The Telegraph has spotlighted Brazil the Guide and World Cup the Guide as two web sites to look at when thinking of travelling to Brazil or to the 2014 World Cup.
The web sites were featured in the Telegraph’s own guide to Brazil published on 24 March 2013 and written by Chris Moss.
Tickets are on sale for the Brazilian Grand Prix that takes place at Interlagos in São Paulo on Sunday, 24 November. It will be the last race of the 2013 season.
Weekend ticket prices for 2013 are:
Grandstand
Setor A – R$ 695
Setor B (covered and with food) – R$ 2.630
Setor M (covered) – R$ 1.450
Setor D – R$ 2.260
Setor E (covered and with food) – R$ 2.720
Setor F (covered) – R$ 1.350
Setor G – R$ 525
Setor V (covered and with food) – R$ 1.990
VIP Area
Premium Paddock Club – Star Lounge – R$ 11.200
Terrace Club – R$ 7.750
Interlagos Club – R$ 4.900
Orange Tree Club – R$ 3.780
Bruce Ashby, CEO oneworld; Tom Horton, President oneworld; Ignacio Cueto, CEO LAN Airlines and Damián Scokin, CEO LATAM International.
LATAM Airlines Group has chosen oneworld to be its global alliance for all its airlines. With this decision – announced on 7 March at a oneworld meeting in Hong Kong – TAM Airlines will now become a member of oneworld, joining LAN Airlines and 11 other member airlines, including British Airways.
TAM will withdraw from the Star Alliance during the second quarter of 2014, on a date to be announced later in 2013. The airline plans to officially join oneworld as soon as it leaves Star Alliance. From that date, TAM passengers will be able to accumulate kilometres/points by flying on any oneworld member airline. Until then, they will continue to receive the benefits offered by the Star Alliance.
“We have evaluated all the existing possibilities and chose the alliance that offers the best benefits to our passengers, in addition to the best connectivity and products, as well as the greatest synergies for the LATAM Airlines Group. We are very happy with our decision,” says Enrique Cueto, CEO, LATAM Airlines Group. “With the incorporation of the LATAM Airlines Group in to oneworld, passengers flying with us will be able to book trips through the oneworld network of destinations and connect from any of the 950 destinations.”
TAM Airlines and TAM S.A. CEO Marco Antonio Bologna adds that the decision to join oneworld “is important news for TAM passengers and we are focused on ensuring a smooth transition to the company, for our partners, and, most importantly, our clients”. According to Bologna, TAM “is joining a growing alliance, that is able to offer the best connection options to our passengers.”
oneworld’s CEO, Bruce Ashby, said: “We are delighted that, after its comprehensive review of alliance options, LATAM not only decided to have LAN remain on board oneworld, but also to include TAM and all the other passenger airline subsidiaries in the LATAM group as well. This solidifies oneworld’s long-standing position as the alliance leader in Latin America and provides an even more attractive proposition for frequent international travellers the world over. We look forward to working with LATAM to ensure a smooth transition to oneworld.”
Currently, oneworld members include airberlin, American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Finnair, Iberia, Japan Airlines, LAN, Malaysia Airlines, Qantas, Royal Jordanian and S7 Airlines, as well as 30 affiliates. SriLankan Airlines and Qatar Airways are in the process of joining the alliance.
During the event in Hong Kong on 7 March, the executives also announced the entry of LAN Colombia in to oneworld as an affiliate member. This will also occur during the fourth quarter of 2013, when it will join other LAN affiliate airlines LAN Argentina, LAN Ecuador and LAN Peru, reaffirming LAN’s 13-year membership in oneworld.
Rio de Janeiro has a new art museum, the Museu de Arte do Rio (Museum of Rio Art) or MAR, which is located in Praça Mauá.
The museum and gallery was opened by the President of Brazil, Dilma Rousseff, on 1 March 2013, the date of the city’s 448th birthday. It is the first really tangible result of the redevelopment of the city’s port area and a project known as Porto Maravilha.
The museum is just one of several new cultural centres planned for the port region in time for the 2016 Olympics. It is made up of two buildings, the Dom João VI Palace, which is a listed building, and a more modern building that used to be a car park and part of the bus terminal. The buildings are joined by a fifth-floor walkway.
MAR has eight exhibition halls that offer visitors a multi-faceted vision of the history of the city and of its social fabric, life, conflicts, contradictions, challenges and expectations.
Exhibits promise to link the historical and contemporary dimensions of art through short- and long-term shows of national and international interest. It is currently amassing its own collection through acquisitions and donations and will also exhibit loaned art works from some of Brazil’s finest public and private collections. MAR also has its own school, the Escola do Olhar (School of Vision).
The museum is open Tuesday to Sunday from 10 am to 6 pm.
Brazil has unveiled the tournament’s Official Poster for the 2014 FIFA World Cup. The Official Poster was the last remaining visual icon to be launched for the 2014 edition of FIFA’s flagship event.
“The poster is a great example of Brazil’s creative excellence. The winning entry will no doubt serve as a splendid visiting card for the 2014 FIFA World Cup, that is due to kick off in 498 days. The poster highlights the significance and sparkle of the event as well as the fascination of football in a very emotive way”, explained FIFA Secretary General Jérôme Valcke , who was part of a high-profile judging panel also made up of Brazilian Minister of Culture Marta Suplicy, LOC President Jose Maria Marin, Brazilian artist Romero Britto as well as LOC Board of Administration members Ronaldo and Bebeto.
“It’s different, Brazilian, creative and daring. It has our boundless size and manages to capture our rhythm and colours. Let’s go for victory!” said Marta Suplicy, Brazilian Minister of Culture.
The Official poster was designed by Brazilian creative agency Crama, which was selected ahead of two other designs.
“The Official Poster is an important step for showcasing Brazil and the FIFA World Cup in the Host Country and abroad. It is important to convey the message of a country that is modern, innovative, sustainable, happy, united and, of course, passionate about football,” explained Ronaldo.
The artwork depicts the beauty and diversity of Brazil through a colourful, emotional and vibrant design. The creative concept at the heart of the poster is “An entire country at football’s service – Brazil and football: one shared identity”, which inspired Crama to shape the winning design. This is evident throughout the poster, particularly where the players‘ legs challenging for the ball reveal the map of Brazil.
Michael Palin is the recipient of the Latin American Travel Association’s media award for 2013.
The award was presented to Palin at a reception held on the House of Lords Terrace on Wednesday, 30 January 2013 and hosted by Baroness Hooper, chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary British-Latin American Group, and Christopher Pickard, chairman of Latin American Travel Association.
The award was presented to Palin in recognition of his “impact in inspiring people to travel and learn more about the world and its people. And for his BBC television series and book “Brazil”, in helping to promote the understanding of Latin America.”
The evening also marked the 21st anniversary of LATA as an association.
Kleber Mendonça Filho’s O Som ao Redor (Neighbouring Sounds), which was chosen by the official jury at Festival do Rio as the best feature film of Première Brasil 2012, has also been chosen by the New York Times as one of the ten best films of 2012.
The New York Times’ A.O.Scott noted: In his first feature, Mr Mendonça a former film critic, chronicles the daily rhythms of life in an affluent apartment complex in the Brazilian coastal city of Recife. What emerges is a subtle portrait of a society in the throes of rapid social transformation, still haunted by the cruelties of its feudal past.
New York Times Top 10 Films of 2012
Sunday, 10 February 2013 (From 21.00 to 04.00)
Monday, 11 February 2013 (From 21.00 to 04.00)
UNESCO has added frevo to its list of the intangible cultural heritage of humanity. One of 16 new elements inscribed in December 2012.
UNESCO states: “Frevo is a Brazilian artistic expression comprising music and dance, performed mainly during the Carnival of Recife. Its quick frenetic and vigorous rhythm draws upon the fusion of musical genres such as marching music, Brazilian tango, square dance, polka and pieces of classical repertoire, performed by martial bands and fanfares. The music is essentially urban, and like the accompanying dance, ‘Passo’, is vigorous and subversive. The dance stems from the skill and agility of capoeira fighters, who improvise leaps to the electrifying sound of steel orchestras and bands.”
Among the reasons listed for its adoption on the list were:
1: Frevo constitutes a syncretic artistic expression recognized by the people of Recife as a festive symbol of their identity and continuity and constantly recreated by them in response to changing social conditions;
2: Its inscription on the Representative List could favour dialogue, promote mutual understanding, and foster appreciation of the creative spirit of humanity, thanks in particular to its openness to diverse people and communities;
3: The description of safeguarding measures is thorough and extensive, with well-identified activities focused on promotion, dissemination, documentation and education; the commitment of the communities and the support of the State Party are demonstrated;
4: The element was nominated following wide and active involvement of the community, associations and groups concerned, and their free, prior and informed consent is amply demonstrated;
The Brazilian Formula One Grand Prix will take place on Sunday, 24 November in 2013. As in 2012, the race at the Interlagos circuit in São Paulo will be the last of the season.
More often than not the Brazilian Grand Prix seems to decide who wins the drivers and often manufacturers championship.
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Brazil the Guide 