Planalto Bittar Hotel

Golf in Brasilia - bring cash!

by Oceanwatcher

Golf. Do I need to say more?

To anyone that play golf, this is an interesting golfcourse. Designed by the famous Robert Trent Jones, it is a beautiful golfcourse with greens that was typical for that time. Small. And a lot of bunkers. And on some holes have water in play. One of the holes is played over a small bay of the lake. Very beautiful.

There is a great variety of trees along the course and I hope the club can update their pages with some more information about it because this is a bit special. A professor collected and planted trees here.

During the season, you can actually find food along the golfcourse. What I am talking about? Mangoes! There are a lot of mangotrees and in the right season you can pick what you want.

According to people from the club, the fairways soak up the rain very well, so even during the rainseason you can play. And the rain normally comes in the afternoon, so if you start early you will have a nice round before the rain comes.

No matter what time of year you play, it is definitely an advantage to start early. Then you avoid the heat as much as possible.

One word about the driving range. It is too far away. Next to the small Pro Shop, you find a putting green and a chipping green. But the driving range is 2 km up the road.

Some time ago the club was in a very bad condition, and it is still recovering. But it was a joy to play it and definitely a course worth playing.

One word of warning - The Pro Shop and the club do not accept creditcards. Only the restaurant. So bring cash for the greenfee and for any equipment you need to rent or purchase. I brought my glove and golfshoes.

I rented clubs and managed to find some that were not too old. If you can bring your own clubs, that is definitely preferrable.

A caddie will be of good help.The one I got was a 20 hcp himself and he knew the course very well. And for the price, 50 Rials if I remember correctly, it is well worth it.

Chapada dos Viadeiros

by psquared

Awesome hiking trip! Waterfalls, natural pools for swimming (on hot days). Wear comfortable shoes because you'll do lots of walking. The trail we took, Carioca, was about 2 hours in and 2 hours out. But worth it.

I stayed in a small town San Jorge near the park entrance. A few nice cheap pousadas to stay and eat at. The town of Alto Paraiso is close by (35 km) and is bigger and more established (i.e. paved roads). Lots of interesting restaurants and shops with a New Age bent. Plenty of crystals to buy.

Brasilia

by Ian2004

"The 'concrete jungle'"

Brasilia was constructed from scratch within 3 years from 1957 and, although it is an architectural wonder, it is not designed with pedestrians in mind.

The lack of historical background also limits the number of places to visit. However, take a day to wander down the Eixo Monumental to see the interesting buildings, and to admire the achievement in creating this new capital

Remember that entry to certain buildings will not be allowed to visitors in shorts!

Photograph taken from the roof of the National Theatre, looking towards the Cathedral and down to the Congress (the upturned bowl) at the far left.

"Metropolitan Cathedral"

This is a remarkable building, and a good place to be reflective.

It also contains the original wooden cross used at the first Mass when the city was created in 1957.

slaybelle's NITEROI, BRAZIL

by slaybelle

This NEXT WONDER is actually in Niteroi, Brazil but VT doesn't have Niteroi page.

Niteroi's MAC- MUSEU DE ARTE CONTEMPORANEA, kinda looks like that of a flying saucer with a dramatic location on a cliff overlooking Guanabara Bay, just across the water from Rio. The entire building rests on a cylindrical base a mere 27 feet in diameter. This architectural balancing act is the creation of 92 year old Oscar Niemeyer. The entrance ramp which looks like red carpet is actually red concrete. The cunning design uses light refracting from the bay to illuminate its collection.