A couple of minor drawbacks to this plan:

1. You will doubtless require a Visa to leave ther airport, which runs over $US100 for many countries. For me it is is well over $US100. And Brazil is THE worse country to deal with to get one, as a bonus. Utter rude pigs the consular officials here the 5 times I have needed one.

2. Departure tax out of GRU is insane. We too had the bright idea to take a 10 hour break for sleep recently at Caesar Park airport Hotel. IIRC the departure tax was something nuts like $US40 each.

3. Brazil has some truly nutty health deals. Flying Varig back from Lima to Argentina last month via GRU they INSISTED on a Yellow Fever Certificate. United or Varig of course did not advise of this silly requirement at any time BEFORE leaving home. (I've had that jab several times.)

Now Yellow Fever basically does not exist on earth, and when it does is found in a few isolated pockets on the Amazon etc. NOT found in Lima, Cuzco and Lake Titicaca of course. Tell that to these dopes. Getting a Yellow Fever cert in Boliva at short notice was NOT much fun, was NOT easy, and was an annoying waste of vacation time. And it MUST be dated at least 10 days before your flights as well.

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Try and make it down to SYD for "OZ FEST 2004" - May 21-23


[This message has been edited by ozstamps (edited Feb 14, 2004).]