17 Wednesday Aug 2011
Posted in CITIES: Goiânia
An old shed that used to serve as a vehicle maintenance workshop and a warehouse for the Federal University of Goias in the city of Goiania, Brazil, was recycled into a stunning cultural center for the institution.
Following the rule that the greenest building is the one already standing, architect Fernando Simon adapted the construction to enable the installation of spaces to host art exhibits, dance and music performances and workshops.
21 Monday Mar 2011
Posted in CITIES: Goiânia
Moving to Goiania Forum.
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05 Friday Jun 2009
Posted in CITIES: Goiânia, INTERNET & PHONE SERVICES:
Tags
Brazil, broadband, call centers, consumer protection, INTERNET & PHONE SERVICES:, NET, Oi Brasil Telecom, phone, service
Brazil phone and internet company
The major phone company for our area, Brasil Telecom, was bought out by Oí – now known as Oí Brasil Telecom. Today’s paper had an article about BT/Oí’s totally unacceptable customer service.
Since January Procon (consumer protection agency) has received 7,500 complaints again Oí Brasil Telecom; 20% of all consumer complaints.
Procon sent an official notice to the company instructing them to NOT sell any new phone lines for 10 days and to resolve 50% of the outstanding complaints. Turns out the company ignored the directive and continued to sell phone services and only resolved 3% of backlogged complaints.
This disrespect of consumers seems to have become a worldwide disease – lowlife capitalism. Although there are government departments responsible for insuring ones rights against these monolithic companies, they are not very affective as exampled above by the company completely disregarding Procon’s directive.
A couple of years back, Brasil Telecom was my phone and broadband provider. The local TV cable company launched a new Internet service via cable. I signed up. It was better than Brasil Telecom. When I called Brasil Telecom to disconnect my service it was the beginning of a four day effort sometimes spending over an hour at a time trying to get ‘disconnect’. They just kept passing on from one call center person to another. I finally found a number (investor relations, I think) and called them. They got me disconnected. The TV cable service (NET) tanked and I had to go back to Brasil Telecom. The service has been good for over a year now, but I dread the thought of having to call them if I have a broadband problem.
The actual phone or internet service is generally good. The problem is in the support services. If you do have a problem; difficult to get it fixed.
If you are moving to Brazil, be prepared for problems with your local phone company.
LINKS:
27 Monday Apr 2009
Posted in CITIES: Goiânia
Jiboia snake - Folha Online
Firemen in Goiânia hold a Jibóia snake that was crawling around a street in one of the suburbs. This is a small one; only 2 meters (6 1/2 feet)!
This is the fifth one they have had to collect within the last 30 days.
The snake was taken to the Ibama institute – environmental agency of the federal government.
LINKS:
18 Wednesday Mar 2009
Posted in CITIES: Goiânia, DAILY LIFE
Tags
Brazil, brazilian supermarkets, chain supermerkets, goiania, grocery store, pao de acucar, shopping in Brazil, supermarkets
Pão de Açucar – Praça Tamandaré Goiânia
THE STORES:
The major chain supermarkets in Brazil (Bom Preço, Carrefour, Extra, Pao de Açúcar, Wal-Mart) and regional supermarkets offer a wide range of goods and products. Some even carry imported items (normally very expensive). One supermarkets is pretty much like another as far a layout and infrastructure are concerned. The differentials are price and service.
PRICES:
The price spread from one store to another varies a great deal and varies from one day to the next. If you are looking at big ticket items, it definitely is worth doing some price checking via the internet first.
The biggest “price” problem is within a store. Shelf prices and the check-out stand prices many times do not match. The error is usually in favor of the check-stand. Thus, you always have to check the item’s price at one of the bar-code readers located around the store. This is especially true if the item is on sale. But, you still have to watch the check-out stand’s monitor during.
FLASH!!
This very problem happened the other day at Pão de Açúcar supermarket at Praça Tamandare here in Goiania. I bought an item, got to the check-out stand and the price was different – more expensive. I returned to the section to purchase a different brand…there was an employee there re-organizing everything…it was a mess! No one was there when I made the orginal purchase.
Pão de Açucar has a suggestion box – most supermarkets do not. I left my complaint. As I am writing this they called me. I never, never would have expected that!!!.
SERVICE:
I haven’t found much difference between the stores in terms of service. Most of the check-out people are stoned faced. Kind of like the flight attendants on US airlines. I don’t fault the employees. The companies usually don’t invest much in training and I imagine the managers don’t get much training either in customer service. But, we go there for price, so if the service is lacking; no biggie.
05 Thursday Mar 2009
Posted in CITIES: Goiânia, CITIES: Others, OFF TOPIC:
Tags
UV Index Brazil - click chart for today's numbers
The last few days have been similar to those during the dry season….hot and cloudless skies. Today it is 35C/95F and only some scattered clouds. This morning there was not a cloud in the sky. During the dry season (May to September), there are days (many days) when there is not a cloud to be seen and the humidity will drop to Sahara Desert levels. The Sun is still high in the sky and will burn you quickly if not protected. In June and July, it may still be very warm, but the Sun’s rays are much less intensive. Living in the tropics is good, but it has its downside.
LINKS:
29 Thursday Jan 2009
Posted in CITIES: Goiânia
Tags
West Address - Goiânia, GO, Brazil
As with any city of over 1 million there are numerous hotel options. Most likely if you are coming to Goiânia, reservations will be made by someone here. If not, the hotels listed below are all good and offer a range of prices. There are other good options, but I only listed those with which I am most familiar. The exception is Comfort Suites Flamboyant. It is located in an area of the major shopping center (Flamboyant), restaurants (Outback Steakhouse, Italian among others) and WalMart just up the street…….almost seems like you are in the US.
BUS STATION-HOTELS:
I will have a specific posting about the bus station, but just to mention here that there are inexpensive hotels (US$25-$35) within walking.
ENGLISH SPEAKING STAFF:
Castro’s has English speaking staff. Most of the others will have a person or two around who can speak English “more or less”.
* (p) = Portuguese only (e) = English
LINKS:
> Address West Side Hotel Residence (e) – has nice little varanda bar
> Blue Tree Towers (p) – upscale, opened in 2008, site only in Portuguese
> Castro’s Park Hotel (p) – upscale – English speaking staff
> Comfort Suites Flamboyant (e)
> Ibis (e) – charge extra for breakfast and parking – just off Av 85 – main avenue
> Oeste Plaza (p) – small hotel, residential area, around corner from Castro’s
> Plaza Inn Executive (p) - Av. D, across from McDonald’s at Praça Ratinho
> RESOURCE: Trip Advisor – Goiânia
> RESOURCE: Vitural Tourist – Goiânia
28 Wednesday Jan 2009
Posted in CITIES: Goiânia
Tags
bouganiville, Brazil, buena, buriti, flamyboyant, goiania, malls, shopping centers, shopping malls, visita
Flamboyant Shopping - Goiânia, GO - Brazil - click for larger image
Comfort Suites center – WalMart to the right
Goiânia is well served by Malls .
I think all of the Malls charge for parking except Boungainville. Strange for Americans, but land is expensive and is considered a revenue source.
Major Malls are listed below. All sites are in Portuguese, but taking a look will give you an idea of the type and location of each.
* loja = store
* alimentação – food
LINKS:
> Araguaia Shopping – downtown, small
> Shopping Bougainville – vertical, upscale, free parking
16 Tuesday Dec 2008
Posted in CITIES: Goiânia, DRIVING IN BRAZIL:
Tags
When the electricity goes off!!
The electricity went off here today. Rare. No electricity + no traffic lights = the photo.
This happened around 1:40 when many people were returning to work from lunch. Goiania is easy enough to get around in that many people go home for lunch; especially those who have two-hour lunch breaks.
Most of the time when this happens, folks are a bit more orderly; however, today….grid lock.
The grid lock you see in the photo happens because everyone keeps moving forward regardless. It is the same when you go to enter an elevator….the doors open and everyone inside rushes out while everyone outside rushes in….at the same time. 
People will not wait. Once they get moving, they don’t want to stop.
You as a Gringo ain’t gonna change this. You either get used to it, work around it, drink more or go home!!
BTW, this little traffic jam is a super-mini compared to São Paulo. There they have the Mother of All Traffic Jams. Another of one of the many reasons I would not live there.
19 Wednesday Nov 2008
Posted in CITIES: Goiânia
Tags
Brazil, compare prices, Cost of Living in Brazil, goiania, online shopping, shopping, stores, walmart
Walmart Goiania - click on image for more photos of Goiania area
Love them or hate them, seems they are everywhere.
Compare prices between Walmart Brazil and Walmart USA or in you country.
LINKS:
28 Sunday Sep 2008
Posted in CITIES: Brasília, CITIES: Goiânia, DRIVING IN BRAZIL:
BR 060 Goiânia to Brasília
When I moved to Brazil in March 1986, I lived in Brasilia for about three months before moving to Goiania. The drive from Brasilia to Goiania took three and a half hours over a two-lane road that carried a lot of traffic; especially on Saturday mornings and Sunday afternoons.
Now the highway is four-lanes (except for about 10km which is being completed now) and takes only about two hours to make the trip. Yesterday, I drove to Brasilia leaving around 9:00 and arriving back in Goiania around 5:00 with 3 1/2 hrs spent in Brasilia. It is not so much that you can make the trip faster, but that you can do it safely and comfortably.
LINKS:
19 Monday May 2008
Posted in CITIES: Goiânia
Tags
brazilian supermarkets, Carrefour, cost of living Brazil, extra, major stores in Brazil, pao de acucar, Sam's Club, shopping, walmart
I have added some links to national supermarkets and supercenters. These sites are in Portuguese, but you should be able to navigate around after a bit of hunting and pecking.
Walmart is reported to be setting up an online purchase site such as the ones below. There is a Walmarts and a Sam’s Club in Goiania. I’ve been twice. I frequent Pão de Açúcar and Extra plus some local supermarkets as they are within walking distance. There is no reason to drive out to Walmart. They are selling the same products as the national supermarkets. However, if you buy in large quantities, Sam’s is the place to go.
The last link is to our local supermarket which allows us to buy online and they deliver.
LINKS:
> SuperCenter: Extra (Wal-Mart type store. Food and white goods)
>Food: Pão de Açúcar – national upscale supermarket (p)
11 Tuesday Mar 2008
Posted in CITIES: Goiânia, COST OF LIVING:
Tags
apartment, Brazil, buying, CLB, cost of living, goiania, joao pessoa, renting, renting an apartment in brazil, Sao Paulo
(Behind you, Goiânia Shopping)
Renting an apartment in Brazil for a long-term stay (one year+) will be difficult, unless you are being sent here by your company in which case they will (or should) assist you. If you are on you own, here is what you will face:
Why It Won’t Be Easy:
Keywords: (Imóveis = Real Estate) (Alugar/Aluguel = Rent)
UPDATED: Sept 2012
LINKS:
09 Tuesday Jan 2007
Posted in CITIES: Goiânia
Bosque Buritis Goiania, Goias, Brazil
Goiânia is a city of 1 million+ located 1,000 km Northwest of São Paulo and 280 km Southwest of Brasilia; the Federal Capital.
LINKS:
