sockets are similiar to the German
Standard, or Europlugs (with two round prongs that accepts 4.0-4.8 mm
round contacts on 19 mm centres). We advise you to bring your own
adaptors for your laptops and other equipment.

Reimbursement
-------------
Those participants whose travel, visa, accommodation and meals cost are
covered by APC WNSP or GEM project *should bring all receipts with them.

The accommodation cost will be covered only from May 31th through the
night of June 7th. Since we only have bookings for everyone until June
7th, in case you would like to stay longer on your own expenses, please
contact Graciela graciela at rits.org.br. You
would have access to the group rate of $72.00 USD for a double room.

Unfortunately we are unable to cover your travel/health insurance.

IMPORTANT: For our financial report purposes, we require everyone to
submit official receipts for your airfare, visa fees, travel taxes and
other expenses. You will need to attach the receipts to the
reimbursement forms. We will NOT be able to reimburse you without the
receipts, so please, do NOT forget to bring them.

!!!Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions!!!

Contacts: graciela at rits.org.br or gem-cee at apcwomen.org

See you soon in Brazil,

Katerina Fialova
GEM - Central and Eastern Europe coordinator
Prague, Czech Republic