Guide to GELP Rio Event Tuesday, 6th November – Friday, 9th November 2012
Ellen Koshland Family Fund
How to use this guide
2
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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14 8
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.
1
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
5
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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
8
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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 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