Brazil > Culture
By Jessica Lloyd

Culturally, Brazil is very diverse. There are Indians, Portuguese, Africans, and South Americans, all mixed in together. The mix of the population is due to the early colonisation of Portuguese people, whose battles killed off much of the population of 'appropriate mating partners'. There was at one time a shortage of white women for the 'respectable' men to breed with, so they turned to the other inhabitants of all variety - African slaves, Indian slaves and whatever else in between they could find. Brazil is well known for its sexually promiscuous culture, and the early days of colonisation dictated this way of life due to necessity. Brazilians are not shy about eyeing you up if you tickle their fancy, and their trademark come-and-get-me stares ensure that you do, indeed, go and get them, but most often they are after your money.

There is a fair amount of criminal activity and the police are very corrupt. If you do find yourself in some kind of trouble, be prepared to hand over some cash, and yes, you can negotiate with the police! Foreigners are a prime target for everyone who doesn't have enough money (nearly everyone) and are willing to extort it using whatever means they have at their disposal - the police are no exception, and happen to have more 'means' than most normal citizens, like guns. Don't trust them.

Brazil is very much an 'anything goes' place - if you love having no rules then this is a great place to be. If you can physically do it, you can do it. Money talks, and as a tourist, you have the advantage. There are no liquor rules, scant and unregulated-except-when-they-feel-like-it prostitution laws, no cigarette laws, though they do have the most repulsive Cigarettes Will Kill You photographs taking up the entire back of their cigarette packets.

Carnival - Accommodation - Sex Tourism