> I forgot about their annual inflation of several hundred percent.  Or
> was it monthly inflation at that rate?  :-)  I have a hard time
> imagining what people DO with their money with that kind of run-away
> inflation.  Some were said to spend their pay check as soon as they
> get it and put the rest in the bank overnight before it dwindles to
> nothing.

Actually I think that's old history.  The "Real" has been pegged to the
dollar for some time now which ends up making things even more expensive for
Brazilians but cuts inflation.  By the way, "Real" is pronounced more like
"HAY-eye"

> I'll just go down there, give them the "ok" sign, and they'll tell me
> where to go!  Right?  :-)

Just go around and say "tudo bem!" to everyone.  That's all the Portuguese
you need to know.

Oh, and also the word "chop!" which means "draft" as in "draft beer" and is
pronounced "shopppp" with heavy emphasis on the "P"  Just ask your beach boy
for chop! and he'll know what you mean.  Unfortunately now they are selling
chop in cans which is about as authentic as getting 'Miller Genuine Draft'
in a can.  Brazilian beer is served ice cold and it's good if you like
lighter-style pilsners.  Brahma is the biggest Brazilian brewery and it
reportedly ranks as the 2nd largest brewery in the world after Budweiser.

-Kent-