Often compared to the thriving cities of New York and Los Angeles, dare yourself to travel to the largest city in South America, not to mention the third largest city in the world: Sao Paulo, Brazil. However, the real attraction to Brazil’s most populous city is its people and vibrant culture. Renowned for its giant skyscrapers, looming architecture, vast helicopter fleet, and often-unreliable subtropical weather, give into the allure of Sao Paulo and partake in your own Latin American Adventure – like the city’s motto says, Non ducor, duco, “I am not led, I lead.”

Founded as the first coastal settlement in Brazil, Sao Paulo was also the first permanent Portuguese colony founded in the New World in 1532. Since then, it has grown to become the home of around one-third of Brazil’s industrial employment. Multinational corporations look to Sao Paulo as a place of strong economic profit, as it is a mixing bowl of both industry and cultural hubs.

Attractions and Neighborhoods: As one of the major cultural centers of Brazil, Sao Paulo offers many attractions that provide insight into its colorful Latin American roots. The Museu de Arte de Sao Paulo (MASP) has been called one of the most important art museums in Latin America, showcasing artwork by Rembrandt, Van Gogh, Renoir, Degas, Rodin, Matisse, Goya, and more. Listed on the National Registry of Historic Places, the nearby Santa Fe Plaza is a historic park marked by lines of large shade-trees and benches. The area is iconic of colonial Spanish times, and various other famous landmarks stand within walking distance. For a fresh look into Brazilian culture, the Mercado Municipal is the location of a large market where vendors sell locally produced fruit, cheese, vegetables, and other goods. Even if you are not looking to buy anything, the large stained-glass windows in the neo-Gothic style hall portray daily scenes from coffee plantations and are beautiful to look at. Whether in a museum, park, or market, the authentic Latin American culture in Brazil offers travelers a wide range of options as far as local attractions.

Sao Paulo itself is divided into 93 neighborhoods, most of which are best navigated on foot as the city thrives on pedestrian tourism. Centro is the original neighborhood in the city, founded on a hilltop and home to old missions and cathedrals. The Banespa Tower stands as an architectural wonder in the neighborhood, and the Metropolitan Cathedral can be viewed from most of the surrounding area like the two main pedestrian streets of Rua Direita and Rua Sao Bento.  The neighborhoods of Pinheiros and Itaim Bibi both boast luxurious residential areas that feature posh restaurants, hotels and nightlife. Being two of the more modern neighborhoods in the city, they are connected to Centro by a streetcar line that gives easy access to areas throughout the city. Liberdade is known for its historical relevance, having received its name after the abolition of slavery in 1888. The Liberdade Metro stop will lead you to Rua Galvao Bueno, a street filled with shops and many notable sushi restaurants. The combination of these four neighborhoods shows the distinct aspects that Sao Paulo offers visitors: history, preserved Latin America culture, and also modernity encapsulated in twentieth century expansion.

Dining and Nightlife: Because Sao Paulo attracts national and international guests, visitors should expect to find an array of cuisine options. For a more authentic meal, look for a dish including “cahaca,” a spicy specialty with a sugarcane spirit that is popular among the locals. One restaurant offering this delicacy is Acqua Benedicta (located at 62 Rua da Matriz) which also offers American and Caribbean foods. Another local favorite is the restaurant Le Coq Hardy (located at Rua Jeronimo da Viega), which features a quaint piano bar and decorated wine cellar that showcases its many bottles of Bordeaux. The city’s restaurants also include a large amount of Portuguese cuisine, Italian specialties, and sushi restaurants.

A city that rarely sleeps, most Sao Paulo residents do not begin their nights out on the town until midnight or later. They also dress to impress – women favor black or darker colors while men are typically less formal. Because the nightlife scene tends to be spread out, it is best to stick to one area or neighborhood and bar and club hop in that region for the night on foot, to avoid the congested traffic coming into the city. Some of the city’s best bars and clubs for the younger crowd are located at Vila Olimpia, while Vila Madalena is a more posh location featuring mostly bars and restaurants instead of clubs.

Local Transportation: Pedestrians will find themselves in good company in Sao Paulo, since most of the city is set up exclusively for pedestrian traffic as most areas and neighborhoods can be explored on foot. However, Sao Paulo has the most motorcycle couriers in Brazil, which can pose a threat to pedestrians sharing the roads.

With public transportation demands on the rise due to the magnitude of business traffic commuting to the city, the expansive bus system has grown to include a fleet of more than 16,000 units. There are also three main train systems – the Sao Paulo Metro, CPTM, and the ETU-SP as well as the many other train lines that branch off from those systems. Those looking to travel across longer distances of the city should invest in a Bilhete Único, or “unified ticket” that is essentially a smartcard used for fare collection for the train, buses, and subway system. It also offers discounted prices and makes transitions easier between transportation systems. Ultimately, the reputation for transportation in Sao Paulo is one of chaos and congestion, but improvements are underway and are typically a platform of every local political election.

Traveling to Sao Paulo: Many popular airlines fly directly into Sao Paulo, such as American Airlines, United, Lufthansa, Air France, British Airways, Air Canada, US Airways, Mexicana, Delta, Continental Airlines, Aerolineas Argentinas and more. The biggest airlines that fly into Sao Paulo directly are TAM Linhas Aeras, American Airlines, and United. The best way to find direct flights to Sao Paulo from your local airport is to check www.skyscanner.com for flights, airlines, and prices. Average ticket prices to travel to the city range from $900 to $1,500, but cheaper prices from discount sites like www.kayak.com offer flights for around $800.

Anna Patrick is a Communications major at Boston College and a frequent commuter between Boston and the Washington DC metropolitan area in Northern Virginia. A seasoned traveler, Patrick has lived in London and traveled extensively throughout Mexico, Canada, Austria, Germany, Italy, France, the Czech Republic, Greece, Scotland, England and Turkey.

Map courtesy of gosouthamerica.com

South America’s only Portuguese-speaking country is home to the Amazon Rainforest, Rio de Janeiro and its legendary beaches, Samba, Bossa Nova, and  one of the most ethnically diverse populations in the world. And while Brazil’s allure can’t be denied, neither can its size. Bigger than the continental United States, it’s no wonder planning a Brazilian vacation can be a daunting and overwhelming task. Unlike Costa Rica and Panama where getting around is cheap, quick and easy, getting around Brazil is expensive (you’ll likely have to travel by plane from city to city) and often difficult. So if you’re planning a trip to Brazil in the near future, check out this brief guide to South America’s largest country.

1.) Rio de Janeiro: No place in Brazil gets more press than romantic, glitzy Rio de Janeiro. South America’s most visited city gets almost 3 million tourists a year and can be loosely characterized as a super-sized Miami-type resort city. Situated on Brazil’s southeast Atlantic coast, Rio is famous for its sexy white sand beaches (who hasn’t heard of Ipanema and Copacabana?), Samba, Bossa Nova, hosting  the world’s wildest carnival and, of course, the giant statue of Christ that overlooks the city. Rio is hot and happening all year round and boasts some of Brazil’s best night clubs and restaurants. One downside? High crime rates have been scaring away increasing numbers of tourists in recent years. But don’t worry – as long as you exercise proper precautions (such as not walking around drunk on the beach at 3am in the morning) you should be OK.

Christ the Redeemer statue. Photo courtesy of Hanneorla.

2.) Salvador and Bahia: If it’s sun and beaches you’re after, Salvador and the Bahia Province is your best bet. Salvador is located on Brazil’s northeastern coast, 1,100 miles north of Rio — so unless you’re a fan of epic bus rides, you’ll want to take a two and a half hour plane to here. Hot and humid year-round, the city boasts 30 miles of attractive coastline some of the world’s best beaches.  And if you happen to be here for Carnival, you can tell your friends that you participated in the world’s largest street party, with two million people partying for nearly 20 miles. Brazil’s African heritage can best be appreciated in Salvador and Bahia, where over 80% of the population claims African heritage, a heritage reflected in the region’s spicy, African-inspired cuisine, its unique Afro-Brazilian religions, its music and in Capoeira, an Afro-Brazilian martial arts quickly gaining popularity throughout Latin America and even the United States and Europe.

3.) Sao Paulo: A gargantuan city with a metropolitan area of nearly 20 million people, Sao Paulo is located 266 miles south of Rio and has a much more “down to business” attitude than any other city in Brazil, perhaps a resulting from being slightly inland. Brazil’s wealthiest city is not quite as well known as Rio and Salvador, but as the country’s economic engine, it is the country’s most cosmopolitan and sophisticated city. It’s hard to fall in love with Sao Paulo at first site, but foodies will appreciate its incredibly diverse restaurants scene, and party-lovers will find everything here from rock concerts featuring well-known acts to Korean Karaoke to all-night Samba/funk clubs. This incredible variety can be attributed to Sao Paolo’s immense ethnic diversity, which includes substantial Asian, Arab, African and European communities. In fact, more people in Sao Paulo claim Italian heritage than Portuguese heritage. Sao Paulo and Rio are connected by frequent bus service, but if you’re short on time, a short flight is a better option.

The Sao Paolo skyline. Photo courtesy of Fernando Stankuns.

4.) Manaus and the Amazon: The Amazon city of Manaus is often viewed as the gateway to the rainforest, but it does have an interesting history as a rubber production center and boasts quite a few impressive historic buildings. However, most travelers head directly to the Amazon.

Although it extends into nine South American countries, it is Brazil that’s best known as being home to the Amazon Rainforest, the world’s largest rain forest, home to nearly 20% of the world’s flora and fauna species. Here you’ll find 2.5 million insects (so be sure to bring plenty of insect repellent), nearly 2,000 bird species, 40,000 plant species, almost 500 mammals and 3,000 different types of fish. Plenty of tour companies — American, European and Brazilian — offer Amazon hiking and river cruise excursion, but keep in mind that the Amazon is best suited for hardy travelers with plenty of adventure travel experience. It’s hot and humid year-round with heavy downpour six months of the year and you’ll have to deal with pesky insects and rough travel conditions. Because there is virtually no ground transport to Manaus or the Amazon region, you’ll have to fly in from one of Brazil’s major cities.

5.) Brasilia, the Panantal and Southern Brazil: Brazil’s capital city since 1960 is known for its futuristic architecture, designed by Oscar Neimeyer. As a completely pre-planned city, Brasilia lacks the character and soul of other Brazilian cities, but architecture buffs will want to visit the UNESCO-designated city. Brasilia is Brazil’s fourth largest city and easily connected to Sao Paulo and Rio via frequent bus and plane routes. One positive about Brasilia is the city’s cooler, more comfortable temperatures.

Brazil’s Panantal is often overlooked by travelers headed to the Amazon, but deserves a look due to its incredible biodiversity. As the world’s largest wetland, it is home to over 1,00o bird species, 400 fish species, 500 reptile species, 300 mammal species and 9000 invertebrates. Tours to the Panantal can easily be arranged from Sao Paolo and Brasilia.

Iguazu Falls is southern Brazil’s best known tourist destination, but the region is also home to some of the best beaches and most attractive cities. Southern Brazil has historically attracted a large number of German and Italian immigrants, making it Brazil’s most European region. Cities in southern Brazil are connected to other Brazilian cities by frequent bus routes and flights.

Iguazu Falls. Photo courtesy of Ewanr.

It’s hard to capture a country as large as Brazil in one article (imagine trying to describe the United States’ attractions in 1,000 words or less) so I invite all Brazilians, expats living in Brazil or Brazil lovers to contribute their two cents on Brazil’s top attractions and best kept secrets!

For more on my travel experiences, check out my blog.

By Patrick Connelly

I miss my pup.  He’s up in the states chasing squirrels like an idiot, a relentless pursuit that will probably never bear fruit.  Pets – be it dogs, cats, hamsters, ferrets, and the like – are practically members of the family in the U.S. and Canada.  Leaving one behind is a very tough thing to do; thus, when considering moving to Latin America, a major question is “Can my dog/cat/etc come too?”  The answer is yes.  And depending on the country, the process is quite easy.

Mexico: With hundreds of thousands of visitors from the U.S. and around a million expats and retirees living in the country, Mexico is pretty straightforward in allowing pets across the border.

For dogs the main concern, of course, is rabies.  PROOF OF A RECENT RABIES VACCINATION IS THE MOST IMPORTANT DOCUMENT YOU CAN BRING!  Do not even attempt to bring Sparky into Mexico without one.  Fortunately, they are easy to obtain anywhere in the U.S.  This vaccination must be done at least 30 days before entry into Mexico but cannot be older than 1 year.  For dogs under 4 months, the animal must be kept at the owner’s residence in Mexico until it is old enough to get a rabies vaccination.  Cats and other animals do not need proof of rabies vaccinations.

Also, for all dogs its necessary to get a Certificate of Good Health from your vet.  This just says that, well, your pet is healthy, free of any contagious diseases.

With cats the process is a bit easier.  All that is needed is a Certificate of Good Health, obtained at any vet’s office in the U.S.  At the border your cat will be inspected, and if it is deemed that the animal is unhealthy, you will have to pay for kitty to be treated by a vet in Mexico.  But if the cat is healthy, then there are no problems.

Birds are a bit more of a hassle.  Some species are restricted by either the Mexican government for importing or the U.S. government for exporting.  You may even have to quarantine your bird at one of the U.S. Animal and Health Inspection Service’s center before going to Mexico.  It’s best to get in touch with them before planning to take your bird southward.  http://www.aphis.usda.gov/

Other animals, such as hamsters, rabbits, ferrets, and other furry critters are allowed into Mexico without much fuss as long as they are in good health.  Reptiles and amphibians, however, have restrictions depending on the species; check with http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ for specific information.

Costa Rica: The regulations for bringing pets in is similar to Mexico’s, with a few differences.

Both dogs and cats need proof of a rabies vaccination performed at least 30 days prior to entering Costa Rica, but no more than 1 year old.  Failure to have this document will result in a lengthy quarantine and many headaches.  They will also need the Certificate of Good Health form saying they are carrying no communicable diseases.

Birds are now allowed into Costa Rica; however, you are not allowed to take them out if you decide to leave.  So make sure the move is what you want if you plan on bringing a bird along.

Other pets such as small mammals and reptiles also require the Certificate of Good Health.  Some species may be restricted, so it is good to check with http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ first.

Panamà: Compared to Panamà, getting an animal into Mexico or Costa Rica is a breeze.  Panamà has more paperwork, more procedures, more headache – but don’t panic, LW is here to help.

For dogs and cats the usual forms – Certificate of Good Health and rabies vaccination – are the first thing you should get done in the U.S.  They are the same as the ones in Mex and Costa Rica and have the same time restrictions.  Additionally, you need to mail a $30 money order to the Consulate General of Panamà.  And, most annoyingly, you need to send a Quarentine For Domestic Animals form to the Minister of Health in Panama.  This must be done at least 3 days before the animal’s arrival.

Now here’s the tricky part.  Your cat or dog MUST be checked by a Panamanian vet at the Tocumen airport in Panama City, and the vet must be government-authorized.  Easy, right?  Well yes, except the vets only work from 9am to 3pm and from 7pm to 10pm Monday through Friday.  If your plane lands after hours or on the weekend, you either have to keep your pet at the airport until the vets go back to work or arrange for a government vet to meet your plane.  You can arrange this with the Ministry of Health, but will have to pay extra.

Birds and reptiles are a real pain to get into Panamà, but not impossible.  The first document you need is an import permit, which you get from the National Environmental Authority (ANAM).  Next, your bird needs to be vaccinated before arriving in Panamà for the following diseases: New Castle, Tuberculosis, Avian Influenza,  Chlamydia, and Salmonella.  Proof of these vaccinations must be included in the Certificate of Good Health.  Also, the Certificate of Good Health and the import permit must be certified by the Consulate in Panama before your bird arrives.

With such strict deadlines and procedures, it may not be a bad idea getting the help of an attorney in Panamà to assist you in bringing an animal in, especially if its a bird, reptile, or other kind of exotic pet.

Brazil: The land of samba welcomes pets; just make sure the paperwork is in order.

For dogs and cats the first thing you need is the rabies vaccination, which follows the same guidelines as the other countries: no less than 30 days and no more than 1 year since the vaccination.  Second is the ubiquitous Certificate of Good Health, obtained in the U.S.   However, with Brazil, this certificate needs to be authorized in the U.S. by an APHIS office.  Check their website http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ for an office near you and make an appointment (walk-ins aren’t allowed).  The APHIS signature costs $24.  After this step, take the certificate to a Brazilian Consulate in the U.S: for further authorization, which will require a money order of $20.

After all of the authorizations are complete, your pet is ready to go.  You only need two documents: the original rabies vaccination and the double-authorized Certificate of Good Health.

For all other animals an import permit is required, which must be obtained before the animal arrives in Brazil.  This form is obtained from the Ministry of Agriculture (Ministério da Agricultura, Pecuária e Abastecimento).

No quarantine facilities exist for pets at Brazilian airports.  If there are problems with the paperwork, the pet, be it a dog, cat, or iguana, will be sent back to the U.S. at the owner’s expense or destroyed!!

Do you have additional info on pet travel?  Hints or tips?  Success or horror stories?  We want to hear from you!

If you are looking to move down south, you can find Latin America real estate by clicking on the link.

photo provided by jorgenjuul at http://www.flickr.com/photos/jorgenjuul/309794248/

A bungalow at Dos Ganchos

By Patrick Connelly

While it may not sport the plethora of resorts that countries like Mexico offer, Brazil has recently built up a reputable armada of beachside all-inclusives and romantic getaways.  With over 7,000 km of coastline, the area is immense and options are numerous.  Here are a few of Brazil’s best resorts, with representatives from several different parts of the country.

1. Ponta Das Ganchos – Southern Brazil (Near Florianopolis/Sao Paulo)

Leave the kids at home.  Literally.  They won’t be allowed in.  Ponta Das Ganchos, located on a private peninsula, is Brazil’s most romantic getaway: no one under 18 is allowed.  Twenty-five beautiful bungalows situate perfectly between the white beach and the lush Atlantic Forest, creating an intimate, isolated environment while offering top notch amenities.  From spas to movie theatres to massage tents, Ganchos has everything a couple needs and more.  The resort also sports one of Brazil’s finest diving areas at nearby Arvoredo Island.

I’s seclusion and luxury at the highest level, and such privilages do come at a cost.  But the location is not only picturesque, but also very convenient; the resort can be reached easily from Rio, Sao Paulo, and Buenos Aires.

2. Rio Das Piedras - 45 Minutes from Rio de Janeiro

This resort you can bring your kids to.  In fact, this Club Med creation caters to the young extremely well, and is a perfect place for a family vacation.  Its everything that you’d expect from member of the Med hegemony: quality, efficiency, and a well-rounded approach.  Das Piedras, a stone’s throw from Rio de Janeiro, has plenty to offer the kids as well as the parents, from waterskiing to spa treatment to archery lessons, all included in the overall fee.  A massive 320 rooms, in both club and deluxe sizes, means that getting a room is not nearly as hard as it is at Dos Ganchos, but on weekends the resort can get crowded with Paulistas from Sao Paulo and other cities.

Das Piedras also offers great dining and bars, most of which is included (some old wines and spirits are not), as well as Club Med’s famous monitors that keep watch over the kids while parents relax.

3. Blue Tree Eco Resort Park - Angra dos Reis (90 miles from Rio de Janeiro)

Another resort that is a favorite of weekenders from the large cities, Blue Tree Eco Resort is part of the Blue Tree Hotel chain and is a top quality destination for families and couples alike.  As the name suggests, Blue Tree is focused around a natural experience, combining the beauty of the surrounding environment with modern perks.  Numerous small, tranquil bays and islands dot the coastline while the Atlantic Forest covers everything in brilliant green.  Many of the resort’s activities are centered around this unique setting, with extensive canopy walking through the forests and watersports amidst the islands.  Along with Das Ganchos, Blue True also has some of southern Brazil’s best dive spots.

View at the Enotel Resort

The famous Hercilio Luz bridge alight

By Patrick Connelly

Florianopolis is a city cursed with names.  The current label is in reference to Floriano Peixoto, who was Brazil’s president from 1891-1894 and is accused by many residents of the city of being a brutal dictator that murdered hundred in the area during his administration.  Not exactly someone to build statues of or name streets after.  But, alas, he gets his own city.  However, the alternative is just as cacophonic.  Many residents are campaigning for the name to be restored to its original moniker: Our Lady of the Banished.

Despite its inability to come up with a suitable name, Florianapolis is booming.  The island city – well, half of it is on an island – has become a tourist and expat destination for adventurous people all over the world.  Great beaches are in no short supply and the climate, while still tropical, is not the same scorching heat that typifies some of the more northern cities.

Surfers first made the city famous abroad during the 1970’s and 80’s with the discovery of incredible wave breaks at the Joaquina and Campeche beaches, both of which are still hugely popular today.  Already frequented by Brazilians as a prime weekend destination, foriegners soon began to flock to the “magic island” in the 90’s and a healthy English-speaking expat population now exists.

The island, which is the main tourist and expat draw, is divided into north and south sections.  The northern half has seen the majority of tourist attention and thus has the hotels, popular beaches and nightspots, etc. etc.  Along with Joaquina and Campeche, the north also has uber-popular beaches like Jurere and Inglesias, popular among partygoers, expats, and families alike.

Conversely, the southern part of the island has been able to retain a way of life that has existed for hundreds of years.  Portuguese immigrants from the Azores islands arrived to the island in the 18th century and set up a fishing/agriculture society which is still evident despite the growing number of surfers and sunbathers around their fishing nets.  For the foreigner, the south offers a a refuge from the sometimes crowded north and, despite being underdeveloped in terms of tourist infrastructure, still has a number of hotels and real estate opportunities.

The island of Santa Catarina, on which the city is located, has been named by Newsweek as one of the most dynamic places to live in the entire world (http://www.newsweek.com/id/46125/page/12).  It is an extreme mix of traditional shrimping villages and modern skyscrapers, of bikini-clad women and sleepy hamlets.  Each year hundreds of foreigners fall victim to the spell of the “magic island” and now call it home.

Florianopolis can be reached by air from almost any city in Brazil and is a only a short flight from both Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro.

Here’s a video about the region

If you are interested in renting or buying Florianopolis real estate, visit VivaReal.

cover photo by Joao H at http://www.flickr.com/photos/john_jones/1537275160/

first photo by Eduardo Cavasotti at http://www.flickr.com/photos/cavasotti/16306955/

second photo by Pablo O Palmiero at http://www.flickr.com/photos/pablopalmeiro/2856353153/

By Patrick Connelly

The phenomenon of a deserted beach becoming an overnight sensation is baffling. It is not as if the lonely beach was covered in ugly rocks and awash with muddy water one moment and the next pristine white with turquoise surf, prompting hoards of sun worshipers to descend on it. No, these hidden gems have been unchanged for hundreds if not thousands of years. Yet still people will cram ten people to every square yard on the beaches of Panama City, Florida.

The coastline of Brazil’s Paraíba state is one of these hidden gems. Largely ignored because of the popularity of surrounding areas, like Recife to the south, the Paraíba coast boasts incredible opportunities for investors, retirees, and the curious tourist alike. Transport and infrastructure are well set up, the government is eager to promote the region as enticing to foreigners, and real estate prices are still cheap.

The state’s coastline is dominated by the capital city of João Pessoa, one of Brazil’s oldest (founded in 1585) and home to over half a million residents. With that kind of mileage under the hood, the city itself is a time capsule; churches, mansions, and theatres, blasted by centuries of salt breezes, are just some of the cool cultural things to explore. Local expats from around the world claim that Pessoa is the most peaceful, easy-going large city in northeastern Brazil, which is a bold call given the northeast’s famous laid back attitude.

Other cool things about Paraíba and João Pessoa:
The city is the eastern most point in South America, meaning residents are the first to see the sunrise in all of the continent. But I’ve got be honest, its been a while since I have gotten up that early.
The international airport, Presidente Castro Pinto Airport, just went through an expensive renovation ($R38 million)
The mega-tourist city of Recife is only 20 minutes away by air, or 1.5 hours away by car
João Pessoa is the second greenest city in the world according to the United Nations, following Paris. The city is known for incorporating the Atlantic forest into its extensive park system, with 600 hectares within the city limits.
The Paraíba Tourist Board claims that tourism is growing at a rather incredible 70-80% per year.

The beaches, of course, are the main draw to this area, and they do not disappoint. The capital itself has over forty kilometers of pristine, postcard-quality white sand, fringed by idyllic giant palms and glasslike sea. Just outside the city are the real trophy praias. Significant attention is being paid to the two beach communities of Tambão and Cabo Branco, both a short drive from the airport. Already several European countries – led, strangely enough, by the Swedes – as well as the U.S. and Canada have shows interest in buying coastal property for development.

Yet real estate prices remain low. There is ample, beautiful land available and the time is prime. The Brazilian government certainly believes in the potential of Paraíba; just recently it has allocated $R1.7 billion in funds to improve the region’s infrastructure. The government sees it as a sure bet. For the prospective investor, it is truly an opportunity to beat the gold rush.