Going to Brazil

D

dizos

Joined
Nov 22, 2002
Messages
385
I'm heading down to Brazil thursday for a few weeks. I'm going to be in Salvador, Manaus, Rio and Cuiba. Any advice on knife related things to do?

Thanks

Dizos
 
Been there. Take extreme precautions to minimize the very real possibility of kidnapping or robbery. Hopefully you'll hook up with knowledgeable locals who can help you. Maintain keen situational awareness. Trust your gut.
 
Rio is being taken over by drug gangs thanks to dumb judges and politicians.There is open warfare with the cops with some heavy weapons used by the gangs.
 
Yep, really are some beautiful women down there. I'm married, so appreciation is as far as I go with that business. Anyways, I hear it is hard to tell the shemales from the females in Brazil until it is too late... ;)

I'm pretty careful about not getting into bad situations. I've traveled quite a bit around the world and there are predators everywhere. Most of my traveling will be in the field, when in urban areas I don't carry much to rob. Walking down the driveway in my neighborhood is not the safest thing to do either.

Thanks Keith for Jeff's email. I'll drop him a note. It would be cool to check out some of the local makers. I'm also a fan of rustic tribal produced blades. I'm curious if any of the indigenous folks have taken up forging.

Happy 4th!!

-- Dizos
 
Dizos,
I live far south from where you'll travell to, but if you ever go down, let me know. We have some good knifemakers and a few crazy collectors by here.
And yes, pay the same cares as you'd do at most of the places around the world. Mainly try don't look like a foreign tourist lost in the paradise. ;-). The eventual "war gangs" wouldn't affect your routine as they are restricted to areas you probably wont walk by.
Jeff Velascos direction is a good one, as the SBC forum at CKD.
Good travell e enjoy it.
 
Thank you for the kind offer Geraldo. Curitiba sounds like a great city to visit. I'm only traveling for a few weeks, but hope to spend much more time there in the future.

BTW - I should qualifiy that the above shemale joke was referencing Rio not for all of Brazil and hope it gave no offense.

-- Dizos
 
dizos said:
...BTW - I should qualifiy that the above shemale joke was referencing Rio not for all of Brazil and hope it gave no offense.

-- Dizos
Click to expand...
You could always reach down and "check" like Crocodile Dundee did.:D.
 
Tell the Brazilian knifemakers that Golok of Bladeforums says "hello".

:D ;)
 
Here is the response from Jeff in Brazil:

Dear Mr. Silverman,


If you are going to Cuiaba, try to go down to Campo Grande, there you will
find the shop of Sargent Francisco Ferrari, one of our great guys in custom
knife making. He is a first class drill sargent of the Brazilian Army and
does things the old style. Salvador is a great center of african culture. If
you can spend a few bucks and have a local guide you can trust, and a strong
stomack, I advise you to look for the hidden Candomblé, ancient african
religion ceremonies, pretty much like Santeria, but more ancestral, pretty
much like they did in African tribes. It will also be interesting to go find
the Capoeira circles and watch this ancient African martial art. As for
indian art you will get plenty of that in Manaus. Try to look for good stuff
though.. not the crap they try to sell tourists. The crappy stuff is usualy
very very colorfull. Rio is a violent place, I advise you not to go out much
and never to carry anything of value, like cameras and the sort. There are a
couple of collectors and makers in Rio, but as I don't work directly with
them I really cannot tell you how to find them. Try to post here:
http://www.knifenetwork.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=48 and you will get the
information I happen to don't have right now.


If the wind ever blow you more to the south, just let me know and I will be
hapy to meet you if you get closer to my location (Florianópolis, SC).


Yours,


Jefferson Lewis Velasco
www.brazilianbladesmiths.com.br
info@brazilianbladesmiths.com.br
+55 48 9998-8129
 
Hi, Dizos...

I live in Sao Paulo, and if you by any chance, step by, you can call me. I'll be glad to put you in contact to some knife collectors and makers I know (Bob G, Flavio Duprat, etc)

The advice people are giving you is sadly true :( . Thare are places with so much violence indeed. You be careful not to walk into some gang territories, nor the "favelas". Try not to act as a tourist and to carry your values in a bag, or other way concealed. Walk with a camera hanging around yor neck is to ask for trouble.

But Brazil is not only this. There are lots of nice places, nice food and nice history. If you like the sport ;) , the most beautiful girls in the universe live in this country... When In Cuiabá, you can try to extend your trip a little bit and get to know the Pantanal...

If you need something, you can send me a mail in private and I can give you my cell number.

Regards,

Andre Tiba - Brazil
 
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