Laptop/camera worries

If you are like me, you will bring your laptop to Rio. I currently have a MacBook and I do backups regularly. So, if something bad happens to it, I will just relax and get a new one. I am not particularly attached to computers or cameras and always like upgrading them.

But many people have more expensive ones and would react differently. If you are one of those, I do recommend that you get an insurance for you laptop (and camera). I did some search online and found a couple of options. I recommend that you do the same. I got a quote from Safeware.com for $99 covering 3 Months (minimum) of $3,500 (deductible is $200). It is a World Wide Coverage for Theft, Accidental Damage, Drops, Falls, Collisions, Liquid Spills, etc.

***** NEW***** I can't find the 3 months coverage anymore. They only one available is for 1 year and costs $200 (depends on how expensive your laptop is). 07/04******

I guess that would have been useful when that piece of metal fell on top of my hard disk last time I was in my sister’s apartment… It was total loss of my Dell. But at that time, I had an extended warranty of my laptop that actually covered accidents. You could check yours and see if you can get that too.

I also found out that one can get a floater or endorsement to homeowners or renters policy. If you have one of those, it is worth asking if you can do that for your electronics/jewelry and get them covered anywhere in the world. Based on what I read online, it shouldn't be more than $100/year.

And, please, don't forget to back it up before leaving home. Many people had laptop trouble in Prague and I remember one of them complaining that his talk was in the lost laptop and couldn't give a talk... Well, bring your talk in a memory card, or email it to yourself, just in case.

Where are you staying?

Many people are asking me for advice where to stay in Rio. You basically have two choices, go for the Blumar Events suggestions or search on the web for a better rate based on less or more stars.

I think the best two hotels that Blumar Events is offering are Miramar and Rio Othon Palace. They are good hotels, in excellent location, close to the metro, and with fantastic Copacabana views. The rates are in the Blumar page http://www.blumar.com.br/wwweventos/evt/evt2.cfm?evtcod=5601j6464a5e7c841&lang=2

Blumar is also offering a three star in downtown, Guanabara Palace, which is a good hotel, but located in the business district, i.e. not nice at night. The fourth hotel, Leme Othon, is a four star too, but I personally don’t like Leme (northeast of Copacabana). Nothing wrong with the place, but I like the other edge of Copacabana better (southwest).

If you want to shop around, I recommend you make reservations with Ipanema.com (left corner of the menu, click on Request now – Hotels and Flats in Rio). You will be able to see the hotels pictures, description and location there. Ipanema.com offers excellent service and reply very quickly confirming reservations.

But the common question is, where are you staying? This is probably the second time in my life that I will stay in a hotel in Rio. I usually crash with my sister, but during the meeting I will stay in a 3 star hotel in Copacabana. It is a 3 star, with a 5 star location, listed on Ipanema.com. I will not post the name here, but if you email me, I will let you know. But so you know, elevator is famous for not working well and does not have wireless!

I also recommend that you use http://www.tripadvisor.com/ for people's opinion. I just found a 3 star in Copacabana that everyone seems to love (Martinique Copa Hotel), it has wireless, and is listed on Ipanema.com. I will not stay there, I have already closed the deal with the other hotel.

Check also my first post about location and more tips on hotels.

**** COPACABANA IS A BIT NOISY, NOTHING I CAN DO ABOUT THAT ****

Good time for tickets!

I have booked my trip to Rio and got excellent air fare! I recommend you try to book as soon as possible. Airlines are trying to get people to fly, so if you know that you are attending, this is a good time to buy.

I have also booked my hotel and paid my registration. So now it is time to start planning the fun part. I will start posting about where to go and what to do when you are in Rio and where to travel in Brazil if you are taking some time off.

If you have 2 to 4 days to travel, I recommend you stay in the state of Rio and travel to the beaches towns located 2 to 3 hours from Rio. I have three favorite spots, Buzios, Ilha Grande and Paraty.

Buzios is about 180 km East of Rio. I usually take the bus Viação 1001 at Rio Bus Station and two hours later arrive in paradise. But there are also tours (vans) from the hotels in Rio. Sometimes tours are a bit more expensive, but more convenient and worth the extra money. I have been going to the Buzios and Cabo Frio area since I was a kid. Cabo Frio is the largest city in the Costa do Sol (Sun´s Coast), so it is a bit hectic, but charming and beautiful. Buzios is even more charming and beaches are fantastic. Water is not warm in this area of Brazil. So, don´t expect warm Caribbean waters, but beaches are as paradiasic, or even more exotic if you consider the mixing of cultures. You can read about Buzios and book hotels, etc, here (click). The beach above is Azeda, one of my favorites.

*******NEW******

Blumar Events is offering a few packages to visit areas around Rio and even the Amazon. I highly recommend that you check them here www.blumar.com.br/astronomia2009 click on the left Pre & Post Tours.

Portuguese lessons

If you start now, your Portuguese will be really good by August. Don't expect to hear English or to find someone who speaks English easily in Brazil. I recommend that you bring a phrase book and also start practicing here, if you go to youtube you will find the other lessons. Here is the first lesson

If you haven't made up your mind yet or if you just feel like looking at Rio, check this video prepared by the City of Rio de Janeiro. I feel "saudade"... 

Abstract deadline revised and FAQ

The new deadline to submit abstracts is March 31st.

FAQ (IAU and Brazil):

- You don't need to register (or pay) in order to send an abstract.

- Deadline for the early registration is May 1st, but you can pay even when you get there (more expensive, of course).

- If you are not a member of the IAU, you need an invitation from the Chair of the Symposium or JD that you will be attending, or from your National Committee. Just email them and say that you are not a member and need an invitation. This is not an invitation to give a talk, just an invitation to be at the IAU.

- The deadline for International Travel Grants is over.

- If you already paid for your registration with your credit card and got a friendly email saying something about a delay in processing your credit card, no worries! I got the same message and then my name showed up in the list of registered participants. They are experiencing some technical issues and as soon as I hear more information I will let you know too.

- We are starting to organize student housing. Email me if you are presenting work at the IAU and would like to chat with Brazilian students and even stay with them. duilia at yahoo . com and write IAU student housing in the subject. If I don´t reply in 2 days, leave a comment here.

- Yes, caipirinhas are wonderful but dangerous :-) Here is a recipe (click) if you want to start practicing in advance.

- Paraty is one of my favorites weekend trips from Rio. Maria-Brazil.org has a nice text about it.

Brazilian music - Gentileza (Kindness - by Marisa Monte)

I will start posting my favorite Brazilian music. I hope you will enjoy it. Here is Marisa Monte singing Gentileza. This song is about a street poet called Gentileza (Kindness) who died a few years ago. For more than 40 years he wrote poems in the concrete walls of Rio de Janeiro. He was an intriguing person who smiled to everyone and gave flowers to strangers. Love was the main theme of his poems. A few years ago Rio citizens started preserving the poems written under the bridge close to the bus station after some government official had sent someone to cover them with gray paint. You will probably see his poems when you pass there http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VKnVAZHehV0&feature=related