Guide to GELP Rio Event Tuesday, 6th November – Friday, 9th November 2012

Ellen Koshland Family Fund

How to use this guide

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Every six months GELP jurisdictions meet to share practices, goals and challenges as they lead

transformation in their education systems. The next GELP Global event is taking place in Rio de

Janeiro in Brazil from Tuesday, 6th November to Friday, 9th November 2012.

This guide provides useful information and links to websites, which will help you during your stay.

You can also learn a little about the city of Rio de Janeiro that will help you enjoy your stay.

The Secretaria Municipal de Educacao (SME) are hosting this GELP Global event and warmly

welcome you to Rio de Janeiro. SME is the city of Rio de Janeiro’s education department.

With over 1 million students, 1,000 schools and 250 day care centers, the city of Rio de Janeiro

boasts a municipal school system as large as a State system in Brazil. In recent years, Mayor

Eduardo Paes, Claudia Costin (Head of the City’s Department of Education) and Rafael Parente

have created several programs such as Educopédia (a platform of collaborative digital classes),

Educoteca (the interactive and transmedia books of Educopedia), Educomundo (a mix of social

network an micro games) and many others, bringing a new educational dynamic to the city of Rio

de Janeiro.

Contents

Travelling to Rio

Learning at the Sheraton

Free evening in Rio

Staying at the Sheraton Hotel

Helpful guidance

End of the event – leaving Rio

Appendices

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Brazil and Rio de Janeiro

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Travelling to Rio

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From the airport

Rio has two airports, but all international flights

come into Galeao Antonio Carlos Jobim

International Airport. The best way to travel from

the airport to the city centre is by taxi. A taxi from the

airport to the hotel takes about 40 minutes,

depending on traffic.

In the arrival hall, there are desks where you can

purchase a pre-paid taxi fare to the Sheraton hotel

for around US$60 (R$120).

You may find the price more expensive. These are

the prices that have been quoted for a car:

From Airport to Hotel: R$180 (for up to 3

passengers) or R$216 (for 4 or more passengers)

From Hotel to Airport: R$98 (up to 3 passengers)

or R$118 (for 4 or more passengers)

We recommend agreeing the price beforehand to be

sure of what you are paying.

When using taxis (at this point or at any point during

your trip) make sure that you do not take an

unlicensed taxi. Accredited taxis are yellow with

red license plates, a lighted sign on the top of the

vehicle, and a dark blue stripe on each side.

From the airport, you might choose to request a

more expensive Coopatur cab with a bilingual driver,

but using any licensed taxi is safe and purchasing a

prepaid ticket from the arrival hall should avoid

problems.

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Rio de Janeiros’s airport is named after

the Brazilian musician Antônio Carlos

Brasileiro de Almeida Jobim, also known

as Tom Jobin, composer of the song ‘The

Girl from Ipanema’

A little about the conference hotel

The Sheraton hotel is situated on a beautiful

coastal road that runs from the upmarket district of

Leblon to Sao Conrado. The hotel has its own

private beach just up the coast from Ipanema.

The hotel has 559 rooms which all have views of

the surrounding country.

Staying at the Sheraton Hotel

The potential role for technology

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The hotel has plenty of amenities including a

restaurant, lobby bar, two swimming pools, tennis

courts and a health centre with spa, gym, steam

room and sauna.

The business centre is open from 8.00am to 8.00pm

and provides post, printing and other services. A

laundry service, currency exchange and ATM are

also available at the hotel.

There is 30 minutes per day free internet access

and for additional access you will need to pay

US$15 per day.

Address:

Sheraton Hotel

Av. Niemeyer 121,

Leblon

121 Rio de Janeiro

Telephone: + 55 21 3139 8000

Fax: + 55 22 2239 5643

! Details of the hotel rooms are included in Appendix C. Please contact Raj Cheema as

soon as possible if you have any special requests or requirements for your room.

The future

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Dining at the hotel

Breakfast is available from 6.00am -10.30am

and is included in the hotel price. Breakfast is

served in the Mirador restaurant located on the

5th floor.

Breakfast is served buffet style and typically

includes: orange juice, coffee, milk and tea

selection; bread and toast, cold meats and

cheese platter; sweet bread, pastries, muffins

and croissant with honey and jam; cereals,

yogurts and tropical fruit platter; scrambled

eggs, bacon and sausages.

The Mirador restaurant is also open between 12.30am – 3pm for lunch and 7.00pm – 11.00pm for

dinner. Additionally, the Restaurante Casarão offers buffet barbecue (churrasco) by the beach at

lunch and dinner times.

For smaller meals, the Casa da Cachaca serves classic Brazilian appetizers beside the hotel pool.

It is open all day from 9.00am until past midnight. There is also a poolside Pizza Place. The lobby

bar is open from 2.00pm each day and serves snacks with an ocean view.

! Action for you: If you have any special dietary requirements, please ensure you complete

the relevant section on the online registration form.

Learning at the Sheraton

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IT and internet access

You will be able to use the internet for free in the conference rooms during the event. You will need to

bring a plug adaptor with you for the plug points.

Smoking

Please note that smoking is not allowed inside the hotel. You are requested to smoke outside the

building should you wish to do so.

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! Advice for you: If you are a Mac or ipad user, please make sure that you have the adapter

in case you need to connect to an LCD projector for any of the sessions. Any presentations

or materials saved from a Mac onto a USB, should be in PC friendly format, for instance

PDF.

The GELP event in Rio de

Janeiro will be taking place on

the 5th floor within the

Sheraton hotel.

The hotel has security arrangements and only guests are allowed inside. However, there will be

other events occurring in neighbouring conference rooms during our event so we would advise

you to bring only necessary belongings to the 5th floor.

Security at the venue

Sight seeing in Rio

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Free evening in Rio

On Thursday, 8th November, GELP delegates will have a free evening to roam around the city as they

wish.

Restaurants in Rio There are many good restaurants in the City and below are a few recommendations. Clicking on the links will

take you to reviews and more information.

Rio is a fascinating city for visitors to explore. Here are two

places you may wish to visit on Friday evening:

Copacabana beach and Ipanema beach can both be reached

by a free shuttle from the hotel. The beaches are marked out by

posto (lifeguard posts). At Copacabana, you can take a sunset

walk from posto dois (2) to posto seis (6) along the mosaic

sidewalk designed by Burle Marx.

If you want to enjoy a taste of late-night in Rio de Janeiro, Lapa

is a bohemian area of the city where you can hear live Brazilian

music. The area also has beautiful architecture including the

Arcos da Lapa, an aqueduct with 42 arches, and Escadara

Selaron, a mosaic staircase.

Gula Gula – Rua Henrique Dumont 57, Ipanema (Tel: + 55 21 2523 2391) – a classic but laid-back Rio

eatery serving Brazilian food with a terrace overlooking the beach.

Garota da Urca Restaurante – Av. Joao Luiz Alves 56, Urca (Tel: + 55 21 2541 5040) – a casual cafe

and bar offering views of the Christo Redentor (the famous statue of Christ the Redeemer)

Zuka – Rua Dias Ferreia 233B, Leblon (Tel: + 55 21 3205 7154) – seafood and more in a contemporary

setting located near the Sheraton.

Le Pre Catelan – Av. Atlantica 4240, Copacabana (Tel: + 55 21 2525 1160) – a culinary experience of

French-Brazilian fusion food in very luxurious surroundings – very expensive.

We would advise you to book tables in advance. The concierge at the Sheraton hotel can assist you

with this. Note that tipping is not customary in Brazil, but 10 per cent is usually added to the bill for

service.

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End of the event - leaving Rio

The event will end late in the afternoon on Friday, 9th November (18.00pm should be the latest end time).

You are free to take your flight back home or stay for another evening in Rio de Janeiro.

If you are leaving on the 9th, you need to check out from your room in the morning (before activities). The

hotel can store your luggage for the day.

Taking a taxi from the hotel

The hotel concierge can book a taxi to the airport for you.

Exploring the city

You may wish to stay in Rio in Janeiro for a few

days after the event and enjoy the culture. If you

plan to spend some free days in Rio de Janeiro,

please check opening hours online in advance.

Here are some places to visit on free days:

Sights:

Sugarloaf Mountain offers views over the whole city and can be reached by cable car (R$44).

Corcovado Mountain, which holds the Christo Redentor, is best seen at sunset and is reached by a small

train (R$47).

Cultural Centres:

CCBB, under its stained-glass cupola, holds world-class exhibitions. It is based in the Praça XV area which

features stunning examples of architecture from different centuries.

Shopping: The main streets in Ipanema and Copacabana offer the best of both high-end stores and street

vendors. If you don’t know where to start, head for Rua Visconde de Piraja in Ipanema.

You can book a table at the restaurants mentioned on page 8 for an evening dinner. Alternatively, you can

find information about other restaurants in Rio de Janeiro here.

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Currency

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Helpful guidance

The currency used in Rio de Janeiro is the Brazilian real (R$), plural reais. There are 100 centavos to a

real. For reference, 3 R$ = roughly £1 or US$1.50. More information on the currency and exchange

rates is here. Cash machines are common and most take international cards, but we advise you to

check with your bank before you travel.

Weather and clothing

November is the beginning of Summer in Rio de Janeiro. The temperature can range from 21oC to 26oC

(70oF to 79oF). The weather will be hot but there might be some rain, and we advise you to bring suitable

clothing and shoes for the event.

Transport

Smoking

The Sheraton Hotel provides a free shuttle service to the Rio Sul Shopping area with stops along the beach.

The concierge on the 6th floor can help you with departure times and book you onto the shuttle. For other

trips, taxis are the best way to get around Rio de Janeiro. You can ask the hotel front desk or a restaurant to

order a taxi rather than hailing one on the street. For more information on using taxis safely see page 4.

Smoking is permitted in most areas except on public transport. In some restaurants you can ask to be

seated in a non-smoking area. Smoking is not permitted indoors in the Sheraton Hotel.

Safety

The Brazil tourism board and Rio Guide offer some advice on safety:

• Do not carry your original passport, a xerox copy is enough

• Change your money into local currency (Real)

• Avoid using ATMs that are outside of banks and shopping malls

• Avoid walking with a lot of money. Most credit cards are easily accepted

• Do not wear jewellery or expensive watches. Keep your jewellery and valuables in the

hotel safe

• Do not take valuables to the beach and never lose sight of your belongings.

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Useful words in Portuguese

Hello – Oi

Good morning – Bom dia

Good afternoon – Boa tarde

Good evening – Boa noite

Good bye – Adeus / Tchau

Thank you – Obrigado (m) / Ogridada (f)

Please – Por favor

Sorry – Desculpe

I don’t understand – Nao entendo

Numbers

1 – uma

2 – dois/duas

3 – tres

4 – quatro

5 – cinco

6 – seis

7 – sete

8 – oito

9 – nove

10 – dez

100 – Cem, Cento e

Basics

Where is…? – Onde está?

Bank – Banco

Bathroom – Banheiro

Beach – Praia

Money – Dinheiro

Post Office – Correio

Open – Aberto

Closed – Fechado

I want to buy – Quero comprar

How much is…? – Quanto e?

Dining

Breakfast – Café da manhã

Lunch – Almoço

Dinner – Jantar

Without meat – Sem carne

Menu – Cardápio

Bill – Conta

Rio de Janeiro is equipped for tourists so you do not need to be concerned about language, but

you might like to try some of these words and phrases during your stay.

Brazil and Rio de Janeiro

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A little history

Brazil is recognized as one of the world’s most dynamic

countries. It is also the fifth largest, with a population of

over 192 million people.

Brazil was a colony of Portugal from 1500 to 1815, but in

1822 became independent. Since 1988 Brazil has been a

federal republic governed on a state system.

The city of Rio de Janeiro is the capital of the state that shares its name. The City was established in 1565,

and began as only a fortified castle on the Morro do Castelo. The natural harbour provided by the Bay of

Guanabara made the area a strategic location, and it grew stronger to become the sole capital of Brazil in

1767. The next hundred years saw the arrival of the Portuguese royal family in Rio, in flight from Napoleon,

and the city began to grow in wealth and power. Then came the revolution where Prince Pedro I declared the

country independent and took over as its ruler.

During the reigns of Pedro I and II, Rio continued to be colonial in style. In the early twentieth century, it

underwent transformation through the work of Mayor Pereira Passos. Passos modelled his renovations on

the Haussman model of Paris, creating wide boulevards crossing the City. Rio de Janeiro was the capital of

Brazil until 1960, when the new capital city of Brasilia was created to stimulate development of the country’s

interior.

Rio de Janeiro today

Rio de Janeiro is a major financial, commercial and media center. It is home to many of the largest

companies in Brazil and South America as whole. It is also famous for its culture and, in particular, the

Carnival held in March/April that brings around 400,000 tourists annually. Tourism is a major source of

income in Rio de Janeiro but textile manufacture, agriculture and research are also significant. The City has

Brazil’s second largest research centre and has almost a hundred higher-learning institutions.

Rio de Janeiro has always been attractive to global travelers for its energy and beautiful beaches, but it is

now growing in status as one of the world’s leading cities. In June 2012, it hosted the UN Conference on

Sustainable Development welcoming thousands of leaders from around the world.

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Brazil in figures

• Total area: 8,514,877 km2

• Population: 192 million

• Independent since 1822

• UN member since X

• Number of states: 26

• GDP per capita: $10,200

• Foreign nationals: 3.1%

• Roman Catholic: 73.57%

• No religion: 7.35%

• Urban population: 83.75%

• Illiteracy: 11.48% (2008)

• Mobile subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 90 (2009)

• Average temperature yearly: 25°C

• Climatic regions: 6

• Temperature range: -4°C to 38°C

Rio in figures

• Geographical area: 1,182km2

• City population: 6.3 million

• Founded: 1556

• Capital of Brazil: 1763 - 1960

• GDP: US$ 201 billion

• Roman Catholic: 60.71%

• Population in favelas: c.20%

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Appendix A (Visa web links)

JURISDICTION WEB LINKS

Australia http://camberra.itamaraty.gov.br/en-us/tourist_visa.xml

(Canberra) http://sydney.itamaraty.gov.br/en-us/visa.xml

(Sydney, for those in NSW, QLD or NT)

Finland

http://www.brazil.fi/brazil/index.php?&lang=EN&p=Consular_serv

ices/17

British Columbia,

Canada http://vancouver.itamaraty.gov.br/en-

us/how_to_apply_for_a_visa.xml

Chaoyang District,

Beijing http://pequim.itamaraty.gov.br/en-us/applying_for_a_visa.xml

India http://novadelhi.itamaraty.gov.br/en-us/how_to_apply.xml (New

Delhi)

New York City http://novayork.itamaraty.gov.br/en-us/visas.xml

New Zealand http://www.brazil.org.nz/page/tourist-visa.aspx

South Korea http://seul.itamaraty.gov.br/en-us/tourist_visa.xml

Victoria, Australia http://camberra.itamaraty.gov.br/en-us/tourist_visa.xml

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Appendix B (hotel rooms)

You will be staying in the Superior rooms, which have views of the ocean and the pool terrace.

Entertainment

Cable Television

Local Area Guides

Bathroom

Hairdryer

Bidet

Dressing Table/Vanity

Bath Amenities

Bathroom Telephone

Make-up/Shaving Mirror

Hygienic Shower

Dining

Stocked Mini Bar

24-Hour Room Service

Room Features

Private Balcony

Sliding Glass Door

Oversize Desk

Sitting Area

In-Room Safe

SPG Floor

Air-Conditioned Rooms

Room Amenities & Services

Iron and Ironing board

Emergency Exit Signs

Smoke Detectors

Emergency Alarms

Crib

Emergency Lighting

Office/Telecom

Multilingual Voicemail

Direct Dialing

Data Port Line

Alarm/Clock/Radio

Outlet Adaptor

Dual-Line Telephone

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Appendix C (map of the vicinity in

Rio de Janeiro)

The Sheraton

Hotel

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Appendix D (time zone differences)

JURISDICTION Time conversion

Australia Eastern Daylight Time is 13 hours ahead of Brasilia Summer Time

British

Columbia,

Canada

Pacific Standard Time is 6 hours behind Brasilia Summer Time

Chaoyang

District,

Beijing

China Standard Time is 10 hours ahead of Brasilia Summer Time

Finland Finland Standard Time is 4 ahead of Brasilia Summer Time

India India Standard Time is 7.5 ahead of Brasilia Summer Time

New York City Eastern Standard Time is 3 hours behind Brasilia Summer Time

New Zealand NZ Daylight Time is 15 hours ahead of Brasilia Summer Time

South Korea Korea Standard Time is 13 hours ahead of Brasilia Summer Time

Victoria,

Australia

Eastern Daylight Time is 13 hours ahead of Brasilia Summer Time

Note: The times below state the difference during the month of November. Brasilia Summer

Time is in effect in Rio de Janeiro from midnight on the 3rd October (until February). Before

October 3rd, Rio is on Brasilia Time, which is one hour behind Brasilia Summer Time.

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Appendix E (web links in this guide)

Page 4

http://execbrazil.com/node/35

Page 5

http://www.starwoodhotels.com/sheraton/property/features/hotel_amenities.html?propertyID=255

Page 8

http://www.rioguiaoficial.com.br/en/en/rio-de-janeiro/praias/detalhe/leme-e-copacabana

http://www.rioguiaoficial.com.br/en/en/rio-de-janeiro/praias/detalhe/ipanema

http://www.ipanema.com/citytour/lapa.htm

http://www.rioguiaoficial.com.br/en/onde-comer

http://www.ontheroadtravel.com/travel-

recommendations/Brazil/Rio+de+Janeiro/Restaurants/Gula+Gula

http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant_Review-g303506-d1062905-Reviews-Garota_da_Urca-

Rio_de_Janeiro_State_of_Rio_de_Janeiro.html

http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant_Review-g303506-d794049-Reviews-Zuka-

Rio_de_Janeiro_State_of_Rio_de_Janeiro.html

http://www.rio.com/restaurants-night-life/le-pre-catelan

Page 9

http://www.bondinho.com.br/en/the-walk/

http://www.braziltravelvacation.com/christ-redeemer.html

http://www.rioguiaoficial.com.br/en/o-que-fazer/espacos-culturais

http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attraction_Review-g303506-d311284-Reviews-

Centro_Cultural_Banco_do_Brasil-Rio_de_Janeiro_State_of_Rio_de_Janeiro.html

http://www.ipanema.com/citytour/pracaxv.htm

http://www.ipanema.com/shopping/

http://www.rioguiaoficial.com.br/en/onde-comer

Page 10

http://www.worldexecutive.com/locations/latin_america/brazil/rio_de_janeiro/currency.html

http://execbrazil.com/node/35

http://www.visitbrasil.com/

http://www.rioguiaoficial.com.br/en/home