FQTV....

You took the words right out of my mouth.

Not only is it very interesting, and needless to say, beneficial, to learn the local language....but I feel it is just plain courteous and must be done to maximize the other aspects of your trip.

And, as far as taxi's go.....I personally spend a lot of time in Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo where they have 2 kinds of taxi's. There are the "radio taxi's" and the yellow and blue "gypsy" cabs that are about 20% cheaper.

On my first trip there I changed airports in Sao Paulo....cabbing it from Guarulhos to Congonhas airport thru downtown Sao Paulo. When I approached the taxi stand at Guarulhos, I walked up to the first taxi and said in "Brasilian" Portuguese....."Good Morning Sir"..."How are you"...."Is it still R$60 to Congonhas".....well the guy started babbling away and I had to remind him that I wasn't a local and that he had to speak slowly in order for me to understand. After he stopped laughing, we talked futebol the entire trip and he only asked me for R$50 at the end even thought the published fare card is set at R$60. I gave him the full amount anyways.

I have heard of many people getting "ripped off" by the taxi's in Rio and Sao Paulo.....but I think a little pre-trip research and some language skills removed that issue for me all together.