GUIDE to the Casa de Dom Inácio - BEFORE YOU GO
| 1. Entrance Requirements |
|
Some countries, such as the U.S.A, require a tourist visa to enter Brazil, which involves a fee and some lead-time. Contact your regional office of the Consulate General of Brazil to obtain a visa application form. A U.S. citizen must have a passport valid for at least 6 months beyond arrival date in Brazil to obtain a visa. For
help with travel arrangements from the U.S, check with the either of
the following agencies. Discounters, aka "bucket shops" may have similar or even better deals. Look for ads in the newspaper travel section (e.g., New York Times or other major metropolitan newspaper) or internet sites. If you must go to a government office to renew your visa, you are advised not to wear shorts, a short skirt or sleeveless top. Your visa can be extended in Policia Federal in Anápolis. |
| 2. Location & Transportation |
| The Casa de Dom Inácio (Ig-nah’-see-oo) is located in the village of Abadiânia (Ah-bah-djah-yuh) in the state of Goiás (Gway-sh). The village lies between two airports which service the area, Brasilia (BSB), 103 km and Goiânia (GYN), 91 km. Both airports are within a 2-hour taxi ride. Taxi is the preferred method for reaching the village, though rental cars and buses are available at the airports. There are taxis available at the airport which cost only about R$10 more than those coming from Abadiãnia. When making a pousada reservation, you can ask them to send a taxi-driver to meet your flight. (Look for your name on a sign when you arrive at the airport.) The average fare for a taxi from Brasilia is R$150; from Goiânia, R$100. Tipping, say R$10 is not expected but greatly appreciated. |
| 3. Length of Stay |
|
The Casa is open Wednesday, Thursday and Friday each week. A two-week stay is sometimes preferable; more time may be even better, depending on your case. Some people choose to stay for months; no length of stay is excessive. You may wish to ask the Entity. Ten days (Wed–Fri) will cover 2 weeks of Casa events. Plan to arrive before the Casa opens for its first session on Wednesday at 8 a.m. A second session is held at 2 p.m., and the same schedule is repeated on Thursday and Friday. Additional time allows for follow-up visits to the Entity, more opportunities to sit in the current rooms, to use the crystal bed, rest and relax. João tries to maintain programs at the Casa every week, but he occasionally travels or is not available for some other reason. Current information concerning times the Casa is off-schedule will shortly be available on this website. |
| 4. Costs |
| There
is no charge for the healing, but you must pay for your herbal capsules
or crystal bed sessions, if any are prescribed for you (see 24). Room,
board, and ground transportation are the principal expenses (see 2, 9,
and 14). Some optional items are bottled water, snacks, laundry, souvenirs,
books, video tapes, and crystal-bed therapy sessions (see 27).
Be prepared to pay airport taxes on your return flight: typically less than R$10 for national flights, as much as R$72 for international flights. Credit cards and travelers’ checks are accepted for payment. |
| 5. Currency |
|
The Brazilian currency is the real (plural reais). Exchange rates fluctuate daily; check with your local financial institution, travel agent, or internet site for current rates. Getting or changing money is a major nuisance. Bring more than enough cash - preferably change into reais as soon as you arrive in Brazil, and lock it in your luggage in your room. Keep some U.S. currency in small denominations. Cash gives you the best rate of exchange; travelers’ checks are not recommended, as few places will accept them, not even some regional banks. ATMs may or may not work; the ins-and-outs of bank locations / hours / facilities would take pages to outline for you! Machines / banks giving cash advances for VISA and to a lesser extent, Mastercard are common in large towns and cities. You must have your PIN number to use Visa card for cash-advance. Some ATM cards can be used, but only in large cities, which requires lengthy travel from Abadiânia. The village bank does not exchange foreign money, nor does it have an ATM. Most travel agencies in Anápolis (including the Varig agency and various individuals) will exchange US dollars (and often French / Swiss francs and pounds sterling) for rates better than the bank rate. Only banks can legally change foreign currency, but this is common and not particularly hazardous. When changing into reais, try to get plenty of smaller bills (R$1’s and R$5’s), as few places in the village can give change for larger ones. (Note: The Portuguese phrase for "I would like to change some dollars/pounds into Reais" is, Queria trocar dólares/libras em reais; pronounced ker-reeer troo`kar doller-rish/leebrush aym reh-ighsh.) In some instances, U.S. dollars in small denominations can be used for purchases or tips. Some shops will accept U.S. dollars for purchases, but at a less favorable exchange rate. Anyone other than banks accepting foreign currency is illegal, although common, and rates may be unfavorable - or better! Ask long-term guests at the pousadas where they get the best rates in Anápolis; we cannot offer you information on illicit transactions. It is better to have too much Brazilian money than too little; you can usually find someone grateful to take extra reais off your hands in exchange for your currency or U.S. dollars. Save some reais or dollars for airport taxes (see 4). Bank
hours: (info at Mar 2003) Banco
de Brasil - São Paolo airport Post
Office hours: Sao
Paulo airport (info at Nov 2002) Internet: Intercom@x,
Sao Paulo Airport provides communications, computing, email and fax
facilities. |
| 6. Language |
| Brazilian Portuguese is the spoken language. There are several English-speaking aides at the Casa. Spanish, Italian, and German languages are also spoken by a few villagers and staff members (see 17). |
| 7. What to Pack |
| Brazil’s
subtropical temperatures vary only slightly annually in this high plateau
region. The dry season runs from May to October. Daytime temperatures
average 75-85° F/23-30°C, with cooler evenings and early mornings.
You may wish to pack a light sweater or jacket, and rain gear.
Bring comfortable, loose-fitting white or light-colored clothing for visiting the Casa (preferable, but not mandatory), casual clothing for elsewhere, a towel (although most pousadas supply small ones), wash cloth, personal soap, laundry detergent, voltage transformer and adapter for any electrical appliances (voltage is 22O), mosquito repellent and umbrella (during rainy season), sunscreen, sun hat, comfortable shoes, camera, flashlight, film, Portuguese/English phrasebook/dictionary. (see 6), and a small folding seat if you cannot stand comfortably for long periods and wish to sit close to the stage. |
| 8. Bringing photos & written requests of others |
| You may bring a photo or written request of someone to present to the Entity. When making a request for healing, first obtain permission from the person who will be receiving a healing. In the same way he forms a blueprint of a person standing before him, the Entity connects energetically with the person via the photo image. A photo is better than a written request; a recent photo is better than an old one. If no photo is available, you may present an article of clothing, recently worn, preferably unlaundered. If neither of these options is available, supply the name, address and age or birth date of the person. (details section 26) |
