Some of my family and friends would like to visit Brazil but find the tourist visa process a little daunting. I thought I would provide a guide based on my own experiences for what it takes for US citizens to get their tourist visa for Brazil.

Tourist visas are required for US citizens to enter Brazil and must be obtained in advance of your trip. Unfortunately the requirements vary by consulate so what you need to do will probably depend on which consulate has authority over your jurisdiction. What jurisdiction are you in? This link from the Brazilian embassy lists each consulate general and which states are under its jurisdiction. Since I am a resident of Pennsylvania I am under the New York consulate’s jurisdiction.

First you need to gather the required documents.

For all jurisdictions you will need:

• Your US passport, valid for 6 months beyond your stay in Brazil
• 2 copies of the signed visa form (see below for form instructions)
• A recent 2×2 passport photo
• A photocopy of your US state drivers license
• Proof of departure (more on this later)
• Visa processing fee of US$165

Unfortunately some different consulates have additional requirements. If you’re in the Chicago jurisdiction you need to sign a sworn statement that your documents are truthful. Applicants in the Hartford consulate’s jurisdiction require a signed letter of authorization. In the Chicago jurisdiction if you are not staying in a hotel, (e.g. staying with friends) you need an official invitation from your host in Brazil. It even has to be notarized. I recommend staying in a hotel!

US citizens must now apply for their Brazilian visa electronically. This link provides the electronic forms. Select “Visa Request” in the third box (the English one!) and follow the instructions provided. Fill out the form electronically on the site. You will find that you need your parents’ names and your profession for this form, and just about any other form you fill out in Brazil – one the country’s quirks. Also be prepared to provide your passport information, your addresses in Brazil (probably hotels) and duration of your stay.

Where is your consulate?

If you can visit your consulate in person you can print out the form and bring it with you, along with your other required documents. Check the consulate’s website for information on applying for a visa. A few of the consulates will accept your application by mail, but some do not. If you can’t mail the application you can use a visa service rather than going in person. A quick Google search will reveal lots of options. I checked in to several but ended up using the company Travisa, which is also the service I’ve used through my employer for business visas. Initially it seems like Travisa is a little pricier, but I found some of the “discount” services tack on so many fees at the end that the prices end up very similar. The service you use should provide you step-by-step instructions for sending your paperwork through them as well.

The Brazilian consulate expects to see proof of onward travel with the visa application, usually in the form of your airline reservation. This can present a problem if you don’t want to book your plane tickets just yet or want to actually have the visa before buying them. While it is very unlikely that your tourist visa application will be denied and generally safe to book the tickets, you could use “fake” tickets to fulfill the requirement. I just went on Expedia and searched for some flights to Brazil and selected a round-trip that matched my expected travel dates. I went through the reservation process up until I had to pay and then took a screenshot of the flights and sent it along. Make sure the reservation has your name on it.

Send all your documents through your visa service or bring them to the consulate. The processing times vary between the locations but I wouldn’t expect to be without your passport for more than a week or two. And then once you get your visa, enjoy your travel to Brazil!

Keep in mind that the Brazilian embassy often changes visa application requirements. While this information was up-to-date as of press time, I recommend verifying the requirements on your consulate’s website before submitting your application.

If you decide to travel to Egypt you have to know something about Egypts most visited spots and travel attractions. For todays travel news we have a story about Egypt and his most famous vacation spots and about his history.

The king Khafra lived a Pharaoh of Egypt, also known as Khephren, Khauf-Re or Khaf-Re. This Pharaoh of Egypt belonged to the 4th Dynasty only there’s no sure data about the age of his reign. The name of the Pharaoh of Egypt means ‘to look like Ra’. It appears that the king Khafra had a lot of wives including his brother’s daughter – Meresankh II; Khameremebty I was another wife of the Pharaoh of Egypt. He had three sons: Menkaure, Sekhemkare and Nekure, and one daughter – Khameremebty II. The king replacement was Menkaure who married his sister. A few objects that dates back the king Khafra’s reign were exposed in the Beirut’s North and in Syria, which signifies that the Pharaoh of Egypt was involved in foreign diplomacy or trade. He may as well have made a few expeditions in Sinai. The king Khafra left a lot of unbelievable values for Egypt and for the whole world, alike the pyramids complex from Giza, the Great Sphinx which was built by him. It’s as well supposed that the face adorning the immense statue is of the pharaoh Khafra, too. Additional great artifact discovered in the Khafra`s valley temple is the Khafra statue made from diorite. Now the statue can be seen at the Egyptian Antiquities Museum. The Pharaoh of Egypt was listed as a despotic king, suchlike his father, king Khufu was too. The king Khafra died in 2480 BC. The Great Pyramid of Khafra will forever be a testimonial of this pharaoh times greatness. The Great Pyramid is one of the most fascinating pyramids in Egypt that constitute a study object for many specialists. The pharaoh’s temple was made from granite, the floor from alabaster of white color. The floor in use to have twenty-three superb statues of Horus and of Khafra, made from diorite. Nowadays, the entirely Khafra complex from Giza is visited by thousands of tourists.

Man face lion body, long-familiar as the Great Sphinx of Egypt, most famous tourist attraction, is located in the Khafra pyramid south, on a place that at one time used to be a huge quarry. This astonishing structure dates back about 5.000 years ago and was built by the workers of the Pharaoh of Egypt Khafra, from an large block of stone from which they carved a lion body with the head of the Pharaoh of Egypt. This building was made alike a sun temple and it’s similar with the sun temples that were built by the 5th dynasty kings. A stela was put between the sphinx front paws by The Egypt’s king Thutmose the 4th, who ruled between 1425 and 1417. The Sphinx was worshiped for a time period as the Ra of the Two Horizons but earlier, the statue was built to be a Giza pyramids` guardian. The larger statue of the Egypt man face lion body statue has numerous than 240 feet in length, 66 feet in height, the Sphinx’s eyes have six feet in height and the face has thirteen feet in height. The statue does not have its beard and it nose just in the British Museum you can see the statue’s beard. It seems that the nose disappeared because of the vandals who destroyed it. The humidity and the wind coming form Egypt’s capital damaged the Sphinx that had to be restored in 1980; the restoration lasted six years when over 2.000 blocks of limestone were placed but in 1988 the statue’s left shoulder suffered at deterioration that made the falling of a few blocks. As well, during the time, a few parts of the statue, particularly the bottom part, were buried by sand. But the Sphinx shoulder was restored and is being cared of it to remain the same guardian of the Egypt’s pyramids.

Chicago has an excellent range of well maintained public parks and spaces but some of these are much better spots for a summer picnic than others. The perfect picnic needs beautiful weather, fine company, good food and a serene green space to enjoy. Here are some of Chicago’s best

Welles Park offers something for everyone to enjoy. There’s a fenced in dog free playground along with a more traditional open area. If you’re a couple then you could cozy up in a romantic gazebo or grab a serene spot on the lawn. At night the gazebo lights up to bring an extra touch of romance to the whole experience, perfect for those hot, balmy nights. There are bathroom facilities at the field house and the park is an alcohol free zone. Access the park from the Western Brown Line stop or the Montrose, Lincoln and Western Ave buses.

Millennium Park has several amazing spots to choose from. If you’re looking for secluded and romantic, then go for one of the hedged enclosures in Lurie Garden which is always well maintained with beautiful seasonal blooms. The expansive lawn at Jay Pritzker Pavilion is a great place to picnic and also the home to the Grant Park Music Festival and other free concerts and events. Millennium Park offers stunning views of the Chicago skyline and has the added bonus of bathroom facilities. With a convenient Downtown location the park is easily accessible by all CTA trains and many bus routes.

If you’re looking for a great picnic spot on Chicago’s south side then Promontory Point in Burnham Park has to be your first choice. The park offers some of the most beautiful views in the city and is a popular choice for couples to have their nuptials at the point. Open to the public and right onto the water it offers a real feeling of escape from the hustle of the city. The shore is famous for its tree-lined picnic areas complete with Alfred Caldwell-designed stone sitting rings and huge play meadow. The vast meadow is a great place to relax with good food and friends and watch the kite flyers and fishermen.

At 30 acres, River Park is one of the largest parks in Chicago that is often overlooked. This makes it the perfect choice if you are searching for a hidden gem which avoids the summer crowds. Located at the point where the Chicago River meets the canal it is rich in wildlife and offers fishing and canoeing. River Park also boasts a dog area and two separate playgrounds, one of which features a swimming pool and interactive water playground perfect for hot summer days and less intimidating than the pool for younger kids. With bathroom facilities and a range of riverside paths to walk along this is a great place for picnic and a late summer stroll.

These are just our pick of the some of the best picnic spots in Chicago which are perfect for the visitor or resident alike. If you are thinking of relocating to Chicago you can find all the latest information and house prices at Areavibes website.

If you have found the ideal place for a picnic in Chicago City or would like to share a picnic recipe with us, please let us know in the comments box below.

Of course, I can’t include all the Aussie stuff in my Aussie stuff page but what I ve attempted to do is to write a page that will give visitors to Australia some sort of handle on what they can expect when they come to Oz.

We Aussies are, after all, a very different lot; our sense of humour is legendary but very difficult sometimes for our visitors to understand, for example, where else in the world would you find that the redheads in the community are all nicknamed Blue or Bluey”?

Things are often expressed as a contradiction, Aussies know what it all means but a visitor has Buckleys, (to have “Buckleys” or “Buckleys chance”) means you have no chance…)

To find a more comprehensive list of the Aussie Stuff we have on the site go to our sitemap you’ll find it all there.

If you re from the old dart, that s England, and you understand a little cockney rhyming slang then you ve got a head start on most people because the Aussie rhyming slang has its origins in the East End of London, however, it has developed and changed over the years to suit Australia and Australians.

You can find out a little more about the Australian language right here, including some of the more common Aussie slang words and phrases.

Now, what other Aussie stuff will you find useful when you re travelling to Australia?

How about your Australian visa?

Even if you re a Pommie or a Kiwi you need a visa, do you know how to get a visa to Australia or how many types of visa there are or what type of visa you need?

Follow the links you ll find it all here.

Aussie facts, things that are important if you need to know them, things like international telephone dialling codes, bank opening hours, vaccinations, currency, emergency telephone numbers etc. you’ll find on our Aussie facts page and the fun Aussie stuff you ll find on our Aussie fun facts page, go there now and have a gander.

Maybe you’re looking for some of the more unusual Aussie stuff we have 3 pages of it,

Unusual Australia facts about Australia, history, convicts and the Australian environment,

More unusual Australia facts about immigration to Australia, facts about some great sporting moments and some unusual Australia facts about our cities and states.

Yet more unusual facts about our mysteries, eccentrics, the Australian economy and our lifestyle.

What about where to find the best Australian attractions, after all, the lure of an Australian vacation for many lies in the great number of unique Australian attractions that are to be found.

Need a map, you ll find an interactive map of Australia on our maps page, just point and scroll, you can zoom in to make it a street directory or out to see a world map and you can do that for anywhere in the world, all courtesy of Google.

What other ‘Aussie stuff” might the visitor to Australia need to know?

What about where to find the best beaches, after all, most visitors to Australia come for a holiday and when you re on vacation and you re surrounded by the best beaches in the world you need to know where to find them don t you?

If you re planning on a visit to a beach or to the Australian snowfields then you need to know what to expect from the weather, and wherever you go or whatever you plan to do you re going to need money.

Find out how money works in Australia and how much of the Aussie stuff you ll get for your stuff right here.

When you’re planning your trip there are some places you’d be better off avoiding if you can, our Aussie Travel warnings page will give you all the up to date information on the best places to avoid…

Driving in Australia can be a very tedious business, especially if you re a passenger and you re driving through the bush, our Aussie car games will help to relieve the tedium, especially for the younger ones.

The Australia Blog keeps you up to date with all additions and changes to the-discount-travel-guide.com web site as well as our monthly/special travel deals. you can sign up to our Aussie blog right here.

Before you leave why not subscribe to our E-zine, I promise you your email won’t be spammed and we’ll only send you any good travel deals/specials that might come along from time to time.

Of course, there s lots more Aussie stuff that you ll want to find out or need to know, just keep checking back, or better yet bookmark this page, and we ll build this page, little by little, to include as much Aussie stuff as we can find and if, in the meantime, there s something you really, really want to know please write to us, you ll find a contact button on the nav bar, we ll do our best to help have fun.