Polícia Federal
In order to stay in Brazil for the amount of time granted on your visa, you have to register at the Federal Police within 30 days of arrival. Hence, we did so.
We had lunch at Jarred's host family's restaurant and afterwards we went to the Federal Police, which is in Vitória. It was a hot day, just like any other, and so as we approached the front gate in a most casual fashion, the heavily armed guards grunted that we were not permitted inside wearing shorts. Strangely enough, thongs were acceptable, as well as sleeveless shirts. Here we were, about 30 mins from home, with no pants. Trust the Brazilians to find a way... Jeitinho Brasileiro is the expression here. It's like the 'no worries' of Australia, or 'The Brazilian Way'. This means not stopping for red lights at night, not giving way to crossing pedestrians or putting lixo (rhubbish) in the bin.
Also incorporated into this idea is the entrepreneurial skills of the people here. With high unemployment, 'people invent' new professions. One of these, is for example the flanelinhas who are guys that find you a park, and then look after your car for a couple of coins. They occupy one street, then point you to a free park, help you reverse park. They may also put some carboard over your windshield or even wash your car while you're away. Back to the Federal Police...
No pants! Well we were not the first, and most definitely not the last. So why not, thought a man that lived down the road one day, do I start renting out some pants!
The place today is Ricardo's Photo Shop, just 100m from the police building. Here he does 6 passport photos for R$12.00 and to rent some pants is just two reais! As with the pants issue, a lot of people get turned down because of their passport photos; it's a delicate issue. Quite satisfied that we were allowed in with our 2 reais pants, we found ourselves waiting in a highly inefficient and bureaucratic environment. We took a number. 394, and they were only up to 336. Foreigners registration, passport application and a dozen other things were all done through the same desk. Luckily a nice guy we met, Adrian, who was waiting for his Dad (who had gone home to get pants) swapped numbers with us. Then when our number was called, some spanish dude cut in front 'jetinho brasileiro' style.
I expected to have to fill out a form, maybe get my passport stamped, but there was a more intricate process involved. We showed the man-behind-the-counter all our documents, only to be pointed out our photos required white backgrounds. No to worry, we had already acquainted ourselves with Ricardo, so another quick trip down the road and we had our photos. Then we had to pay two fees, in total R$105. This could not be done in the same place, so we had to go to a different department. As we are getting our receipts printed, the payments counter person shuts his door. Oh and we had to pay R$2.00 for the receipts... If we paid cash however, we could go to another room and pay there. So we did. So that was the payment. Then we needed photocopies of our visa and photo-page in our passports. I had mine, but Jarred didn't so off they went to a photocopy place. The Federal police doesn't have a photocopier handy? It seems not. Now that this was done we needed to get out forms fingerprinted; gee I never knew I had this many fingers. The fingerprinting department was on the otherside of the building... but we got there in the end.
I am now safely registered, although the actual card may take up to three months. Get it in the mail? No, you have to go pick it up. How will you know when it's done? You don't...
Today's plan: Lunch, then Praia!!
Jeitinho Brasileiro!
We had lunch at Jarred's host family's restaurant and afterwards we went to the Federal Police, which is in Vitória. It was a hot day, just like any other, and so as we approached the front gate in a most casual fashion, the heavily armed guards grunted that we were not permitted inside wearing shorts. Strangely enough, thongs were acceptable, as well as sleeveless shirts. Here we were, about 30 mins from home, with no pants. Trust the Brazilians to find a way... Jeitinho Brasileiro is the expression here. It's like the 'no worries' of Australia, or 'The Brazilian Way'. This means not stopping for red lights at night, not giving way to crossing pedestrians or putting lixo (rhubbish) in the bin.
Also incorporated into this idea is the entrepreneurial skills of the people here. With high unemployment, 'people invent' new professions. One of these, is for example the flanelinhas who are guys that find you a park, and then look after your car for a couple of coins. They occupy one street, then point you to a free park, help you reverse park. They may also put some carboard over your windshield or even wash your car while you're away. Back to the Federal Police...
No pants! Well we were not the first, and most definitely not the last. So why not, thought a man that lived down the road one day, do I start renting out some pants!
The place today is Ricardo's Photo Shop, just 100m from the police building. Here he does 6 passport photos for R$12.00 and to rent some pants is just two reais! As with the pants issue, a lot of people get turned down because of their passport photos; it's a delicate issue. Quite satisfied that we were allowed in with our 2 reais pants, we found ourselves waiting in a highly inefficient and bureaucratic environment. We took a number. 394, and they were only up to 336. Foreigners registration, passport application and a dozen other things were all done through the same desk. Luckily a nice guy we met, Adrian, who was waiting for his Dad (who had gone home to get pants) swapped numbers with us. Then when our number was called, some spanish dude cut in front 'jetinho brasileiro' style.I expected to have to fill out a form, maybe get my passport stamped, but there was a more intricate process involved. We showed the man-behind-the-counter all our documents, only to be pointed out our photos required white backgrounds. No to worry, we had already acquainted ourselves with Ricardo, so another quick trip down the road and we had our photos. Then we had to pay two fees, in total R$105. This could not be done in the same place, so we had to go to a different department. As we are getting our receipts printed, the payments counter person shuts his door. Oh and we had to pay R$2.00 for the receipts... If we paid cash however, we could go to another room and pay there. So we did. So that was the payment. Then we needed photocopies of our visa and photo-page in our passports. I had mine, but Jarred didn't so off they went to a photocopy place. The Federal police doesn't have a photocopier handy? It seems not. Now that this was done we needed to get out forms fingerprinted; gee I never knew I had this many fingers. The fingerprinting department was on the otherside of the building... but we got there in the end.
I am now safely registered, although the actual card may take up to three months. Get it in the mail? No, you have to go pick it up. How will you know when it's done? You don't...
Today's plan: Lunch, then Praia!!
Jeitinho Brasileiro!
